Mercedes Formula E reveals new black livery | GRR
Following the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team’s decision to switch from its traditional silver (and turquoise) livery to black to support driver Lewis Hamilton’s fight against racist discrimination, the sister Formula E team has now followed suit.
There are six races left in the Formula E season, all of which will be held in Berlin at the Tempelhof Airport over just nine days, with Formula E using his open layout to change the track between races. For all of them the Silver Arrow 01 car will switch from a silver-dominated livery to black.
The Mercedes F1 team has been running the primarily black livery on its W11 cars all season – and has won all four races – and the Formula E cars will follow suit, also sporting the End Racism slogan on the protective halo.
Like the F1 team, the new livery is not completely black, with the vivid blue highlights around the haunches of the car and mini-wings at the rear remaining. The Silver Arrow 01 also carries the same series of gradually appearing three-pointed stars toward the rear as the F1 car.
Mercedes also plans to launch a new diversity drive, after an audit of the F1 workforce revealed just three per cent of Mercedes F1 employees were from BAME backgrounds.
Speaking of the change Bettina Fetzer, vice president of marketing for Mercedes cars, said: “In Formula E too, we intend to use the voice we have on our global platform to make a stand against racism and discrimination and in support of greater diversity and tolerance in society.
“The decision to change the distinctive look of our electric Silver Arrows underlines our stance in favour of openness and respect in our dealings with each other.
“The black base livery of our racing cars is a reminder to all of us of the need for ongoing, long-term consolidation of our values and of mutual respect.”