- Mercedes
Mercedes to launch 2015 car at Jerez test
Mercedes will unveil its title-defending W06 Hybrid on February 1 in the Jerez pit lane ahead of the opening day of 2015 winter testing.
The Mercedes W05 hybrid was utterly dominant in 2014, winning 16 out of 19 races, scooping the constructors' crown while Lewis Hamilton won his second world championship. Though there is no engine homologation deadline for the new season due to a loophole in regulations Mercedes is expected to be the team to beat in 2015 once again having finished last year so far in front.
As well as announcing the launch new car Mercedes also confirmed defending champion Hamilton will get behind the wheel for the second and fourth day of testing in Jerez, with Nico Rosberg taking over for the other two days. Team boss Toto Wolff says Mercedes has not rested on its laurels over the winter despite the dominant form it displayed in 2015.
"The workload this winter has been as great as ever," Wolff said. "Where last year we were preparing for an all-new formula of racing, we are now faced with the big challenge of making the next step in our development. We know that we went into the winter with a target on our backs for the other teams - and we are certain that our rivals will be competitive from the opening race in Melbourne. So we have to focus on every detail if we want to build any advantage this year and that is what we have done.
"This is an exciting time of year as our collective efforts all come together in the new car. Everybody in Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart has put a great amount of effort into creating the latest Silver Arrow and I thank them for their efforts so far. We are excited to see how the car performs when it begins running."
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