Hamilton takes confidence from Mercedes return to black livery

©Mercedes

Ahead of the start of the 2023 F1 season, Lewis Hamilton says he's buoyed by Mercedes' choice to return to a black livery for its W14, as the decision was first and foremost performance-related.

After introducing its black livery at the belated start of the 2020 season, a move that signaled Mercedes' commitment to fighting racism and discrimination in all its forms, the Brackley squad returned to its silver arrow identity last year.

But for 2023, black was once again declared the new silver by Mercedes. While diversity and equality remain close to the German manufacture's heart, the switch was mainly done to lower the weight of the team's new challenger.

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"We were overweight last year," explained Toto Wolff at last week's Mercedes launch.

"This year we have tried to figure out where we can have some raw carbon bits, along with some that are painted matte black."

Hamilton saluted Mercedes' decision to revert to black and the seven-time world champion took confidence from the reasons for which it was done.

©Mercedes

"Everyone in the team, well pretty much everyone in the team, or in the garage at least, preferred the black car from before," said the Briton. "So everyone’s with it, everyone likes it within the team.

"Ultimately weight is a key goal for us, we were overweight all year last year and so we were carrying a weight penalty even into the last race. So that’s been a heavy focus to try to make sure that’s not the case this year.

"We’ll find out later on whether or not we’ve hit that mark, because even last year they thought they were going to be on weight and we were way over.

"So I’m glad that that’s been taken seriously, and that’s what we see in the paint. We see a lot of carbon, not too much paint on the car. It’s the bare minimum.

"For me, it’s positive because that means that it’s all-out for performance, and it’s not necessarily how it looks, it’s about how quick it goes."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.