With a silver arrow painted black again, Mercedes wants to start the attack on the new Formula 1 industry leader Red Bull.
The German team presented the W14 – the latest model of the Silver Arrow since the factory team returned for the 2010 season. The fact that it is black, like in 2020 and 2021, serves to reduce the overall weight. “It’s great that he’s black again,” said superstar driver Lewis Hamilton.
“He looks good,” enthused team boss Toto Wolff at the presentation of the new racing car before the first laps at Silverstone and assured: “We leave no stone unturned in search of milliseconds. This year we will do everything to return to the top.”
Mercedes also had to admit defeat to Red Bull in the Constructors’ World Championship last year – after eight triumphs in a row. In the drivers’ standings, Max Verstappen also defended his 2021 title.
Lewis Hamilton always wants to get better
The Dutchman prevented Hamilton’s eighth world title in the Red Bull again, with which he would be the sole record holder in the premier class of motorsport. The 38-year-old Briton still shares the record with Michael Schumacher. “I always believe that I can get even better,” emphasized Hamilton, who loves the challenge of teasing even more performance out of himself.
Wolff does not look forward to talks about a contract extension with Hamilton. The fact that the Brit is of advanced age at 38 has no influence on the negotiations. “Age doesn’t matter for the next contract,” said Wolff.
Hamilton switched to the German factory racing team for the 2012 season as successor to Michael Schumacher. He won six of his seven drivers’ titles with the Silver Arrows. In the past two years, however, he failed to overtake Michael Schumacher with his eighth title and become the sole record holder in Formula 1. His current contract runs until the end of this year.
“He knows what he has in the team,” emphasized Wolff. The 51-year-old Austrian also does not assume that doubts about the team’s performance will play a role in Hamilton’s decision after last year without a title.
Schumacher, who is now 54, was also the focus of attention in January 2010 at the presentation of the first Formula 1 Mercedes after returning as a factory racing team during his comeback for the German car manufacturer. Son Mick Schumacher will be there as a reserve and simulator driver for Mercedes this season.
Mick Schumacher: “I’m here to learn”
23-year-old Mick Schumacher assured him that he would do his best to support the regular drivers and “for myself: I’m here to learn to take as much with me as possible and to use it in the future.” After two years, he had not received a new contract with the American Haas team.
The second regular driver alongside Hamilton is his British compatriot George Russell, who emphasized: “We’re all here to win, it’s that simple. We all don’t want to repeat it in 2022.”
