Formula 1: Mercedes has been re-evaluating its W14 car design after realizing that its ‘zeropod’ concept is not delivering the desired results. The team has decided to change direction and has assured promising results from its Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel work. The changes will revolve around the sidepods, but the final concept shift will involve elements such as set-up window and ride height. Follow Formula One Live Updates Only On InsidesSports.in
The team’s main driver, Lewis Hamilton, has expressed disappointment in the previous model. The W14 design failed to keep up in the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian seasons, forcing the team to focus on bringing necessary upgrades to the model. Team principal Toto Wolff has made it clear that the team’s priority is to make the fastest possible Formula 1 race car. He has also stated that he is not bothered if their pursuit of a more competitive car results in a design that is similar to Red Bull’s.
Wolff said: “I think at this stage, we have no dogmatism of how the car should look like,” explained Wolff. “It just needs to be the quickest possible race car.
“And if that car looks like a Red Bull, or like SpaceX, I don’t care, it just needs to be quick.
“And if it’s a Red Bull, we will put a little bull somewhere with a sticker, and I will have no shame if it’s quick.”
Hamilton has been vocal about the model’s imperfections and the need for new plans to improve or change it. The Mercedes team is now ready to embrace a new direction in pursuit of speed, even if it means emulating the winning formula of Red Bull.
Mercedes W14’s zeropod design has been a crucial component that has been carried over from its predecessor. However, it might be replaced by a style reminiscent of Red Bull’s successful cars, which have won 11 of the last 12 races and the Constructor title in 2022.
Lovely move from @LewisHamilton on Sunday 👏pic.twitter.com/geiv11N61r
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 23, 2023
Wolff mentioned that the team is reconsidering Every aspect Of the car’s design and the sidepods. So it is clear that the car is literally being turned upside down all over at the moment and everyone is eagerly waiting for the result.
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