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AUSTIN, TX – Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Great Britain and Niki Lauda of Germany and Mercedes during the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Peter J Fox/Getty Images)
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AUSTIN, TX – Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Great Britain and Niki Lauda of Germany and Mercedes during the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Peter J Fox/Getty Images)
Mercedes recently started a series on their YouTube channel titled, The Silver Arrows Story. The series reveals interesting stories and secrets behind the Brackley team’s modern-day Formula 1 machines.
In their recent video, the team shares the story of their 2013 beast, W04. The last of the V8s, a start of a special relationship between Lewis Hamilton and the Brackley team. Justin from Mercedes takes us through the Briton’s first test and how things didn’t quite go according to the plan.
During the test, there was an issue with the brakes and Hamilton crashed the car. Unfortunately, because it was the starting of the season, there weren’t enough parts to rebuild the car.
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Justin then explained,
” [Mercedes] got the spare parts flown out on Toto’s plane. They touchdown put them in the car and got it rebuild for the following day.”ALSO READ – Would Lewis Hamilton Be Regarded Differently Had He Not Won the 2008 World Championship?
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The Beginning of a New Era for Mercedes
As Justin clarified, the Mercedes 2013 car was a demonstration of what a team can achieve if it changes its culture, mindset and way of working. The engine was not the only thing that was new at the team. The team had a management change with Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda coming into the team.
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 13: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP, Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP and Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff talk on stage at the F1 Live event during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
The pair along with the new car and Lewis Hamilton claimed 360 points and finished in the P2 position. It was an enormous improvement over the last season where the team finished in P5 with 142 points.
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The Mercedes-Hamilton pair has since absolutely dominated the sport. The contract between them ended towards the end of the 2020 season, and they have been in consistent talks of a renewal. Toto Wolff has said that confirmation could take up to pre-season. Lewis Hamilton is chasing a record-breaking eighth championship win. Do you think the champ will make history with the W12?
