It was only yesterday when Mercedes amped their fans up with the unveiling of their 2023 car. The black livery from 2020 made a comeback and some visible changes raised some eyebrows. All in all, everyone believed they were ready to dump the woes from 2022 behind them and make a fresh beginning. However, the latest developments coming out from Brackley aren’t too reassuring and Lewis Hamilton supporters are in absolute shambles.
After dominating the sport for 8 long years, Mercedes finally had a season where they were left struggling to adapt to the latest regulations introduced by the FIA. The car had some porpoising and overweight issues. While porpoising issues were, more or less, resolved as the season progressed towards the latter stages, the team has taken some desperate measures to tackle the weight issues this year. That they achieved with the use of black livery, leaving big areas with carbon fiber exposed.
The distressing developments coming out from the Mercedes quarters
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Before the filming day today, Mercedes had a shakedown session yesterday with the brand-new W14. However, as per the popular Twitter handle Virutas de Goma, the car hit a snag. During the run at Silverstone, the 2023 challenger had some ignition and misfiring issues.
They wrote, “The premiere of the Mercedes W14 has not been the dream. After the presentation, they have put it to roll in the Silverstone and it has given engine problems. They have sent the unit in for repair. It had ignition problems, misfiring and misfiring. They knew what was going to happen to them. They fear a repeat.” [Translated using Google]
Have a look at how fans reacted to the news.
You’ve got to be shitting me https://t.co/rIpxpCu3Hv
— SwtltmBambi63 (@Swtltm) February 15, 2023
W14 have PU problems 🥶!!? but it’s better now than later. https://t.co/yOUYGb6rH2
— ahmed baokbah 🇸🇦🏎✈️ (@ahmed_baokbah) February 15, 2023
One user was amazed at the fact that the season hasn’t even started yet and Mercedes has already started encountering issues with the car.
But the season has not even started. https://t.co/G8VlYQiBfW
— iiezy (@isimi_exe) February 15, 2023
Should be a fun season then? https://t.co/3zutBymwmn
— Motsamayi (@walker8701) February 15, 2023
Not even a whole 24 hours have passed https://t.co/LKkQRpWPfp pic.twitter.com/37Evy88BzF
— Bab'Zulu🎺 (@Just_Zulu) February 15, 2023
Some fans have had enough of watching their team fail. One even fired an ultimatum at the team principal, Toto Wolff, to get the issue resolved immediately.
Toto Wolff I’m giving you 2 races at max buddy https://t.co/i2OC1vPTCM
— ` (@merctial) February 15, 2023
i've waited for nothing then. https://t.co/MYxbAXkf83
— 👀 (@freuxhs) February 15, 2023
Some fans remained hopeful that the issue wasn’t any big concern.
Nah bro, I hope this is no big deal https://t.co/0tsKLjlRFO
— Marius (@f1fever2) February 15, 2023
We are finished https://t.co/XHXawPQ3U3
— Marjerruaria (@Marjerreria) February 15, 2023
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Watch This Story: Lewis Hamilton’s F1 Car Has Its Own Lego Set, But He’s Not In It
let the suffering begin 🙏🏼 https://t.co/L9w7IsHm99
— ⁴⁴ (@forty4sixty3) February 15, 2023
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Virutas de Goma later reported that the issue was not a serious one. It happened because of an error in mounting the engine on the chassis. If it really is the case, Hamilton and George Russell fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Otherwise, they could be in for another very long season.