Mercedes does not rule out switch to Red Bull F1 concept

Mercedes does not rule out switching to Red Bull Racing's Formula One concept next year, while the team evaluates how to leapfrog it for 2023.

The German has had a difficult season so far, with the W13 plagued by excessive porpoising. While the team's zero-sidepod design was initially praised, it failed to deliver what Mercedes was hoping for. However, the team has refused to abandon the concept as yet, as the design is not believed to contribute to the problems of porpoising.

Mercedes does not rule out switching to Red Bull concept

However, with more and more teams copying Red Bull Racing's side pod design and suggesting that this is the best solution, Mercedes too admits that it is considering following Adrian Newey's example. The team will probably not do this during the current season, but according to technical director Mike Elliott, we might see the Red Bull concept at Mercedes in 2023. He tells Autosport.com.

However, the team will only make that switch if their own concept really doesn't work. That will become apparent when a solution to the porpoising problem is finally found, which is likely to be the case this weekend at Silverstone. After that several concepts will be evaluated, including Red Bull Racing's. Elliott acknowledges that it would be 'stupid' not to have a certain amount of humility and think that you might be wrong. So who knows: maybe after Aston Martin's green Red Bull, we'll also see a silver version in 2023.