Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff famously branded its title-winning W08 a "diva", and although he's hoping for a tamer car in 2018, he says the W09 should carry over some of those traits, due to its status as 2017's quickest car.
The W08 won 12 of the 20 races and successfully defended both titles, but at times it was difficult to predict and set up, with it often favouring certain tyre compounds over others, but Wolff insists they're not looking to completely banish the 'diva' streak from their upcoming challenger.
"Some of the character traits from the ‘diva’ we liked," Wolff said in a Mercedes Q&A. "The W08 was the fastest car in Formula 1, it scored the most pole positions and it won the most races. So you need to be careful not to bump the things that work on the car just to remedy the difficulties.
"So as a matter of fact we analysed it properly and when we go testing in a months time we will see if the car is a little more behaved or not."
Wolff revealed that the team had enjoyed a "good winter" so far with "no real drama", and that the W09 was fired-up for the first time this week ahead of its February 22 unveiling.
"The mood is good, the mood is especially good because today we will be firing up the car for the first time and it’s always an exciting time because what has been designed is coming together, it’s coming alive.
"It’s never going completely seamlessly or smoothly because you’re always trying to push the boundaries and make the car as light as possible and eventually as quick as possible. We’ve had a good winter I would say, no real drama but there is always stress within the organisation at this time of year."
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