Mercedes rolls out F1 W08 car

The Mercedes AMG F1 team have rolled out their car before its official launch at Silverstone, enabling photographers to take a peak at the car while Lewis Hamilton put it through its first laps on wet Pirelli tyres.

Featuring a slightly tweaked livery in silver and Petronas blue, the car immediately makes an impression as an already thoroughly developed package. It retains some of the key features of the 2016 car, including the rounded tip of the nose, an S-duct with a forward entry just behind the front wing pillars and a wide, but split airbox above the drivers helmet.

Unsurprisingly, it is especially that wide airbox that other teams have been adopting on their 2017 cars.

Mercedes also - for now - opted against a shark fin, instead adding a fairly modest extension to the engine cover which nicely integrates a very narrow central rear wing support that attaches underneath the rear wing's main panel. This solution is especially interesting in its simplicity when compared to other designs from Sauber or Renault.

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The Launch was held as part of the Team’s official 100 km Filming Day, during which the F1 W08 EQ Power+ completed its first laps on Silverstone’s 2.96 km International Circuit, in the hands of both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

The all-new F1 W08 EQ Power+ has been designed to maximize the performance opportunities offered by radically different aerodynamic regulations for the 2017 season which will probably see the new cars become the quickest in the history of the sport – while leaving sufficient scope for an in-season development rate expected to be among the fastest ever in Formula One.

The M08 EQ Power+ is the fourth iteration of the Turbo Hybrid generation of Power Units and has been conceived to withstand significantly increased physical loads and a more severe duty cycle under the new rules, while also maximizing potential performance developments.

Upon unveiling the new car, Toto Wolff commented:

“The new rules for 2017 were designed to make the fastest F1 cars ever through a big increase in aerodynamic performance. They should be more physical to drive and hopefully more spectacular for the fans to watch. The proof will come in the opening races but we have probably achieved that target.

“Of course, in terms of relative performance, it’s clear that any rule change brings with it a big reset but also a big opportunity. This is the time to stay humble and keep our feet on the ground. None of the teams has raced under these rules and we all have the same points right now: zero.

“But the dominant feeling in the team right now is one of excitement – the factory is buzzing with anticipation. It has been a really motivating challenge to develop a brand new car concept and I have never seen our determination to succeed higher than it is right now.

“Of course, we had a curve ball from Nico late last year that left us scrambling a little bit in the winter. But we found a great solution with Valtteri and I am sure that he will form a strong partnership with Lewis. They have both been working hard in the factory with the technical teams and, although we have a different dynamic to manage than in recent seasons, I don’t expect the competition between them to be less intense. And that’s how we like it.

“This year, in-season development will play a big role in determining the championship outcome. None of us know where we will stand at the first race but I am confident that, whatever that position is, we have the people and the capability to deal with every challenge that comes our way. This will be the season where our full works team can show its true strength.”