F1 World Champion Mercedes To Unveil New Car At Silverstone On Feb. 23

Mercedes, F1's "dominant team" which has yet to announce a replacement for retired world champion Nico Rosberg, will present its '17 car at Silverstone on Feb. 23, according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. The Mercedes website said on Wednesday that the reigning champions would "unveil the beast to the world" at the British Grand Prix circuit down the road from its Brackley factory. Mercedes will start the season in Australia in March as favorites for a fourth successive title, with Britain's triple world champion Lewis Hamilton "leading the campaign" in the absence of former rival Rosberg. The German driver retired "five days after winning a first title in Abu Dhabi in late November, saying he had reached the peak and achieved his ambition." His decision left Mercedes in a "difficult position, with other leading drivers all under contract with rivals at such a late point in the year." Rosberg's replacement "is expected to be announced imminently, with testing starting at the end of February in Spain" (REUTERS, 1/4).