@MercedesAMGF1 breaks covers of their 2024 contender, the striking F1 W15. #F1
Mercedes F1 W15 – Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team have today unveiled their new challenger, the F1 W15 E Performance for the upcoming 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.
Shortly after McLaren’s own online presentation of the MCL38, the Silver Arrows posted the digital renders of the overhauled F1 W15 on their social media platforms ahead of an on-track shakedown at Silverstone Circuit.
Mercedes joined McLaren at the iconic British track for some initial running with their new car before heading off to Bahrain for pre-season testing next week from February 21-23.
The Brackley-Brixworth based-squad will be aiming to take a step forward in 2024 in what will be Lewis Hamilton’s final season with the team before his switch to Ferrari in 2025.
The seven-time world champion will be joined by George Russell as his team-mate, with the Briton entering into his third campaign as a Mercedes driver.
After a difficult 2022 with the introduction of the new ground effect era in the sport, the Silver Arrows opted to commit with their car concept for 2023.
In the immediate aftermath of the season-opening 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, the team worked hard on every aspect of its operations and a new direction was set, beginning a period of renewal.
Despite the limitations of the F1 W14’s pre-existing architecture, there was a bit of progress. A hard-fought, year long fight saw the Silver Arrows finish second in the World Constructor’s Championship standings finishing 451 points behind world champion’s Red Bull.
“We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front. There are no miracles in this sport,” explained Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Toto Wolff. “But our ambition and determination are strong. Since charting this new course, development has progressed well. We had several items on our priority list for this car. We will soon see if we’ve made the step we’ve aimed for.” Wolff concluded. Credit to Mercedes for the quote.
The Mercedes F1 W15 E Performance builds on the learnings from the previous two campaigns and the new car enables the Brackley-Brixworth based-outfit to make bigger changes that are not possible during the season.
These changes include a new chassis, a new gearbox casing. Aerodynamic wise, the focus has been on efficiency, the push for extracting more downforce with less drag and delivering it to the tack in a way that complements the function of the suspension and tyres.
“The design of any car is an iterative process. And a long one at that,” said Technical Director James Allison. “It stretches back to last year. A new car enables the team to make bigger alterations that are not possible during the season. These are decisions that are taken during the preceding summer. A big focus has been on improving the previous car’s unpredictable rear axle,” Allison continued. “We have worked hard to ensure that both axles, but particularly the rear axle, retain better control of the tyre than on the W14. There’s also been some housekeeping on areas in which we had room for improvement, including the DRS effect, and pit stop performance.”
However, it is the bottom of the car where the differentiating factors are.
Allison added: “With this current generation of cars, so much of the performance comes from how the floor interacts with the road. Whether or not a car is effective is down to how well that floor is permitted to behave aerodynamically. We feel like we have had a good winter, but F1 is a relative game and only time will tell how big a step we’ve made. We’re focused on getting the most from the car we launch, but we are excited by the development race that will follow as the regulations are still young and opportunities abound.” Allison concluded. Credit to Mercedes for the quote.
Another visible difference with the F1 W15 livery is the famous silver returning to complement the iconic black of recent seasons in a year where the famous Silver Arrows mark their 90th anniversary.
“Performance was always at the forefront of our minds with the black livery last year,” Wolff continued. “Weight is a crucial factor in this current generation of cars. We knew that, once we were in position to do so, we would bring back the Mercedes silver to accompany the black that has become a pillar of our team identity. The livery truly reflects who we are as a team with the distinctive colours of INEOS and Petronas providing important highlights.” The nose section therefore transforms to silver, with the iconic three-pointed star pattern on the engine cover. The distinguished INEOS ‘Toto Rosso’ red features predominantly on the rear-wing and roll hoop in a nod to INEOS Sport, with Petronas green providing a dynamic flow across the car.” Wolff concluded. Credit to Mercedes for the quote.
The new livery also reflects the team’s commercial strength as does recent news. SAP, WhatsApp and Luminar have all joined the team’s sponsorship core in recent months.
Piloting the F1 W15 will be Hamilton and Russell.
“We’ve learnt and grown as a team over the past two seasons,” explained Russell. “It’s not been plain sailing, but I truly believe the journey we’ve been on will make us stronger in the long run. The whole team has been working incredibly hard and we hope to have made a step with the W15. The learnings of the past two years have helped us find our direction.”
Hamilton added: “It’s enabled us to find our north star. It’s still going to be a work in progress, but we will face whatever challenges present themselves with our heads up, with open minds, and work through diligently.”
Dialling out the F1 W14’s inconsistent performance and its sometimes nasty rear end has been a key technical focus. Both Hamilton and Russell are clear on the positive benefits it could bring if the team are able to do so.
Hamilton continued: “If you’re not comfortable with the car, you’re not able to extract the maximum performance. A more stable, more predictable car will enable us to extract the potential from not only the car, but ourselves as drivers.”
Russell added: “We made progress with some of the nastier characteristics of the W14 throughout last year. But we still had a narrow operating window and, once we were outside of that, the car was difficult to drive. If we can continue to widen the operating window of the car, that will provide confidence for us as a drivers and from there, lap time is easier to find.”
The work that the Brackley-Brixworth based-outfit have been putting in over the past two seasons has been inspiring for both Hamilton and Russell.
“I know what this team is capable of. I am incredibly grateful for the work of every single person in this team. Every time you’re in the factory, you can see the sheer drive and determination of everyone. We are all mega-motivated for the year ahead and will be giving it everything we’ve got on the journey ahead.” Hamilton concluded. Credit to Mercedes for the quote.
“F1 is an incredibly difficult sport. It’s very hard to win. And that’s why we love it. Every woman and man at Brackley and Brixworth is so focused on getting to the top. We continue with that focus and dedication into 2024 and I’m excited to see where that takes us.” Russell concluded. Credit to Mercedes for the quote.
Reserve drivers Mick Schumacher and Frederik Vesti will provide cover for Hamilton and Russell. Schumacher continues in the role he held in 2023, whilst Vesti steps up following his graduation from Mercedes’ junior programme.
The F1 W15 will get it’s first laps at Silverstone later today before the focus turns to the Bahrain International Circuit for pre-season testing from February 21-23 before the season-opening Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 a week later from February 29-March 2.
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