Just two seasons ago, Mercedes was the rival to beat, the great dominator in recent years in Formula 1 thanks to a six-time champion Lewis Hamilton, in addition to Nico Rosberg's triumph in 2016. But the Englishman was dethroned in 2021 in extremis, in a last race where he kneeled before the new king of the great circus, the current champion Max Verstappen.
After that fateful outcome in Abu Dhabi, the German team fell apart last season, with only a victory for George Russell in the penultimate round of the calendar in Brazil and with Hamilton relegated to second place on the grid. Now, the team led by Toto Wolff wants to recover the greatness of yesteryear with the new W14, presented this Wednesday at Silverstone. "Our hopes and expectations are always to be able to fight for a World Cup," said the Austrian at the presentation.
The Mercedes for the next season, which begins on March 5 in Bahrain, continues without sidepods and returns to the black color that it already wore in 2020 and 2021, although on that occasion the color choice was used as a symbol against racism. and this time it is for technical reasons. "Our car was overweight last year. We've tried to figure out where we can squeeze every gram out of it. It has some raw carbon parts, along with others painted matt black," explained the architect of the team's past successes.
Mercedes was used to glory, the best team in the championship between 2014 and 2021, but last year they fell to third place in the Constructors' World Championship. "It was a difficult season. We learned what happened to the car. At the end of last season we were faster and both Hamilton and Russell were able to drive a slightly more predictable car and we had some good moments like at Interlagos," explained a prudent Wolff when assessing the performance this season: "We have seen the car, but we still have to see if it is fast and what problems we can face on the track. It is still a bit unknown. We have the tools to grow and develop the car and we hope give Lewis and George something that works."
The great asset of the team will once again be the veteran Hamilton, the most successful driver in history along with Schumacher with seven titles. "I still love racing. I still want to improve. I like the physical and emotional challenge of seeing how I can improve my own performance and that of all the people around the car. The car is always changing with new tools," said the Briton, 38 years old, before facing his eleventh season at the team.
Hamilton explained that "this is the most exciting week of the year because you go to the factory and see all the little elements of the car coming together." "Everything fits beautifully. I'm looking forward to driving. (...) The first time you drive it you feel the power, the sensations, the mechanics...", concluded the man from Stevenage, who will have Russell and the reserve driver Mick Schumacher.
"We are here to win, as simple as that. We have to see what challenges we face out there, but the team has worked hard. We don't want a repeat of 2022. We are motivated," said Russell.
