From revolutionary to misunderstood. From scarecrow to frightened. From reference point to concrete example not to have to repeat. This, in a nutshell, is the downward trend of the Mercedes W13, a single-seater that should have continued the dominant path of the three-pointed star in the hybrid era of F1 and, instead, brought it to an abrupt, unexpected end.
If we consider that the highest point of this car came on the day of the collective photo at the second winter test, the one done in Sakhir, Bahrain, it is reasonable to understand how the most admired car during the tests was also the most thunderous flop.
A good number of podiums, but zero victories, although it was entrusted to the skilled and talented hands of drivers of the caliber of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Everything seemed prepared to continue the dynasty. Then the first, big difficulties. A nightmare start to the season, followed by a very long period of understanding the car, which required updates, modifications, weeks of work that gave good results, but not what was hoped for.
It is no coincidence that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told Austin that the Brackley-based team’s next single-seater, the W14 E-Performance, will be a conceptually different car from the one that continues to race in the 2022 World Championship. Formula 1.
“There are several reasons why we are slower than Red Bull,” admitted Wolff. “First of all, our car generates too much drag (drag). This is an aspect that we have to solve for next year and the Budget Cap plays an important role”.
“We can’t produce an infinite amount of low drag parts or spend a lot of time in the wind tunnel to find solutions. So it will be something we have to tackle for next year.”
George Russell, Mercedes W13
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Precisely because of the much drag generated by the W13, Mercedes engineers have decided to change course in the design of the W14. The future single-seater that will be unveiled in the first months of next year will have a completely different DNA from the current one.
“I believe that the DNA of the 2023 single-seater will be different from that of the current car, that’s clear. It doesn’t necessarily mean that our bodywork will look very different, but certainly what is part of the DNA of the car, the architecture of the same. we will change it “.
In the development of the W14, Mercedes will once again be able to count on more hours in the wind tunnel. Having won the 2021 Constructors world title, the team headed by Wolff has seen a reduction in the number of hours at its disposal as required by the sporting regulations. Now, with the third place acquired, he will be able to return to higher levels by being able to work more in the wind tunnel. This is an advantage that should not be underestimated over the course of 2023.
“In 2023 we will have a significant advantage, meaning we will be able to spend more time in the wind tunnel than Red Bull. For us this year was a disadvantage, because for the whole of 2021 we were the team leader and then we won the Constructors’ title. so throughout the first half of 2022 we had 7% less time for Red Bull in the wind tunnel than in the previous 18 months and much less for Ferrari. “
“Now the situation is reversed. Compared to Red Bull we will have 14% more time if we finish third in the World Championship and this, over time, is exactly the goal of the regulation: to give the potential to make up for the disadvantage”, concluded Wolff. .
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