Mercedes have unveiled their new W12 car set to be driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas across the 2021 Formula One season.
Unlike its predecessor, the W12 has a plain black livery with the three pointed stars removed with multiple copies of the AMG logo instead scattered across the rear engine cover, which features a fade towards the team’s former silver colour scheme despite the rear wing remaining black.
The top of the car now is covered in bright red containing the INEOs logo following the company’s decision to become a joint shareholder in the team shortly before Xmas.
Other changes made from the W11 includes a new floor in line with aerodynamic changes, refined curved front wing end plates and improved cooling systems just behind the front tyres.
Mercedes also confirmed that Stoffel Vandoorne will again be their reserve driver despite being snubbed in favour of Williams’ George Russell at 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, which Hamilton was forced to sit out the race due to Coronavirus.
Vandoorne however won’t be the only reserve driver for the reigning seven-time champions this season, with the addition of his Formula E teammate and 2019 F2 champion – Nyck De Vries to the reserve roster.
‘Old friend in many ways’
Mercedes Technical Director, James Allison described the new W12 as like reuniting with a old companion, saying: “It doesn’t take more than a glance to see that it is an old friend in many ways. Same monocoque, same gearbox, lot of the same structures underneath as last year.”
Alisson however pointed out ‘that there are some fairly significant differences’, to certain aspects like side boxes, new aerodynamic finery and the engine cover which he remarked as being like a ‘rather sexy looking bulge’ and hiding work which has been done to produce extra power for this season.
The 53 year-old however is keeping coy on the flooring as he commented: “The bit that we are not showing you is down along the edge of the floor . That area is the bit most affected by the new regulations.”
Team Principal, Toto Wolff meanwhile spoke heavily of a crystal ball anthology by describing the crystal ball as not yet working nor ‘never predicts the future’ which he hopes will prevent Mercedes from resting on their laurels as they begin the season from zero following technical rule changes.
Wolff also revealed that there never are any expectations in fear of complacency, saying: “With the team, all of us together with the drivers never have expectations because there is always some kind of scepticism as to whether we have done a good enough job over the winter…”
Another aspect behind that thinking is the fear of getting caught by the likes of Red Bull and Aston Martin, as Wolff explained: “We know that if we don’t push ourselves each and every single day, we might fall back and the sheer thought is scary.”
2021 sees Mercedes retain their 202 driver line-ups alongside Alfa Romeo and Williams whilst the others have made driver changes, which doesn’t faze Wolff who feels that stability is important, saying: “Stability is key in every team and we work as a group collectively. We have two drivers that respect each other whilst racing one another hard out there.”
On the driver front, Hamilton has shifted his focus slightly from challenging for titles to improving diversity, saying: “In the past, it was just about winning championships but now it is about pushing forward. Last year, there was a lot of discussion about the quality and inclusion so this year is all about pushing for the diversity and really making sure that action is taken.”
The seven-time world champion also spoke of the decision behind his new one-year contract, commenting: “I am in a fortunate position where I have achieved most of the stuff that I wanted to achieve up to this point so need to necessarily plan too far ahead into the future…”
Bottas meanwhile admitted that he has learned a ‘lot of lessons’ from 2020 which he has taken on board throughout the winter break in terms of processing and learning how he can be better moving forward into this season.
On the task of trying to deny Hamilton an eighth crown, Bottas described it as ‘motivating’ and ‘challenging’ as both drivers ‘hate losing despite ‘working as a team’ as teammates.
Bottas however admitted that Hamilton is the benchmark in each race by virtue of being his teammate, saying: “We like winning and naturally every time when in the car you try to beat everyone and that includes your teammate because you are in the same car and it’s the benchmark.”
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