The German producer has spent a number of months engaged on the foremost revamp of its 2023 challenger after deciding that it wanted a brand new improvement path when it comes to its idea.
Whereas the automobile is unlikely to be seen in its solely earlier than Friday, the primary pictures of its new sidepods and suspension have highlighted a giant departure.
The tweaks have confirmed that the zero-pod idea that Mercedes pursued from the beginning of the bottom impact period guidelines has been deserted, in favour of a route extra akin to what Aston Martin and Alpine have achieved.
This takes the type of the Purple Bull-style downwash sidepods, however features a channel on the within that helps additional assist air circulate.
In addition to the sidepod adjustments, Mercedes is introducing a revised flooring and new entrance suspension – which has been noticed as effectively.
Mercedes W14 technical element
Picture by: Giorgio Piola
Past the adjustments bringing improved efficiency and downforce, one of many extra vital traits that the crew is chasing is making the automobile much less of a handful for drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
Each have complained in regards to the steadiness of the W14 being tough at occasions, which imply they’ve much less confidence in it – particularly beneath braking.
Mercedes has steered that positive aspects which come from making the drivers extra comfy ought to ship step ahead in lap time.
Talking forward of the Monaco Grand Prix, Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff cautioned in opposition to a dramatic step ahead in kind for the upgrades, however was clear that he hoped it will put the crew in a greater place over the long run.
“It will not be a silver bullet; from my expertise, they don’t exist in our sport,” he stated. “We hope that it offers the drivers a extra secure and predictable platform. Then we will construct on that within the weeks and months forward.
“F1 is hard competitors and a meritocracy. We’re not the place we need to be however there is not any sense of entitlement. It is nearly onerous work to get us to the entrance.”
Mercedes had initially meant to debut the upgrades on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, however it needed to abandon that plan after the Imola race was referred to as off due to flooding within the area. 