Raptor22 wrote:the only certainty is that it will be another dog.
Mercedes still do not understand W03, hence they are abandoning the concept started with W02.
Failing to understand W03 seems to indicate there's an engineering management problem within the engineering team. Either they don't have the right resources, or they have too many top names with too much portfolio overlap or the list could be endless as to where their problems lie.
My bet is for at least more consistent performance from W04 and a solid mid field performer with Lewis mythical 0.4secs bring it home just off the podium regularly.
They will likely luck into another win
you say that, but remember - they had to make the transition from the 50% model to the 60% model - and from what Bob Bell said that's quite a huge step.
Also, now that they have full Daimler ownership, I'm sure more resources (not just money) will pour in from Stuttgart. whether that be process management, or other operational resources we don't know.
Back on to the topic of the Car itself. Concepts that are being carried over is the Coanda effect exhaust, and the super-trick suspension, and from what has been said as they're ditching the DDRS they'll be able to make more in-roads with front wing development. which is where they've been lacking all this time, as the DDRS elements in the front wing were a bit of a "bottle-neck" in development terms