F1 2026: Mercedes Collaborates With MANUFAKTUR in Special US GP Livery

Mercedes joins the teams that will have new car liveries in the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. 

In Austin this weekend, the W17 adds more to its usual black-and-silver combination with a cooler, blue color. The touch of blue highlights the MANUFAKTUR brand, which is Mercedes-Benz's personalization program.

The design on Kimi Antonelli and George Russell's cars remains mostly the same, except for the striking blue accent on the nose and upper surfaces of the car, including areas around the top of the sidepods. 

Most importantly, the W17 wears MANUFAKTUR's script logo on a blue panel, bordered by the typical Petronas (Mercedes' title sponsor) color branding of turquoise.  

MANUFAKTUR officially launched in October 2020 as Mercedes-Benz's cross-model personalization label. It replaced the name "G manufaktur", which was Mercedes' similar program for G-Class cars.

Headquartered in Sindelfingen, Germany, MANUFAKTUR offers exclusive options for materials and finishes on Mercedes cars. These include a wide range of personalized exterior and interior finishes. 

In short, MANUFAKTUR provides a way for buyers of Mercedes' most exclusive models to customize unique colors, materials, and details.

This is Mercedes' third special livery this season. 

In the Japanese Grand Prix, they delivered a wolf-inspired design that featured a grey wolf on the front wing. Antonelli went on to win that race by more than 13 seconds over McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

In the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, the W17 put on more green (or turquoise) across the car to mark Petronas' home race and the F1 grid's return to the Sepang International Circuit. Antonelli finished in second, while Russell DNF'd due to a power unit issue.

The Silver Arrows (or more of the Blue Arrows now) had a forgettable US Grand Prix in 2025. Russell settled for a sixth-place finish, while Antonelli scored no points and finished in P13.

But they're aiming for a better US GP this time around, especially with Russell getting the upgrades that Antonelli had in Singapore. 

However, Max Verstappen and the charging Red Bulls are standing in their way. Verstappen has won the last two races, keeping his podium streak alive. The four-time World Champion's strong current form, combined with the Red Bull car's much-improved pace, has been difficult to beat as of late.

There are no confirmed reports of whether Mercedes will bring upgrades to Austin, but at least Russell can run the new specifications on his car. He's in a better position to help bring the fight to Red Bull.