MERCEDES are willing to scrap their 2023 car and introduce a back-up design if they fall behind Red Bull.
That is according to Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz who believes the German-based team are putting in place measures to avoid last season’s slow start.
If Mercedes get the car right, Hamilton could have a shot at a record-breaking eighth driver’s crown
Mercedes engineers will have been hard at work during the winter trying to cut the gap to champions Red Bull
Mercedes installed a unique “zero sidepod” design to their car last year as F1 saw sweeping rule changes that triggered major adjustments across the grid.
But the eight-times consecutive constructor’s champions quickly found themselves on the back foot with their bouncing car.
Red Bull and Ferrari led the field with Mercedes trying to cling on amid some embarrassing results.
Kravitz reports that Lewis Hamilton’s team are keeping faith with the car’s philosophy – but have other ideas on hand just in case.
He told Sky Sports: “They’re giving their big idea, which was a failure last year, one more go. But I believe they have a ‘Plan B’ in production.
“If they need to, they can go to a Plan B – which is the Red Bull or Ferrari-style of doing things – in the middle of the season.”
Mercedes are looking to be competitive again after a year out in the wilderness.
They will get to put their car concept to test in pre-season over the next few days.
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Testing last year gave the first sign that Mercedes had fallen from their perch with both Hamilton and teammate George Russell expressing frustration with the car’s flaws.
Kravitz thinks the once dominant team will soon return to the forefront following their mini-revival towards the end of the season.
He added: “These rules are what they are for a few years yet, so they’ve got to get it right at some point.
“But at the moment they’re saying ‘Look we think we’ve got a proper handle on what went wrong last year, we still think our way – which is unique in the pit lane – having very slim sidepods is the way to go aerodynamically.
“Most of the downforce is generated by the floor, which you can’t see, but they’re saying ‘Don’t expect anything too soon.'”
