Lewis Hamilton and George Russell reveal the 2023 Mercedes F1 car, the W14

Michelle Foster
Mercedes launch W14 E Performance. Silverstone February 2023.

Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance Launch - Finn Pomeroy

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were on hand as Mercedes revealed the 2023 W14 during an online launch from the Silverstone circuit, the car set to hit the track later in the day.

Mercedes continued what has been a busy week of launches for the Formula 1 teams, the Brackley and Brixworth squad the penultimate outfit to unveil their 2023 car.

And it’s one the drivers hope will have very little porpoising, ideally none at all.

Last season Mercedes lost the Constructors’ Championship title to Red Bull, their bouncing W13 unable to fight for race wins, never mind the World title.

It took Mercedes valuable time to resolve that, after which they could finally focus on improving the car with the team making great strides in the latter part of 2022.

Those are lessons that have gone into this year’s W14 although Mercedes have opted to carry over the zero-pods of last season with this year’s all-black car.

They are, however, slightly wider as too is the engine cover.

Mike Elliott, the team’s technical director said: “When you look at the cars that have been released, it’s all in the detail.

“The key bits are we’ve completely changed the suspension to help with the handling.

“There are significant changes in the bodywork, although the core stayed the same.”

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This season Hamilton is hoping to be back in the fight, the Briton chasing what would be his record-breaking eighth World title.

The first task, though, is to get back onto the top step of the podium after he missed out last year which marked his first season in Formula 1 without a race win.

“I think it’s the combined energy of the team,” he said when asked what motivates him ahead of his 17th season. “I love being a part of the team that’s working towards a common goal

“I love racing, that’s never going to change, and I always believe I can do better. I love that challenge of having to deep dive and see if you can extra more performance.

“It’s not the same car every year, a new logbook you have to get used to, and I love that. I’d like to stay here a little longer.”

As for Russell, the birthday boy wants to add to his Sao Paulo Grand Prix win with pundits suggesting he could be the one to lead Mercedes’ charge this season.

“We’re all here to win, that’s why we’re here,” he simply said.

The drivers can look forward to racing a more powerful engine this season, Mercedes reportedly having found double digit gains, some suggest the number is 16hp, through reliability fixes over the winter.

Hamilton and Russell will have their first outing in the new car at Silverstone on Wednesday, Mercedes conducting a shakedown immediately after the launch.