Mercedes fire up 2021 engine destined for W12

Defending champions Mercedes have teased a crucial part of their 2021 W12 machine, showing off the dulcet tones of the engine that will power Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas's machines this season, as well as three other teams' cars.

Mercedes are to launch their latest title contender, the Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance, on March 2, but the engine is ready to go by the sounds of it – with Mercedes hoping it will help propel the team to a record-extending eighth consecutive constructors' championship in 2021.

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The engine won't just power the W12 this season, with Williams and Aston Martin to use the Silver Arrows' power unit – while McLaren are the latest Mercedes customer team, having unveiled their MCL35M earlier this week.

The car launches will come thick and fast ahead of the season start, meanwhile, with AlphaTauri the next team to unveil their 2021 on Friday morning.

Listen to the Mercedes W12's engine fire up below.