Mercedes launch new-look 2024 Formula 1 car
MERCEDES have unveiled the heavily-revised car — described as a “complete relaunch” — which they hope will allow them to scale the “mountain” and catch Red Bull in Formula 1 2024.
In addition to the long-expected changes in car concept for the W15, a reworked livery has also been revealed by the team with Mercedes’ traditional silver returning on the car’s nose, plus the green of title sponsor Petronas, to go alongside the black of recent seasons.
The car will also be the 12th and final one that Lewis Hamilton drives for the team after the shock announcement at the start of the month that he enacted a break clause in his new two-year Mercedes contract to leave for Ferrari for 2025. “Obviously it’s going to be our last season with Lewis so we are keen on really bringing a quick car,” said team boss Toto Wolff after Mercedes failed to win a race for the first time in 11 years in 2023 and only one in 2022.
Hamilton was alongside Wolff and team-mate George Russell at the launch event from Silverstone in his first public appearance since news of his Ferrari switch emerged.
“It’s obviously been emotional,” said Hamilton of recent weeks. “It’s very surreal to be here given I came in 2013, so 11 years with the team, starting my 12th.
“This is the first time I have seen the car come together as a whole but to know everything that’s underneath the hood, which people won’t get to see but George and I will experience on the track, it’s exciting.”
Hamilton and Russell, starting his third year at Mercedes, complete their first laps in the W15 at the British GP venue later on Wednesday. The car and team will then head to Bahrain next week for pre-season testing on February 21-23, with all three days of crucial track running live on Sky Sports F1.
Wolff said that the W15 represents a “complete relaunch” of the team’s approach to the current era of regulations which has been absolutely dominated by rivals Red Bull, who won 21 of last season’s 22 races, since the start of 2022.
“We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front. There are no miracles in this sport,” admitted co-owner Wolff, who signed a new three-year deal during the winter to also stay in his longheld team principal and CEO roles as he bids to spearhead Mercedes’ attempt to get back to the front of the grid.
“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.”
James Allison, the team’s technical director, said: “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.”—Skysports