Mercedes has unveiled its new W15 challenger, the car that the Silver Arrows squad hopes will carry it back to the front of the grid.
The new machine’s first visible difference is the return of silver to complement the team’s now traditional black base.
The presence of the gleaming hue is perhaps unsurprising in a year when the Silver Arrows mark their 90th anniversary.
But the W15’s most significant differences compared to its troubled predecessor are its aero package and the components hiding under the hood, all of which have significantly evolved or radically changed to help boost the fortunes of a team that has claimed just a single win in 44 races.
"We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front,” commented Mercedes team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff. “There are no miracles in this sport.
“But our ambition and determination are strong. Since charting this new course, development has progressed well.
“We had several items on our priority list for this car. We will soon see if we've made the step we've aimed for."
Commenting on the W15’s livery and the return of silver, Wolff says the scheme is a true reflection “of who we are”.
"Performance was always at the forefront of our minds with the black livery last year," Wolff explained.
"Weight is a crucial factor in this current generation of cars. We knew that, once we were in position to do so, we would bring back the Mercedes silver to accompany the black that has become a pillar of our team identity.
“The livery truly reflects who we are as a team with the distinctive colours of INEOS and PETRONAS providing important highlights."
©Mercedes
Mercedes will shake down its contender today at Silverstone, but the work will start in earnest next week in Bahrain where teams will set up shop for three days of pre-season testing followed by the opening round of the 2024 F1 world championship at Sakhir on March 2.
"We're intrigued to see how the car will perform,” added Wolff. “We hope to have solved some of the inherent problems and we will get our first indications of the progress we've made during pre-season testing.
“From there, we will understand more about the challenge that is ahead of us.
“There are no crystal balls in this sport. But we will at least know the gap we are aiming to close down. Our ambition is strong and we're ready to get going.”
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