Last gift for Hamilton
Mercedes is changing almost everything about its Formula 1 car
February 14, 2024, 3:20 p.m
The last Silver Arrow for the Formula 1 superstar: With the W15, Mercedes wants to attack Red Bull and lead Lewis Hamilton to victories again. The car surprises with a new paint job and numerous technical changes. For good reason, as the team boss reveals.
Record world champion Lewis Hamilton will contest his final Formula 1 season for the German factory racing team in a striking new Mercedes painted silver and black. The car with the technical identification W15 for the 15th season of the Silver Arrows since returning to the premier motorsport class with its own racing team was presented at Silverstone. “It was a very busy winter,” said team boss Toto Wolff after being informed by Hamilton around two weeks ago that he would be racing for Ferrari from 2025. “We definitely want to give him another fast car,” assured Wolff.
“Almost every component has been changed because I think that’s the only way we have a chance,” said Wolff. In addition to the aerodynamic adjustments, there were also many mechanical changes that are not visible from the outside. After the unsuccessful experiment with very small side pods at the beginning of the preseason, Mercedes, like the other teams, is now fully relying on the so-called downwash structure and adapting the vehicle concept to it. The Silver Arrows are also taking a new approach to the rear suspension. A more reliable rear axle and more speed on the straights are the two main goals with the new car.
The past few weeks have been emotional and now standing in front of the new car is very surreal, said Hamilton. The 39-year-old seven-time champion has been with Mercedes since 2013. “I have always loved driving in this team,” he emphasized. However, the 103-time Grand Prix winner has been waiting for his next victory since his success at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on December 5, 2021.
“There’s a saying that goes, ‘When it hurts, you don’t forget it.’ I believe that the last two years have been important for us to realign, recalibrate and reinvent ourselves in certain areas,” explained team boss Wolff, referring to the past seasons. After years of dominance, Mercedes was recently left behind by Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
“It won’t be a straight path, but if we stumble, we will get back up and keep going,” announced Wolff. After the filming in Silverstone, the only test drives are on the program from February 21st to 23rd. The season also begins at the Bahrain International Cicuit on March 2nd with the first of 24 races. Hamilton and teammate George Russell should have a car that they enjoy again, emphasized Wolff. One of the replacement drivers at Mercedes is Mick Schumacher.