Mercedes W03 officially revealed in Spain
2012 F1 cars
The Mercedes W03 has been shown off for the first time at the Circuit de Catalunya.
As seen in the spy shots last week, the W03 has a pronounced step in its nose, similar to that of several other F1 cars.
Team principal Ross Brawn said: “Notwithstanding the distinctive nose design, which is certainly an acquired taste, the F1 W03 is an elegant interpretation of the current regulations, and a clear step forward over its predecessor in terms of detail design and sophistication.
“Last year, we produced a very bold car and, although its more radical elements didn’t always deliver the results we had hoped for, the experience we gained has been invaluable to the design of the 2012 car.”
Mercedes will have high expectations of the W03 following the strengthening of its technical team over the last 12 months, which included the hiring of Aldo Costa, Geoff Willis and Bob Bell.
Vice president of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Norbert Haug said: “2012 will mark the third season for our Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows works team, which was introduced in January 2010, and our target is to take a step forward in on-track performance.
“A lot of work has been done throughout the last year, not just to design the new car but also to build a technical organisation that is capable of delivering to its full potential, with consistency. Our ultimate goal is to become regular race winners and championship contenders, and so to write another chapter of success in the story of the Silver Arrows which began 78 years ago.”
The team revealed the car is built of 4,500 parts – 200 more than its predecessor – and has a lower “core weight” than the W02, before ballast is added to bring it up to the minimum limit. They added the car passed all the FIA crash tests at its first attempt last month.
Mercedes tested the car at the Circuit de Catalunya prior to the start of today’s test.
Mercedes W03 pictures
-
- Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, Barcelona, 2012
-
- Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, W03, 2012
-
- Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, Barcelona, 2012
-
- Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, W03, 2012
-
- Mercedes W03, 2012
-
- Mercedes W03, 2012
-
- Mercedes W03, 2012
-
- Mercedes W03, 2012
-
- Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, Barcelona, 2012
-
- Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, Barcelona, 2012
-
- Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, Circuit de Catalunya, 2012
-
- Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, Circuit de Catalunya, 2012
2012 F1 cars
- New HRT F112 seen for the first time in Spain
- New Marussia MR01 breaks cover at Silverstone
- A closer look at the Caterham CT01
- Mercedes W03 officially revealed in Spain
- Picture: Mercedes W03 spied at Silverstone
- Mercedes W03 spotted testing at Silverstone
- Williams FW34 launch: First pictures of their 2012 F1 car
- Toro Rosso STR7 – first pictures and video of Toro Rosso’s 2012 F1 car
- Red Bull RB8 launch – first pictures and video of Red Bull’s 2012 F1 car
- Sauber C31 launch – first pictures and video of Sauber’s 2012 F1 car
Browse all 2012 F1 cars articles
Image © Mercedes, Daimler, Jamey Price/F1 Fanatic
Magnificent Geoffrey (@magnificent-geoffrey) said on 21st February 2012, 7:42
Hopefully, this is the car that will give Nico Rosberg his first, long=overdue victory.
ivz (@ivz) said on 21st February 2012, 7:45
For sure, Rosberg deserves his first win! It will really be interesting if Merc is up there this year, and makes it a four team battle for podiums. Can’t wait!
BasCB (@bascb) said on 21st February 2012, 8:23
It sure looks good, somehow all proportions fit and this looks like a complete car by Brawn. Its bodywork is really tight, you can see where its already scorched from the exhausts lying under it at the transition from floor to sidepods (at the back where the exhausts exited last year)
I would like to see both on the podium more regularly this year and that win would be great!
FlyingLobster27 said on 21st February 2012, 8:50
That’ll also depend on the size of the fuel tank. I too hope Nico gets Mercedes GP’s first win this year.
bananarama (@bananarama) said on 21st February 2012, 9:53
I sure hope grandmaster S manages to win them their first race. Marketing and emotion hand in hand ;-)
Hola said on 21st February 2012, 12:08
Yes! Idol S extended contract for 2 more years :)
Fixy (@fixy) said on 21st February 2012, 10:33
And Michael’s 92nd victory! But I hope it doesn’t win too much, I still prefer Ferrari :)
AmirAnuar (@amiranuar) said on 21st February 2012, 11:30
but i hope he will have 100th win before retiring for real
Aussie Fan said on 22nd February 2012, 2:17
Hey why not 150th win whilst we have our heads in the sky!
