Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has revealed how feedback from the simulator has relayed that the team’s 2024 charger “feels like a car for the first time in two years”.
Mercedes’ bid to close on Red Bull last season was hamstrung from the outset through the decision to retain the ‘zeropod’ concept from its recalcitrant 2022 W13 car.
Although it abandoned that template with a revised car converging on the downwash sidepod solution pioneered by Red Bull at the Monaco Grand Prix last May, Mercedes continued to be restricted by the W14’s launch-spec chassis – which couldn’t be addressed under the cost cap restraints.
Despite clinching second place, the German marque ended an F1 campaign winless for the first time since 2011 and lagged 454 points behind runaway champions Red Bull.
As it endeavours to return to title contention this year, Mercedes is pressing ahead with a revamped philosophy for its W15 challenger, to be unveiled at Silverstone on 14 February.
Wolff has disclosed that Mercedes simulator driver Anthony Davidson informed him that test runs with its 2024 model have provided positive signs that the side is on track to overcome its previous troubles in the first two years of F1’s latest ground effect era.
“He was driving Melbourne [in the simulator] and he said: ‘The car feels like a car for the first time in two years’,” he told the Telegraph.
“Obviously, I would love this to correlate to the track but we’ve seen in the last two years that this was not always the case.”
However, the Austrian, 52, has pointed to the remarkable mid-season progress McLaren made from backmarker to podium contender to outline that it should be an attainable feat.
“Always believe it’s possible [to win],” he added. “You cannot start the season with an attitude of ‘This is not going to be possible.’
“We saw last year with McLaren what a huge step they made with a single upgrade.
“We’ve signed a two-year deal with Lewis [Hamilton], and we owe it to him, to George [Russell] and to all the team to give it our full attention in 2024 and 2025. I think it’s possible.”
Wolff also divulged that Mercedes had identified alternative areas for improvement that existed outside of car performance, noting its pit stop equipment and processes.
The Brackley-based squad were outclassed in that department by Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull last term, but Wolff believes we will now be privy to a “very different” Mercedes.
“I think the regulations, how they were laid out a few years ago, we interpreted them in a very conservative way,” he acknowledged.
“And we’ve seen other teams doing it differently. So watch this space. I think it’s going to be very different.”
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