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'Mercedes switches completely to Red Bull's RB19 concept in 2024'
- Sam Godber
Mercedes wanted to return to the top in 2023 after a disappointing first season following the introduction of the new F1 regulations. It failed to do so, however, and this became more than evident in Japan. In qualifying, both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton conceded more than a second to pole-man Max Verstappen and in the race, both Mercedes drivers were driven at around 50 seconds by the same Verstappen. That is why things are changing for 2024, F1 presenter Ted Kravitz reveals.
Mercedes struggles with new F1 regulations
The brand new F1 regulations went into effect in 2022, with drastically different bolides. These regulations brought back the so-called ground effect, making the floor now one of the most important, if not the most important part of the car. Mercedes set the tone in F1 before this rule change with eight constructors' titles in a row, but after the change, the German constructor managed to win only one race.
Mercedes changes concept in GP Monaco
Mercedes came up with an innovative solution for the new F1 regulations in 2022. The then W13 barely had sidepods, which is why it was called the 'zeropod' concept. In 2023, the W14 continued on this concept, but it was soon abandoned. Indeed, for the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, the W14 was quite different and the car suddenly had sidepods. With this, the German constructor was already taking a step towards the RB19's concept.
'Mercedes in '24 completely to Red Bull concept'
In 2024, however, Hamilton and Russell's team will move fully towards Red Bull's ideas, Kravitz told his show on Sky Sports after the race in Japan. "Lewis is more or less coming out and saying pretty much openly in every interview now, we are going to the Red Bull concept. We, at Mercedes, have seen what McLaren have done who have essentially copied the Red Bull concept and are going to go to that."