MERCEDES AMG W11 LAUNCH - FULL PHOTO GALLERY

Just 75 days after the last race of the 2019 season, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team took to the track this morning to complete the first laps with the team's all-new car for the 2020 F1 season.

Named Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance, the new car proudly carries the "EQ Performance" designation. As part of the strategy of Mercedes-AMG, "EQ Performance" stands for the brand's future Mercedes-AMG performance hybrid models.

The EQ Performance designation places the 2020 Formula One car and its state-of-the-art hybrid Power Unit at the forefront of the future Mercedes-AMG line-up, showcasing how F1 technology is pioneering the future of motor racing and automotive technology in general.

W11 represents the fact that this is the eleventh Mercedes-made Formula One car since the three-pointed star returned to Formula One as a works team in 2010.
The Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance, as the car is officially known, ran at Silverstone with Valtteri Bottas behind the wheel. Lewis Hamilton is scheduled to drive the 2020 contender in the afternoon.

Both drivers were eager to get back into the car after their winter break, which included intensive training to prepare for the upcoming season.

Today's running constitutes an official 100 km filming day, which the team also uses as a final systems check before the first pre-season test in Barcelona. This initial test and filming day is known as the shakedown and takes place at the 2.98 kilometre Silverstone International Circuit.

Valtteri Bottas, comented: "I think this has been my best winter training so far. I did a lot of different training routines in different climate zones. I'm ready and prepared and I can't wait for the new season to start. I actually did quite a bit of driving as well, from rally cars to dog sleds in the snow in Finland. This season is going to be really challenging, but I know that every single member of this team will give it everything to put us in the best possible position for the fight."

"2020 will be particularly challenging because there will be teams that will put a lot of focus on 2020 and there will be teams that will start to shift their resources into 2021. Getting that balance right will very important, but that's not an easy thing to do," said Toto Wolff. "Our ambition is clear: we want to be competitive in both 2020 and 2021. That is a great challenge, but the greater the challenge, the more we like it."

Lewis Hamilton, said: "I've had the best winter training yet. Over the winter, I've really been trying to analyse where we were last year and how I can grow and improve as a driver and as a human being. Having great consistency is going to be key for all of us, not just in terms of our reliability, but also for us as drivers."

"This team works so hard to give us this incredible machine, but if we put a foot wrong out there, it costs all of us, so that's something I've really been trying to focus on, how can I take it to another level as a driver, how can I extract more from myself and from the team, and trying to deliver something really great this year."

"This is my eighth year with this team and this year's challenge is super exciting. I have no doubt every single team member will try to raise the bar within themselves and I'll be trying to do the same."