Mercedes explain challenge of creating car to "survive" on track

Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott has explained the challenges of creating a car for F1's new regulations that will "survive on track".

The W13 was revealed in a launch at Silverstone ahead of the first pre-season test, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell taking part in a shakedown hampered by stormy conditions.

F1 has introduced radically changed regulations for the new campaign with the aim of increasing overtaking opportunities and subsequently provide a more exciting product to fans.

Speaking at the team launch, Elliott said: "I think the reality is the biggest change is the aerodynamic rule change and so it is trying to understand what that means to us, what changes in the flow features and how we can recover that, how can we produce the best car we possibly can in that world?

"When you do that, you are then looking at every other opportunity you can get. You are looking at how you can package things so we can get that aerodynamic performance we want and it takes a massive team effort.

"It is a lot of group working and concept development and a lot of 'how do we turn that into something we can actually make, something that is going to work and something that is actually going to survive on track?'

"That is not only within the site at Brackley but that is also working with our colleagues at Brixworth, working together to try and produce something we have got in front of us."

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