Mike (@mike) said on 23rd February 2012, 14:58
Well, with a good car, you never know…
CX9 said on 22nd February 2012, 5:33
And make it 8th WDC :)
ivz (@ivz) said on 21st February 2012, 7:43
Wow, very aggressive nose. Looks kinda good. Makes the Ferrari and Williams version look…………dull……….like they didn’t bother with that part of the car.
bearforce1 (@bearforce1) said on 21st February 2012, 7:47
Good point, there are many different approaches to dealing with the step. Really interesting except as you say for ferrari.
DuncF1 (@duncf1) said on 21st February 2012, 8:22
Yeah, that’s exactly what I thought – a really aggressive looking nose. I think the Merc looks great, I like it!
(I still hope the McLaren is faster though)
Calum (@edwardcj95f1) said on 21st February 2012, 20:21
not too aggressive i dont think, just right :) best looking 2012 car by far!!!!!!!
kkierann said on 21st February 2012, 7:45
looks good, they all look very happy, hopefully this car can spring a surprise
BBQ said on 21st February 2012, 8:16
Yeah, they are all in a kind of “battle of wits” …. Horner told us they were hiding EBD in last season opener, therefore it seems they have nothing to hide this season? ….. lets hope.
The more reason Newey is nervous a bit? …. time will tell.
Hare (@hare) said on 21st February 2012, 7:48
Seems to have raised outer edges to the stepped nose, and a smoother inner profile. They may have got around the nose height rules a little better than others..
Arijit (@arijitmaniac) said on 21st February 2012, 8:20
Yup exactly… That profiling makes the W03 kinda look aggressive…
I think Force India and Mercedes have the best looking stepped noses. Though I like the FI more… the stepped nose on the VJM05 almost makes the car look like a hawk…
Hare (@hare) said on 21st February 2012, 8:53
I thought it looked nice, until I saw this!
http://www.f1today.nl/foto.php?file=19628
Hare (@hare) said on 21st February 2012, 9:00
oddly, reminds me of a Beluga Whale… must be the colour: http://lat.ms/y2rdtn
Brolloks (@brolloks) said on 21st February 2012, 10:15
That last picture looks much more like FW de Klerk to me.
Arijit (@arijitmaniac) said on 21st February 2012, 9:00
Hmmm… Well its Force India then… That car really looks aggressive from the front… This one is well… not disappointing… But it looks like they have fit a sharp nose to the front of last years HRT!! Not that i’m saying that HRT looked aweful but in my opinion sharp noses and drooping noses dont go well together….
GeeMac (@geemac) said on 21st February 2012, 9:20
I see what you mean, that’s hideous. I think I’m going to have to start forcing myself to only look at the 2012 cars from the cockpits back!
matt90 (@matt90) said on 21st February 2012, 16:36
Pig ugly at the front, although I concede it looks not terrible if viewed from enough of an angle.
BasCB (@bascb) said on 21st February 2012, 8:32
It really does come over as a good thought out desing, especially when compared to Ferrari playing with LEGO.
Hare (@hare) said on 21st February 2012, 8:50
hahaha +1
Arijit (@arijitmaniac) said on 21st February 2012, 8:55
Ha ha ha… I like that part :D
ivz (@ivz) said on 21st February 2012, 7:49
Its funny when you think about it, the McLaren MP4-27 is going to look like the odd one out, lol.
nemo87 (@nemo87) said on 21st February 2012, 8:28
strange how alot of the teams have taken mclarens idea of the ovehead cooling just behind the T bar ..yet mclaren have dropped that idea..?
Optimaximal said on 21st February 2012, 10:17
McLaren had the rollbar cooling last year to work around the L-shaped side-pods allowing less air in.
