A new vehicle, a new driver – and new rules that hold every opportunity: after an exciting start to the year, the Silver Arrows team is ready for the 2017 season. "No team has yet run a race under the new rules. We therefore all have the same number of points: namely nil", explains Toto Wolff, Executive Director and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport boss. "But at the moment, enthusiasm is the overriding feeling in the team. The factory is full of anticipation. It was a very motivating challenge to develop this brand new vehicle concept and I have never experienced our will to succeed more than I have at the moment.

"The new rules for 2017 were developed, with the help of a large growth in aerodynamic performance, to build the fastest F1 cars in history," reports Toto Wolff."They should be harder for the drivers to drive and hopefully, from the point of view of the fans, look more spectacular. The first races will be the proof of this, but we believe we have met this goal."The presentation of the completely redeveloped F1 W08 EQ Power+ confirms this assessment. The W08 was above all aerodynamically optimised and structurally improved in such a way that it is able to withstand the significantly higher mechanical stresses. The airflow from the front wing to the ends of the side boxes is visualised in electric blue, which underlines the characteristic look of the W08. At the same time, a flexible, adaptable philosophy had to be followed, in order to make bigger development steps possible during the season.

Major development steps are surely also to be expected of Valtteri Bottas, who, after the withdrawal of the reigning world champion Nico Rosberg, becomes just the fourth Silver Arrow driver of the modern era. "Of course, at the end of last year Nico gave us a tough nut to crack over winter. But in Valtteri we have found a great solution and I am convinced that he will form a strong driving partnership with Lewis," says Toto Wolff.The competition between the two driver personalities will develop its own dynamism, but should be similarly intensive as in previous years.