Mercedes F1 is looking towards 2023, but still doesn’t know which concept to use
Mercedes is still in search of its first victory in 2023. With effective car strategies, despite a performance that is not as good as its competitors, Mercedes could end the season with a win. But it seems that the manufacturer is already focused on 2023.
Mercedes, who has secured 8 Formula 1 constructor titles in the last 8 seasons, is not at the level of its competitors this year. The reigning champion has not achieved the desired performances but remains competitive with several double podiums. Currently ranked 3rd, Mercedes will not be able to catch up with Red Bull, although a comeback against Ferrari is still possible.
The main reason for this performance drop in 2023 is the innovative design of the W13. The engineers focused on increasing the maximum ground effect, thus reducing the size of the normally wide side pods. The development of the solution became complicated when the data between the factory and the testing trials did not correlate.
We lacked tools, simulations, and understanding to discover the problems we have with the car. We couldn’t make it work the way we wanted, whether it was aerodynamics or even mechanics. It took us months to undo some of our developments that had taken wrong directions.
Expected progress with the W14 next year.
The German manufacturer is now focused on next year. They seem to have understood their mistakes in the design of the W13 and do not want to replicate them with the W14. Lewis Hamilton seems confident about this car and believes he can return to a leading role in the 2023 season.
« There is potential in the car. We have a lot of support generated with this single-seater, it’s just that in some places we can’t use it because of the track configuration. So I am comfortable with the direction we are taking. »
« I have 1000% confidence in the guys at the factory who assemble all these puzzle pieces, and I have no doubt that we will be back in a good position next year.
The concept of the 2023 car has not leaked yet and has not been decided by the manufacturer. The track engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, remains calm and believes that the concept of a car makes it the best.
« It is always said that the fastest car is the one that has the best concept, so you know, today it would be Red Bull. It is difficult to say at this point what it will be like next year. As a team, we have not yet decided what our car will look like. We are still exploring different concepts. And this process will take some time.
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Mercedes is currently 3rd in the championship, 33 points behind Ferrari.
