Mercedes F1 W04
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
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| Constructor | Mercedes | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) |
Aldo Costa (Engineering Director) Bob Bell (Mercedes Technical Director) Geoff Willis (Technology Director) |
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| Predecessor | Mercedes F1 W03 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre composite monocoque incorporating front and side impact structures | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Pushrod suspension | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Pullrod suspension | ||||||||||
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz FO 108F 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 (90°). Naturally aspirated, 18,000 RPM limited with KERS | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Xtrac 1044 with Mercedes AMG housing , 7-speed semi-automatic paddle shift gearbox including reverse, hydraulic/programmable limited-slip differential units | ||||||||||
| Power | 750-830 hp (559-619 kW) @ 18000 rpm depending on KERS mode | ||||||||||
| Weight | 642 kg | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Petronas | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet) | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 9.  Nico Rosberg10.  Lewis Hamilton
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| Debut | 2013 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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The Mercedes F1 W04 (originally known as the Mercedes AMG W04) is a Formula One racing car designed and built by the Mercedes team for use in the 2013 season. It was driven by 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who joined the team after Michael Schumacher's retirement, and Nico Rosberg, who remained with the team for a fourth season. This was the first Mercedes car to feature sponsorship from BlackBerry.
Following a difficult 2012 season in which the team finished fifth in the World Constructors' Championship despite recording their maiden victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, team principal Ross Brawn carried out an extensive array of changes to the team's engineering positions. Aldo Costa was recruited from Ferrari, as were Geoff Willis from the now-defunct HRT F1 Team and Bob Bell and Mike Elliott from Renault. Parallel to this, Mercedes's long-time Vice President of Motorsport Norbert Haug left the team; he was replaced by Toto Wolff, who left his role of Executive Director at Williams to take the position.
The W04 endured a difficult start to its season. Although Hamilton and Rosberg secured two podium finishes and three consecutive pole position starts within the first five races, the car developed a reputation for being notoriously harsh on its tyres during a time when tyre supplier Pirelli was faced with heavy criticism for the delicate structure of its tyre compounds, and the narrow operating window, which exacerbated the W04's inherent flaws. This was evidenced in the Bahrain and Spanish Grands Prix, where Nico Rosberg qualified on pole for both races, but went on to finish them in ninth and sixth places respectively.
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