Mercedes W04 F1 car begins its pre-season testing programme tomorrow
Mercedes-Benz is showcasing its 2013 F1 car today ahead of the imminent start to pre-season testing, which begins tomorrow. The car, called Mercedes W04, will be campaigned by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Visually, the largest change from the 2012 car is around the front, where Mercedes has introduced a markedly different five-element wing. A second-generation Coanda exhaust is the most significant addition at the back of the W04. Mercedes' team principal Ross Brawn believes the W04 marks "a clear step forward in design and detail sophistication over its predecessor." Brawn is predicting a "step change" in performance over last season.
Speaking to Autocar at the Detroit motor show last month, Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche said the team's results in 2013 we not good enough. Following Rosberg's victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, the team struggled for the rest of the season and failed to score any points in five events towards the end of 2012.