New Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance Race Car Unveiled
Giancarlo Perlas February 16, 2023
The Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team readies itself for another shot at the titles this season. Recently, the three-pointed star marque unveiled its new race car, the Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance.
After failing its bid for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, Mercedes is taking all the experiences and lessons it gleaned last season. All that is carried over in enhancing the features of the W14 race car.
New Look
The most noticeable feature of the W14 race car is its new paint job, which ditches its signature silver look. This time, the car comes in all-black.
Back in 2020 and 2021, Mercedes turned its Silver Arrows into black in order to promote and support diversity and equality in the sport. This season, the team decided to get back into it for a good reason, and this can be perfectly explained during the interview with Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff.
Recalling how the Silver Arrows came to be, Wolff noted that the white race car of the team used to be over the scales. Therefore, they stripped down the paint to keep its aluminum body bare, wherein it finally made weight.
Using the same concept, the team left the matte carbon of the race car intact to shed off some grams and contribute to its lighter and more aerodynamic frame. Wolff claimed that tests showed huge improvements in the performance of the W14 compared to its predecessor due to the changes implemented.
Porpoising Issues Addressed
Meanwhile, the team also had to focus on addressing the porpoising issue during the development of the W14. Hywel Thomas, Managing Director of Mercedes High-Performance Powertrains, noted that the problem not only caused major inconvenience to its drivers, but it also left the engines “battered and bruised”. With that, Mercedes F1 had to make the power units of its cars sturdier while making the cockpit more comfortable and safer for the drivers.
Drivers
The primary drivers of Mercedes F1 remain the same. Its star driver Lewis Hamilton and his equally dynamic partner George Russel will contend for the titles this year. Meanwhile, Mick Schumacher will be kept on standby as a reserve driver for the team.
