Back to black: Mercedes look to return to the top with livery ode to 2021 season

Mercedes-AMG have reverted to a black livery for the new Formula 1 season as they bid to return to the summit of Grand Prix racing in 2023.

Lewis Hamilton and fellow Mercedes driver George Russell unveiled the new car during Wednesday's launch at the Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, central England.

Multiple world champion Hamilton, 38, last year finished a relatively lowly sixth, his worst position at the end of an F1 championship, as Mercedes struggled to adapt to the sport's new regulations.

But now they hope a return to black, the colours in which British racer Hamilton claimed a record-equalling seventh title in 2020, will signal a change of fortune.

Dream Team. ?? pic.twitter.com/b5isiGeuVJ

Cutting weight

Hamilton, one of the few leading people of colour in motorsport, encouraged Mercedes to paint their car black for the 2020 and 2021 seasons as part of an anti-racism campaign.

Mercedes' traditional racing colour has been silver, hence the Germany-founded marque's nickname of the "Silver Arrows".

Team principal Toto Wolff said there was a performance reason behind this year's change of colours.

"We were overweight last year," said Wolff. "This year we have tried to figure out where we can squeeze out every single gram. So now history repeats itself.

"The car has some raw carbon bits, along with some that are painted matte black.

"Of course when we changed the livery in 2020, the main driving factor was to support the diversity and equality causes which are always close to our heart.

"The colour black became part of our DNA at that point, so we are pleased to return to it."

Our W14. ???? What do you think Team.. ?? pic.twitter.com/zfs4lt3Nlp

'Been here a long time'

Hamilton saw his record of winning at least one