Mercedes confirms launch date for W15 F1 contender

Mercedes has confirmed that its 2024 W15 charger will be unveiled on Wednesday 14 February - a day after Ferrari - via a digital launch event broadcast live from Silverstone.

The Brackley squad has chosen Valentine’s Day – a day associated with love and romance – to launch its 2021 design, and just as love requires dedication and effort, Mercedes is putting in the hard work to regain their championship form.

After almost a decade of unparalleled success, winning eight consecutive constructors' championships, Mercedes' performance dipped significantly in 2022 and 2023, its performance undermined by F1’s new ground effect rules introduced in 2022.

Although it finished runner-up to Red Bull in F1’s Constructors’ standings last season, the team concluded its campaign a whopping 451 points behind its rival and without a single win to its name, a shortfall that has left it in pursuit of redemption this year.

Read also: Mercedes Brackley HQ expansion plans win council approval

The launch of the new car represents a fresh start for Mercedes and an opportunity to rekindle their competitive spirit and reclaim their position as the team to beat, with Lewis Hamilton - flanked once again by teammate George Russell - still in pursuit of a record eighth world championship.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has revealed that “almost every component” on its W15 has been changed relative to its predecessor, an approach that embodies the outfit’s renewed ambition and determination.

“We're changing the concept, we're completely moving away from how we laid out the chassis, the weight distribution, the air flow,” commented Wolff at the end of last season.

“Literally, there's almost every component being changed, because only by doing that, I think we have a chance.

“We could get it wrong also. So, between not gaining what we expect, to catching up and making a big step and competing at the front, everything is possible.

“If you ask me today, as always, scepticism, but that's the mentality of the team that pushes us forward, to never give up.”

The launch of the W15 will be available to watch via the team's social media channels.

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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.