Mercedes launches F1W04 after its track debut
Mercedes AMG have launched their 2013 contender, named the F1 W04. The car is set to wash away the disappointing seasons that Mercedes has endured so far in Formula One, hence the new car is a fairly simple car, but one that the team aims to get really working on every track.
2 hours ahead of the launch, Mercedes gave Rosberg the green light to shake the car down at the Jerez track, allowing him to complete 2 laps with the new car. This meant that numerous photos were already available ahead of the actual launch of the car on the Jerez main straight.
Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton arrived at the official photo call at the wheel of two Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Black Series, the fifth Black Series model from Mercedes-AMG.
The new F1 W04 completed its first laps of today's 100 km shakedown at 10:21 CET in the hands of Nico Rosberg, who drove the car throughout the morning. Lewis Hamilton will take the wheel of a Formula One Silver Arrow for the first time this afternoon, the first British works driver since Sir Stirling Moss in 1955. The car will then complete four days of testing this week in Jerez, in the hands of Nico and Lewis.
"With the technical regulations remaining stable in 2013, ahead of major changes for 2014, the basic vehicle concept of the F1 W04 is a sophisticated evolution of last year's car. Led by Engineering Director Aldo Costa, under the coordination of Technical Director Bob Bell, the project commenced with initial aerodynamic testing in early summer 2012."
"The aerodynamic design philosophy has been optimised around a new five-element front wing design and a second-generation Coanda exhaust at the rear. The car retains pushrod front suspension and a pullrod rear suspension, aimed at optimising tyre life and performance, while the rear end has been aggressively packaged to optimise aerodynamic development potential. The F1 W04 also does away with the stepped nose design of its predecessor thanks to a small 'vanity panel', which was found to offer a small gain during aerodynamic testing. The car completed its final mandatory FIA crash test on 15 January. "
The F1 W04 will now complete 12 days of pre-season testing prior to the first race in Melbourne. This week's testing plan is as follows: Tuesday & Thursday, Nico; Wednesday & Friday, Lewis.
