Mercedes "absolutely desperate" to test "very, very different car"

Mercedes

Mercedes "absolutely desperate" to test "very, very different car"

Team launches its W13 on February 18

Ian Parkes

Saturday 5 February 2022 11:00

Mercedes power unit boss Hywel Thomas has conceded the team is now "absolutely desperate" to put the new W13 through its paces ahead of the latest F1 campaign.

The reigning F1 constructors' champions unveil their latest challenger on February 18, just five days before pre-season testing begins in Barcelona.

The switch to the all-new aerodynamic regulations has naturally been spotlighted, yet Mercedes has faced additional challenges on the PU side with the introduction of a new fuel for a system that will be frozen going into the new campaign.

It means the car that takes to the Circuit de Catalunya will have undergone one of the most dramatic transformations from one season to another in F1 history.

That has resulted in a degree of anxiety to see if the new car on track matches the performance seen behind the scenes, particularly as the W13 will react differently to recent machinery.

"The 2022 car is very, very different," remarked Thomas in a team video which can be viewed below.

"We know the aerodynamics are different, and from all the things we've been told from all the work we've done here with the team at Brackley, we believe the car will be doing slightly different things and the requests from the drivers will be different as they go through the corners than they were in previous years.

"We've got simulations, we've done all our calculations, we've modified the engine and the way the engine drives in order for us to be ready.

"And we'll be able to react to when the driver puts the power on, perhaps in a slightly different way, perhaps at a slightly different time.

"Of course, we're absolutely desperate to get to the first track test so we can see if those simulations are correct.

"Hopefully, they will be, if not we'll be ready to adjust the PU as necessary to make sure the driver gets exactly what they want when they ask for it."

In addition to the PU being frozen before the season for an expected period of four years ahead of the arrival of a new engine in 2026, the electrical systems will also be frozen midway through the coming year.

That has naturally presented considerable difficulties for Thomas and his team, with the only changes allowed in future being for reliability reasons.

"With the new fuel and the freeze to performance over the course of the season, and the whole new car, the whole new aerodynamics and fitting the PU within it, there is a huge challenge for everyone involved, especially the team up in HPP," added Thomas,

"Of course, that team is super excited to have those challenges and we are really looking forward to the start of the season."

You can watch the Mercedes video here...