New Mercedes F1 car gets first run at Silverstone

Images of the new Mercedes Formula 1 car have appeared for the first time, as the team completed a shakedown of its W07 at Silverstone on Friday.

On the back of its second consecutive championship double, the Brackley-based outfit has continued to push with its design in a bid to stave off the growing threat from rivals.

Nico Rosberg was on hand to complete the first laps in the new car, which was allowed to run under the filming day allowance.

Welcome... to #F1 2016... #WeAreW07 pic.twitter.com/SgY30oP0ht
— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) February 19, 2016

Article 10 of F1's Sporting Regulations states that teams can carry out two such Promotional Events during the season, which are limited to 100km in length and only on tyres that are designed for such running.

The limits will be more than enough to allow Mercedes to run system checks on the car, prior to its first public running at the Barcelona test that starts on Monday.