Wolff reveals new Mercedes F1 concept already in the wind tunnel

Toto Wolff has revealed that Mercedes are already evaluating an alternative concept for their W14 in a bid to turn their F1 season around.
George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain, Race
George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 World Championship,…

Mercedes started F1 2023 in disappointing fashion as Lewis Hamilton finished a distant fifth, over 50 seconds behind eventual race winner Max Verstappen.

While Mercedes have cured their porpoising issue, their current car simply lacks overall downforce relative to Red Bull and Aston Martin.

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Reported by AMuS, Mercedes are weighing up two new concepts, although they will have to make a decision quickly to save their season.

“It’s been done in the wind tunnel, but it’s not just about the sidepods or how the car looks from the outside,” he told ORF

“We have to dig into the data and decide which direction to go in.”

With there being only two more races from now until the end of April following the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix, teams will have a lot of time to develop and bring new upgrades.

How quickly Mercedes can introduce a new concept is unclear given that McLaren will do so in Baku on April 30.

The Woking team decided this in January - four months prior to next month’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Toto Wolff (GER) Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day Two.-
Toto Wolff (GER) Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director…

Thus, Mercedes will have to work quickly if they’re able to introduce it for Imola in the middle of May.

“We don't throw in the towel,” Wolff told AMuS. "The budget cap will not limit us. 

“We just have to make the decision now in which direction we are going and then get the data to work.”

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