Mercedes has pledged to explore a different approach to car development after their lack of success in the past two seasons of Formula 1. The AMG Patronas team has established itself as a prominent force in the sport, thanks to their remarkable achievements during the turbo-hybrid era. When Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2014, many questioned his decision to leave his previous team, as he had already won a World Championship with them. However, Hamilton’s gamble paid off, as Mercedes became an unbeatable force between 2014 and 2021, securing eight consecutive World Constructors’ titles.
Despite their previous dominance, Mercedes faced significant challenges when new regulations were introduced in 2022. The team had to redesign their cars to comply with these rules, which resulted in both their drivers experiencing difficulties and ultimately only securing one Grand Prix victory in 2022, courtesy of a newcomer to the team.
The 2023 season was equally disappointing for Mercedes, as they failed to win a single Grand Prix. However, the team is now preparing for a comprehensive change, with Team Principal Toto Wolff announcing that Mercedes will be taking a new approach to car development this year. The recent unveiling of their W15 has sparked discussions about the legality of the car’s front wings, according to F1 technical expert Craig Scarborough.
As the 2024 F1 racecars are being revealed one by one, fans are analyzing various aspects of each team’s challenger. While there have been rumors that another team’s car bears striking similarities to Mercedes’, there are also discussions about the potential illegality of Mercedes’ front wings. These front wings are designed to prevent rival cars from following closely behind, denying them the benefit of clean air and increased speed. This technique, known as “outwash,” goes against the proposed design mandates aimed at preventing outwash in the first place.
Therefore, Mercedes is reintroducing a concept that has been banned in Formula 1, leading to debates about the legality of their latest car, the Silver Arrows. It remains to be seen whether the FIA will share concerns about the W15’s compliance with the rules and potentially penalize Mercedes as a result.
According to the Source firstsportz.com