Mercedes drivers complete full W14 shakedown

Mercedes completed a full 100-km shakedown with its new W14 at Silverstone on Thursday, but it was a soggy run for seven-times Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell onboard their new machine.

Signing off from Silverstone. 👋

To all our team-mates at Brackley and Brixworth who’ve made today possible, thank you. 🙏

We can’t wait to be back on track next week. 👏 pic.twitter.com/HnQeoMfvWy

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 16, 2023

The Silver Arrows – dominant and record-breaking force from 2014 to 2021, fell back to a shock third place last season and the W14 is the car tasked with returning title contention with Red Bull and Ferrari.

“It has been great to get up and running with the W14,” said Hamilton.

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“It is always a much-anticipated moment for everyone at the factory that has been working so hard; I’m incredibly grateful for all the effort that has gone in.

“The day has been smooth; we got through a good programme, and we’ve come away with some useful findings. I generally felt comfortable in the car and I’m excited to get going in Bahrain.”

First look @LewisHamilton on track in the W14. 🖤💛🤩 pic.twitter.com/CjzhyVTbX1

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 16, 2023

Russell had given the Brackley squad’s 2023 car its post-launch track debut on Wednesday.

The brief outing – rumored to have been curtailed by a minor engine issue, however, was classified as a ‘demonstration run’, and the team was back in action yesterday for a full ‘filming day’ on Silverstone’s short National Circuit loop.

Both drivers reported that it had been a trouble-free day despite the persistently bad conditions.