Mercedes fire up their 2022 car, the W13

Being locked in a season-long Title with Red Bull, doesn't seem to have deterred Mercedes' preparation for next season, as they were the first team to fire up their car.

The team secured their eighth consecutive Constructors' Title this season after an intense battle with Red Bull, whose driver Max Verstappen took the 2021 F1 Drivers' Title after beating Lewis Hamilton in the season finale at Abu Dhabi, with a pass in the final lap of the race.

The 2021 Abu Dhabi GP will go down as one of the most controversial races in the history of the sport, and rounded off one of the most exciting seasons in F1's recent history.

Mercedes' new car, name the W13, will be the car with which Lewis Hamilton and the team's new driver George Russell, will contest the new season.

Hamilton, who was the subject of recent speculations regarding his future in F1, will be eying a record breaking eighth F1 Drivers' Crown, after failing to do so this season, as Mercedes will be aiming to achieve their ninth constructors trophy.

It remains to be seen whether the 2021 title battle with Red Bull has effected Mercedes preparations for 2022, where new aero regulations shall be implemented, with cars using ground effect to generate downforce, with new low profile 18" tyres set to make their debut.

But being the first team to fire up their car could be a clear signal of intent from Mercedes for 2022.

Mercedes tweeted a video of their W13 being fired up below.