Mercedes has unveiled the overhauled W15 car design that the team hopes will see it mark a return to regular race-winning ways in Formula 1 during the 2024 season.
The German marque entered F1’s latest regulation era in 2022 having stormed to an unrivalled eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships between 2014 and 2021.
However, Mercedes has struggled since the sport’s return to ground effect aero, with a troubled car concept behind its problems across each of the past two seasons.
Mercedes opted to retain faith in the ‘zeropod’ sidepod solution it unleashed at the debut pre-season test but abandoned that scheme after a sluggish start to last term.
Although Mercedes would rise one position to second place in the standings – pipping Ferrari by three points – the squad endured its first winless campaign since 2011.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff confirmed that the engineering team behind its 2024 challenger was “changing every component” as it bids to close on Red Bull.
Prior to the reveal, Mercedes had reported positive signs as Wolff relayed simulator feedback that informed him the W15 “feels like a car for the first time in two years.”
The revamped car has been overseen by James Allison, who returned to the position of Technical Director last year in place of Mike Elliott, who has since departed.
Meanwhile, Wolff will remain a permanent fixture at the helm of the Brackley-based squad after revealing last month that he had signed a long-term contract extension.
The W15 will be the latest Mercedes car that Lewis Hamilton drives in F1, though, following the bombshell news that he will move to Ferrari from the start of next year.
Hamilton has been aligned with Mercedes his whole F1 career and has achieved six titles, 82 wins, 148 podiums and 78 pole positions since joining its works team in 2013.
The seven-time champion will be partnered once again by George Russell, who signed a new deal through 2025 last August and scored Mercedes’ most recent victory.
“We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front. There are no miracles in this sport,” Wolff said. “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.”
He added: “As the saying goes: when it stings, it sticks. I believe the previous two years were necessary for us to readjust, recalibrate and reinvent ourselves in certain areas.
“That root-and-branch approach is never easy. But we’ve made progress and look forward to taking the next step with the W15.
“It won’t be a linear path, but when we stumble, we will get back up and keep climbing.”
Mercedes’ latest colour scheme combines the black used on last season’s machine with silver on the frontal area, complimented by its turquoise Petronas branded stripe.
Mercedes will complete a shakedown of its new W15 at the Silverstone circuit today, with McLaren also running its MCL38 car for the first time on a separate configuration.
“Performance was always at the forefront of our minds with the black livery last year,” Wolff explained. “Weight is a crucial factor in this current generation of cars.
“We knew that, once we were in position to do so, we would bring back the Mercedes silver to accompany the black that has become a pillar of our team identity.
“The livery truly reflects who we are as a team with the distinctive colours of INEOS and PETRONAS providing important highlights.”
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