Mercedes F1 car launch 2017

15:35

One last shot of the new car on track this morning. Pic: XPB

15:33 Thanks for tuning in, we'll have more from the Mercedes launch throughout the afternoon. And we'll see you again tomorrow for the Ferrari and McLaren launches.

15:32 That brings us to the end of the formal launch element. The car is now off to where the assembled media are waiting, for the usual photocalls.

15:32 "It has an aura, the car stands for a lot of history for Mercedes-Benz. First time driving it will be a good feeling," Wolff says of Bottas's first run, which is coming up shortly.

15:31 "It's looking fantastic. Showing the world and showing the media is something we are excited about."

15:30 "There is a lot of technology transfer in both directions," Wolff says.

15:29 The blue on the livery comes from Mercedes's new electronic/hybrid brand EQ.

15:29 Now it's team boss Wolff's turn.

15:28 "It is a big day for me," Bottas says. "I've been waiting for this moment now for quite a while, preparing with the engineers."

15:28 Mercedes does not have a giant shark fin on the engine cover at this stage, unlike the other cars we have seen so far.

15:27 "What I really like about this is how clean it looks, but there's a massive amount of detail. Around the barge boards, the front wing, all of the details, the development, how far it has been taken with this car."

15:27 "I'm going to drive the car in less than an hour. It feels real. I'm amazed with how good the car looks," the former Williams driver says.

15:26 Bottas now strolls over to be interviewed.

15:26 "Finding the limits of the car is the question mark," he says. "At what point is the car going to roll over the tyre, understeer, oversteer. We have to walk really fast before we can run, that's what we'll be doing at Barcelona."

15:25 "This is not a test, the laps I did today were behind a vehicle to get some filming in, it's really just a shakedown," Hamilton says. "At the end I got to try to go a little bit faster in some places, and it's wet. Slicks on damp track. It feels almost identical to last year, in terms of the ergonomics. But you have this more powerful beast around you."

15:24 "The car feels wider. The front tyres feel huge, there was quite a lot of grip even with the cold conditions here."

15:24 "Firstly, it's so exciting to see this thing come together," Hamilton says.

15:23 "Wow," is new recruit Bottas's verdict.

15:22 Storm Doris nearly wiped out a few media as we made our way down the stairs from the Silverstone Wing. It's gusty. We've formed a neat semi circle on the start-finish straight, awaiting the car we've seen already to be unveiled.

15:22 There we go, Hamilton and Bottas take the cover off the W08.

15:22 Camera placement is important, kids.

15:21 "Each of us was stunned when we saw the car for the first time," Wolff adds.

15:20 "Because the rules have changed, it's a new era in technical innovation. Maybe somebody has found a silver bullet that changes everything. Hopefully we have found it," Wolff adds.

15:19 "It's a tricky balance," Wolff said of developing the car last year. "How much do you improve the current car and how much do you focus on the new car. We discussed that every week."

15:19 A bit of digital media Inception, with Lewis filming - streaming? - what is going on.

15:18 "It's a big day for me," Bottas - who will drive the car this afternoon - says. "It seems to be working well, so far so good. First day driving a Silver Arrow, so a big day for me."

15:18 "It felt incredible," Hamilton says of driving the car this morning. "Very proud to continue being with this team. Yesterday was the first time seeing the car together. It's the most detailed piece of machinery I've seen so far in Formula 1."

15:17 Here we go with the formal launch component.

15:14 Silverstone resembles a mini British Grand Prix media centre today, such is the interest in the team that has dominated F1 in recent years and the new regulations. Our team at Silverstone will bring you news from the launch throughout the afternoon.

15:13

15:12 If you haven't seen it already, GARY ANDERSON has been running his eye over each car. Here's his verdict on the Force India VJM10 that broke cover yesterday:

Will Force India's ugly duckling sink or swim? - F1 - Autosport Plus

Force India reached new heights in 2016 and wants to climb even further this year. Its solution to the new regulations may be uneasy on the eye in places, but does have some neat touches

15:12 Mercedes today becomes the first team to launch its 2017 challenger, following Williams last week and Sauber, Renault and Force India in recent days.

15:11 That pic also gives you a good look at the aero detail around the cockpit, and the front wing.

15:10

For all of the talk of wild weather in the UK today, Lewis Hamilton was happy enough to hang out in the W08 between runs this morning without gloves. Pic: XPB

15:09 It has been a big winter for Mercedes. Nico Rosberg retired just five days after winning the 2016 world championship, and has been replaced by Valtteri Bottas. Paddy Lowe has also left, with ex-Ferrari man James Allison arriving on March 1 as its new technical director.

15:07 We are expecting Mercedes to launch the new car at 12:10pm UK time, so in a couple of minutes, before all of the key players head down to pitlane to smile politely while photographers work their magic.

15:06 And what's going to power the W08 is a pretty special piece of kit by the sounds of things, with Force India's Andrew Green saying Mercedes has made an "unprecedented step" with its power unit over winter: