The German producer has spent a number of months engaged on the main revamp of its 2023 challenger after deciding that it wanted a brand new growth path when it comes to its idea.
Whereas the automotive is unlikely to be seen in its entirety earlier than Friday, the primary photos 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 performed.
This takes the type of the Purple Bull-style downwash sidepods however features a channel on the within that helps additional assist airflow.
In addition to the sidepod adjustments, Mercedes is introducing a revised ground and new entrance suspension – which has been noticed as nicely.
Mercedes W14 technical element
Photograph 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 automotive much less of a handful for drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
Each have complained in regards to the stability of the W14 being difficult at instances, which imply they’ve much less confidence in it – particularly below braking.
Mercedes has steered that positive factors which come from making the drivers extra comfy ought to ship a very good 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 type 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 provides 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 isn’t any sense of entitlement. It is nearly exhausting work to get us to the entrance.”
Mercedes had initially supposed to debut the upgrades on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but it surely needed to abandon that plan after the Imola race was referred to as off due to flooding within the area.
Mercedes W14 technical element
Photograph by: Giorgio Piola
