MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff has admitted they will not look to make too many changes to Lewis Hamilton’s title-winning W08 car. Lewis Hamilton’s W08 Mercedes was the fastest car on the track last season. Lewis Hamilton clinched the world title last year and also brought home the Constructors’ Championship alongside team-mate Valtteri Bottas for Mercedes. The car which brought the duo such success – the W08 – was known to have a few teething issues and earned the nickname the “diva”.
But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted he does not want to completely overhaul the car for the new season for fear of losing some of that character – and with it performance. When asked about the 2018 model, he said: “”Some of the character traits from a diva, we like. “The W08 was the fastest car in Formula 1, it scored the most pole positions and won the most races. “So, you need to be careful not to dump the things that actually work on the car, just to remedy the difficulties the car showed. “We analysed it properly and when we go testing in a month’s time, we will see if the car is a little bit better behaved or not.”
And Wolff has admitted the work on the new car is going well following a successful winter testing period. “It’s never going completely seamlessly or smoothly, because you are trying to push the boundaries,” he added. “We want to make the cars as light as possible and – eventually – as quick as possible. “We have had a good winter, I would say. “No real drama, but there is always stress within the organisation at this time of year.”
Mercedes secured their fourth consecutive Constructors’ Championship this year, while Hamilton won his fourth career Drivers’ Championship. But in a bid to try and keep them one step ahead of Ferrari, who ran them close in 2017, Wolff has removed all reminders of previous accomplishments from their hangar. And he has also told his team not to underestimate their opponents and insisted they make sure they are on top of their game when the season gets underway on March 25 in Australia. “I think we have a good organisation in place and somehow the wheel rolls now, but having said that you must never underestimate any of the competition,” Wolff told ESPN.
“It can go super quick and suddenly you are on the back foot and the car is not as good as the others and we have seen that with Ferrari how quickly they can turn it around [the other way] from a so-so season to a world championship challenger in 2017. “So I think it’s important to stay humble, forget about your own achievements – we are taking all the stickers off the doors here saying we have won the championship – because in 2018 it all starts from zero again.” Wolff also hit back at former Mercedes boss Ross Brawn, who has predicted that the Silver Arrows’ dominance will continue in 2018.
