Mercedes has introduced the W15 at Silverstone before a preliminary test for the new vehicle, which showcases a fresh silver and black design. The team made a switch from the renowned Mercedes silver to a black color scheme in 2020, and following a return to silver in 2022, last year’s car was entirely black. Now, both liveries have been merged on a vehicle that technical director James Allison claims is aimed at providing a more user-friendly experience after encountering two challenging years under the current regulations.
Taking the car for its inaugural run with W15 😍 pic.twitter.com/6SLK7EOR9y
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 14, 2024
“The design of any car is a continuous process,” Allison stated. “And a lengthy one at that. It dates back to the previous year. A new vehicle allows the team to implement significant changes that are not feasible during the season. These are decisions that are made during the preceding summer.
“A major focus has been placed on enhancing the unpredictable rear axle of the previous car. We have dedicated extensive effort to ensure that both axles, particularly the rear axle, maintain better control over the tire compared to the W14. We have also made improvements in areas where there was room for enhancement, including the DRS effect and pit stop performance.
“We believe that we have had a productive winter, but Formula 1 is a relative competition and only time will reveal the extent of our progress. Our main focus is to extract the maximum potential from the car we unveil, but we are also excited about the ongoing development race as the regulations are still in their infancy, presenting numerous opportunities.”
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will conduct the initial testing of the car on Wednesday at Silverstone, while McLaren does the same on a modified circuit. With Hamilton set to join Ferrari in 2025, team principal Toto Wolff expresses the goal of surpassing the pack chasing Red Bull this season.
“It has been an extremely busy winter — considering it will be our final season with Lewis, we are determined to deliver a highly competitive car. Additionally, our team has been working tirelessly in the factory to produce the desired outcome, which we will witness today,” Wolff explained.
“We may have made mistakes with the new regulations, but when we reflect on it in 10 years, or even longer, and read that we achieved eight consecutive first-place finishes followed by third and second in the constructors’ championship, it will be regarded as a respectable result and not as bad. However, this does not account for another team and driver winning the majority of races.
“Our objective is to solidify our position ahead of Ferrari and McLaren, occasionally Aston Martin, and be at the forefront of that group, while simultaneously striving to compete at the very top. This is our aim. We are resolute in our determination to do so, despite the difficulty of being a step behind our main competitor who got it right from the start. Nevertheless, we relish the challenge, which is why we are all eagerly anticipating the car’s debut.”
Wolff believes that Mercedes possesses the necessary resources and personnel to close the gap on Red Bull with the W15, drawing from the lessons learned from previous cars.
“The most crucial aspect is introspection. What did we do wrong? Why did the virtual world not align with reality?” he remarked. “I believe we have discovered some clues, pursued that direction, and attempted to eliminate as many variables as possible. The enthusiasm within the company is something I haven’t witnessed in many years.
“We understand the difficulty of the task. We are aware that it is a steep mountain to climb when a team is significantly ahead, as Red Bull was last year. However, we have an exceptional driver combination, hopefully a fast car, and the best personnel in the factory who are fully committed to achieving success. I believe we have the right ingredients to return to the forefront.”
According to the Source racer.com