Mercedes’ 2022 season did not go according to the script, as the team limped to a single race win in Brazil, courtesy of George Russell, and finished third in the constructors’ championship.
The major regulation changes at the start of the year gave teams a chance to reinvent themselves, but it was still thought that it would be business as usual at Mercedes, occupying the top spots come race weekends.
The W13 brought with it a return to the classic silver livery from the Silver Arrow’s early years in the sport, much to the excitement of fans, but it also brought with it some major issues.
Porpoising was a key part of Mercedes’ shortcomings in 2022, as the violent bouncing caused their drivers a lot of pain and cost the team half a seasons’ worth of development time while trying to fix the issue.
READ: Lando Norris makes surprising comment about ‘boring races’
Lewis Hamilton has joked that he will not be looking to insert a clause in his new contract that allows him to keep his W13, and team principal Toto Wolff has now suggested that the team will not be looking to show off their 2022 car.
“I think this car will always have a special place in our collection – very far back,” joked the Austrian.
“But I think that hopefully the next few years will do her justice, because the learning curve with that car was enormous.
“Our fundamental understanding of aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics correlation, has really had a step change, has gone through a step change of learning. And it will also not be forgotten as a car that dominated the Brazilian Grand Prix!”
READ: Sauber fire surprising warning at Fred Vasseur for joining Ferrari
Hamilton has claimed that he almost forgot what it was like to drive a normal F1 car last season, such was the poor performance of the W13 for most of the year.
With Christmas approaching, both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will be asking for a more competitive car in 2023, as both drivers, who are at opposite ends of their careers, have title ambitions for next season.
With Ferrari undergoing a change of management and Red Bull held back by their cost cap breach penalty, 2023 could provide the perfect opportunity for Mercedes to quickly bounce back from their 2022 failures.