Mercedes could be on the receiving end of losing another sponsor ahead of the new 2022 season after a long-term deal with Epson came to an end. Japanese electronics and printer company, Epson, will not continue their sponsorship of the eight-time world champions this year. However, RacingNews365.com also reports Bose could be the next big sponsorship deal not to be renewed after they no longer appear on the Mercedes list of partners on their website.
The website does report that talks between the audio tech giants and Mercedes are ongoing, with the team still in a strong position commercially, despite missing out on the Drivers’ world title. It means the car, set to be driven by Lewis Hamilton and his new team-mate George Russell, could look significantly different next season, if the reports are also true the team is reverting back to the silver livery.
Unveiling their 2021 challenger at the start of the year, the team opted to retain its striking black livery as a continued sign of their commitment to improving diversity and inclusion within Mercedes, and the sport as a whole. Yet, according to BILD the team have already decided to revert back to the historic silver livery. The Silver Arrows’
switched to the striking black livery after a heavily delayed 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but with elements of the traditional racing silver visible on the car with AMG proudly presented on the engine cover. In 2021 the team opted to continue with the same livery for the season as Hamilton chased down an eighth world title with the team.
But the 36-year-old was left bitterly disappointed after a controversial end to the season saw Max Verstappen crowned world champion in Abu Dhabi. Mercedes’ team boss was furious after the race, before lodging two protests with the FIA, refusing to speak to any media. Since then Hamilton has remained uncharacteristically silent on social media, with his last post celebrating qualifying second at Yas Marina.
Wolff however did post a New Year’s message to fans which said: “There were some highs, there were some lows. “There was some glory and some drama but, at the end, this is how it feels to be alive.
