A new beast broke cover today, ready to rip into the 2017 Formula One season with record breaking speed.
Arguably the box fresh Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+ has the biggest shoes to fill at the pinnacle of four-wheel circuit racing; as it lines up to defend a triple World Championship winning legacy set by the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Designed to meet the dramatic rule changes set out for the coming year’s racing, the new Silver Arrows boasts an aggressive look; sporting wider tyres and a hard-hitting aerodynamics package.
In fact the rule changes could see the new cars hit previously unmatched lap times, with the redesigned powertrain, increased grip from the new tyres, and aero packages allowing Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to stamp on the gas pedal for around 10% more per lap.
As the covers were pulled off the new racer in front of the world’s media at the legendary Silverstone Circuit – just a stone’s throw from the Team HQ in Brackley, the atmosphere was buzzing. Team Boss Toto Boss explains:
“The new rules for 2017 were designed to make the fastest F1 cars ever through a big increase in aerodynamic performance. They should be more physical to drive and hopefully more spectacular for the fans to watch. The proof will come in the opening races but we have probably achieved that target.
“Of course, in terms of relative performance, it’s clear that any rule change brings with it a big reset but also a big opportunity. This is the time to stay humble and keep our feet on the ground. None of the teams has raced under these rules and we all have the same points right now: zero. But the dominant feeling in the team right now is one of excitement – the factory is buzzing with anticipation. It has been a really motivating challenge to develop a brand new car concept and I have never seen our determination to succeed higher than it is right now.”
Lewis Hamilton was first up in the driver’s seat of the new F1 W08 EQ Power+, completing an early set of installation laps on Silverstone’s 2.96km International Circuit. Jumping out of the car, Lewis told us: “It’s been a fantastic winter and an exciting training season for me,” explained Lewis of his preparations for the increased physical demands of 2017.
“I’ve added a new element to my training regime that has kept it really enjoyable and I’m in great shape. Then I’ve visited the factory and that has been super encouraging to see the way in which everybody is working. “After all the success we have had, people could be sitting back and resting on their achievements. So it’s inspiring to see how everybody is pushing even harder than ever and taking nothing for granted at all. “This is the most exciting period of the year when the car comes together – and my privilege as a driver is then to get to feel what it’s like and what all the team has worked for.
Of course, the arrival of a fresh car was not the only major change for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. 27-year-old Finnish hot-shoe Valtteri Bottas steps into the Silver Arrows garage alongside Lewis Hamilton, to take the seat vacated by 2016 F1 drivers’ champion Nico Rosberg. Sharing his new team’s excitement, Valtteri said:
“It’s a new chapter in my career, a new team, new regulations… new everything! I’ve been waiting for a long time to get this car out on track and, although this is just a Filming Day, I’m looking forward to starting to test properly next week in Barcelona and to really understand the car that we’ve been given by everybody in Brixworth and Brackley. It has been a busy winter for me since signing with Mercedes and we have tried to make the most of the time we have had.
“We’ve been going day by day, making the most of each one, spending a lot of time in Brackley and going through as much stuff as possible with the engineers. I feel well prepared in such a short time but, of course, the learning curve is still steep and I’m getting more useful information every day. It’s up to us to make the most out of the time together. In terms of my physical preparation, I think I have done the most amount of training of any winter so far. I have done some good training camps and feel in the best shape I’ve ever been, definitely ready for the season ahead.
“Right now, it’s a very exciting feeling for me. I want to say a big thank you to everyone in our factories for getting this car ready to go. It’s been a massive effort and I’ve got a lot of respect for the shape we are in at the moment. But it’s only the first step – and this is where the work really begins.”
Keep it locked with us to find our how Lewis, Valtteri and the box fresh F1 W08 EQ Power+ get on when they begin their official test programme in Barcelona, Spain, from the 27th February.
Credit:Monster