After dominating Formula 1 for most of the past decade, Mercedes-Benz AMG’s performance is waning with new car design regulations introduced for the 2022 season. The team finished third in the Constructors’ standings, behind Red Bull Racing and Ferrari, while its best-ranked driver, George Russell, finished fourth in the championship.
Mercedes on Wednesday revealed the W14 E Performance as its competitor for the 2023 season, and while the design rules haven’t changed, Mercedes says it has taken lessons from the previous difficult season to develop a new race car.
Some of these learning outcomes can be seen on the new car, such as revised bodywork on the engine cover. According to Mercedes, there are also a lot of changes under the surface.
Another notable change is returning to a black livery instead of the traditional silver. Mercedes previously used the colors in the 2020 and 2021 seasons as a statement against racism and discrimination. This time, the livery was chosen by prioritizing performance. Close inspection reveals that most of the livery is actually bare carbon fibre, similar to how early Mercedes race cars were stripped of their white paint to save weight, leaving behind the bare aluminum which in turn led to the Silver Arrows name.
The W14’s chassis is also significantly lighter, in contrast to last year’s which saw the team run a car heavier than the minimum mandated threshold. The lighter weight, along with a revised front suspension geometry and new aerodynamics, should result in a more consistent balance across the speed range, according to Mercedes. One of the main issues last season was the car’s tendency to bounce, known in F1 as porpoising.
The design of the W14 power unit carries over from the previous season. This means the car runs a hybrid setup incorporating a turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6 and two motor generators, one in the driveline and one integrated with the turbo. Ferrari develops and builds its own power units.
Russell will once again drive for Mercedes. He will join team veteran Lewis Hamilton, as well as former Haas racer Mick Schumacher in reserve duty.
Pre-season testing begins on February 23 at the Bahrain International Circuit, home of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Bahrain race will be the first race on the 2023 F1 calendar, and is scheduled for March 5.
