© Finn Pomeroy for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff explains why Mercedes decided to keep its controversial ‘zero sidepod’ concept in 2023.
Back in 2022 Mercedes introduced an innovative sidepods design that has since become known as the ‘zero sidepod’ concept.
Unforunately the slim sidepod design did not provide Mercedes with the performance they hoped for, but it has since been confirmed by the team that it was not the reason for Mercedes’ 2022 issues.
When Mercedes revealed its 2023 challenger today, it was visible that the car will keep the controversial concept.
In a post-launch press conference, Toto Wolff explained why.
“I think it’s important to be bold in this sport, and I’m still proud of the solutions that were put on the car last year,” the Austrian said.
“Our sidepod design is not something that we believe was fundamentally the reason why we didn’t perform.”
However, Wolff did not rule out that the sidepods will change throughout the year.
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“There are no holy cows in our concept. It’s not that we don’t want to follow anybody [else’s] ideas.
“We kept staying with the narrow sidepod as it is, but you could well see some development from now on.
“That could be coming with the upgrades, and the sidepods will change, not very soon, but we are looking at solutions. But it’s not a core fundamental performance part.
“This is the first iteration, and when we’re going through the first few races, that’s going to change a little bit.
“Like [Technical Director] Mike [Elliott] said in the launch, if you want to change a concept completely, then you’re making not one step back, but probably two or three.
“And that’s why we stayed where we are,” Wolff concluded.