It’s worth noting that all the Ferrari-engined cars have the additional inlets, be them on top (Ferrari, Sauber) or under the main inlet (TR).
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley) said on 21st February 2012, 7:54
I kind of like it actually. I’m very much used to the stepped noses now, so I can see past them and judge the cars on the beauty of the rest of it. But that colour scheme is just… I don’t know. It does nothing for me.
Mike (@mike) said on 21st February 2012, 8:00
Last years Merc was a much prettier car… As long as this one performs then it doesn’t really matter… But it’s definitely not a looker.
Girts (@girts) said on 21st February 2012, 8:06
The colour scheme is really too unimpressive but I like the touch of turqoise. The nose solution is quite interesting.
paxter said on 21st February 2012, 8:10
I dont think you can run that far if they were them… merc = silver arrow Petronas = turquoise
clay (@clay) said on 21st February 2012, 10:00
I agree @Mike. The 2011 merc was in profile at least the best looking car on the grid – I really liked it’s high wide nose. Shame it had Mercedes awful colour scheme and was slow. This nose profile is one of the better 2012 designs. Testing this week will be interesting!
Milansson (@milansson) said on 21st February 2012, 7:58
When I saw the spy pics last week, I was dissapointed.. Maybe it’s because I’m a fan of the Mercedes AMG team, but this nose does not look bad at all!!!
looking forward to see more pictures
PieLighter (@pielighter) said on 21st February 2012, 8:00
Looks nice.
paxter said on 21st February 2012, 8:01
CAR looks actually really good! hope it moves as good as it looks!
KeeleyObsessed (@keeleyobsessed) said on 21st February 2012, 8:16
Any word on the front wing? That is after all probably the biggest rumour surrounding this car…
BasCB (@bascb) said on 21st February 2012, 8:35
It sure does look very detailed and intricate
andae23 (@andae23) said on 21st February 2012, 8:35
I’m not sure, but it looks to me like the connection between nose and wing is a little bit fat: air duct?
Ace said on 21st February 2012, 8:16
I know they’d always smile for pictures, but do they look particularly pleased with themselves to anyone else? ;)
Girts (@girts) said on 21st February 2012, 8:22
Indeed, both look extraordinarily happy and the first statements are very optimistic, too.
KeeleyObsessed (@keeleyobsessed) said on 21st February 2012, 8:30
@Girts Well they can’t really say ‘Oh I don’t like this car and I don’t think we’ll be getting any improvements this year’, can they?
I hope they can take their team to the next level and join the top 3, I’d love to see Schumi back on top again, and I’m almost certain that most people here would feel slightly happy if he could challenge for wins..
nemo87 (@nemo87) said on 21st February 2012, 8:29
its strange how alot of the teams have taken mclarens idea of the ovehead cooling just behind the T bar ..yet mclaren have dropped that idea..?
Bendanarama (@bendana) said on 21st February 2012, 8:54
Hopefully it’s performance won’t be W03full.
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1) said on 21st February 2012, 9:27
+1 xD
McGregski (@mcgregski) said on 21st February 2012, 9:28
hahahaaha :D
soundscape (@soundscape) said on 21st February 2012, 11:16
COTD.
GeeMac (@geemac) said on 21st February 2012, 12:09
Best name since the Osella FA1L?
http://www.f1technical.net/f1db/cars/622/osella-fa1l
Adrian J (@adrian-j) said on 21st February 2012, 8:59
Looks like they replaced Schumi with a cardboard cutout in the first photo!!
vjanik said on 21st February 2012, 9:25
yeah. they all look like cardboard cutouts in that photo.
Optimaximal said on 21st February 2012, 10:20
That’s the key! Fake cardboard drivers to save weight whilst the real drivers drive the cars via remote control from the hospitality suite!
cjpdk (@cjpdk) said on 21st February 2012, 20:52
And then they can avoid the press when they crash out! Perfect
GeeMac (@geemac) said on 21st February 2012, 9:24
Not too bad looking actually. I wish Mike Shoe was sitting at a bit more of an angle in the second picture though, it would help obsure the step a bit!