UNITED KINGDOM: Mercedes has revealed their 2023 F1 car, the W14, which carries Mercedes’ hopes of winning back the F1 championship title.
Mercedes unveils the new 2023 F1 car
The W14 is an evolution of last year’s W13 and retains the zero-pod design, and other vital features that the team believes will give them the edge they need to compete at the highest level.
Mercedes finished third in the F1 Constructors’ Championship last year, more than 200 points behind Red Bull. However, the team is not disheartened and has taken the time to learn from their mistakes to create a car that they believe will put them back in the championship fight.
The W14 was revealed at Silverstone, with race drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell and reserve driver Mick Schumacher in attendance. The team will follow up with a 100km shakedown to put the car through its paces. According to Mike Elliott, Mercedes’ tech boss, the changes to the W14 are “all in detail”.
The team has made significant bodywork changes while retaining the car’s core. The suspension has also been completely changed to help with the handling, which could be critical in the team’s championship fight.
The zero-pod design was a surprise innovation by Mercedes in the previous F1 season, and the team has no intention of moving away from it. Toto Wolff, the team’s motorsport boss, has emphasized the importance of finding their path and not copying other teams’ designs if they want to win.
Mercedes’ design of the slot gap separators on their front wing was a highlight of last season. Still, it was banned because the separators could not deliver an aero boost, and the rules at the time primarily mandated their use for mechanical, structural or measurement reasons.
However, this year, the word “primarily” has been removed from the rules, which could allow Mercedes to reintroduce the design. Jenson Button, the 2009 World Champion, praised Mercedes for their performance last season, despite finishing third. He stated that the team must be doing something right if a third-place finish is considered a bad year.
Hamilton and Russell are due to take the W14 for shakedowns later in the day, and they hope to get a feel for the car’s new features and how they will perform in real-world conditions.
The team has learned from their mistakes and made significant changes to the car to help them compete at the highest level.
It remains to be seen whether their hard work and dedication will pay off, but they are certainly heading in the right direction.
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