Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team has set their hopes on the brand new Mercedes MPG W02 that debuted in Valencia, during the first pre-season testing. After the disappointing results of the previous season, Mercedes hopes the MPG W02 will be far more competitive, and the team is aiming for podium finishes.The car's livery is an evolution from its predecessor with a striking high-gloss airbrush effect highlighting the shape of the car. The interaction between the Silver Arrows heritage and the green shading representing the team's title partner PETRONAS evokes memories of the first Silver Arrow car of 1934 with a modern touch.
However, even more impressive is its aerodynamic shape as the new Mercedes features a high-pitched nose and a slender rear section as seen on other 2011 cars. It also has the characteristic bumps on the front side of the cockpit, which Red Bull Racing used them first in 2009. The front wing runs along the complete width of the car, with two flaps on either side of the wing. The new features of the car include new side pods with aerodynamically shaped air intakes, and a new airbox.
Briton Ross Brawn, who is not only the team principal, but also the designer of the MPG W02, is happy with the result.
"It is always a thrill to see a new car ready to take the track for the first time and this year is no exception. We are now seeing the benefits of our chassis group and our engine group working well together. With a good technical structure and a strengthened race engineering organisation, both at the factory and the race track, I am confident that we have done and will continue to do a better job this year in all key areas. The concept development for the MGP W02 started early and we have set challenging targets for the design, combined with a robust plan to ensure that the pace of development can continue throughout the long 2011 season."
Mercedes-Benz Sport Vice-President Norbert Haug commented about the MPG W02.
"The new Silver Arrow for the 2011 season has little in common with its immediate predecessor. Our chassis engineers have taken a fairly ruthless approach and were determined to shave off every superfluous gram and millimetre. We have given it a brand new coat of paint, and we aim to see a smile on the faces of our hard-working drivers and team members that is as bright as our new silver livery."
The team's driver line-up remains unchanged with seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, who achieved the team's three podiums in 2010, forming one of the most exciting and talented pairings on the grid.
Michael Schumacher commented:
"Finally the waiting is over and things get started. For us drivers, the break every year is hard to take because the gap between the last race and the first time out on track seems to be never-ending. Even if I have been involved and updated all winter on the developments, and even if I know the improvements are significant, it is still different to see the new car literally for the first time in front of you. You automatically build up this nice pre-start tension. I very much look forward to the new season. We have said it several times already but again, we are really to building up something big together. I am very confident that this season we will be standing on the podium much more regularly; ideally in the middle!"
Nico Rosberg comemnted as well:
"It is always a very exciting time of year to drive the new car for the first time and feel how it performs out on track. This year we have the added challenge of not having an immediate reference due to the change in tyre manufacturer to the new Pirelli tyres, which felt good during our first try-out at the Abu Dhabi test last year. I am very much looking forward to having a much stronger season than last year and as always, our targets are aggressive. We want to be competing at the front and challenging for race wins. Everyone at our factories in Brackley and Brixworth has worked extremely hard on the new Silver Arrow and we are all looking forward to seeing how it performs."
The team hasn't yet announced its reserve driver while Nick Heidfeld who left the team to become Pirelli's driver is rumored that he will not return back and he will stay out of F1 action this season. Moreover, Auto Moto und Sport reported that Mercedes is expected to take complete control over its team by buying out the remaining shares held by Ross Brawn who will stay in the team as a simple employee.
