Mercedes MGP W02 launched

Mercedes has officially launched its new MGP W02 chassis at Valencia ahead of the start of official 2011 testing.

 

The team issued a head-on 'teaser' image of the car to the media over the weekend, but has now fully taken the wraps off the new design.

 

Having made a disappointing start to 2010 - its first season in its new factory Mercedes guise - Ross Brawn's team opted to halt development on the W01 early and focus all its efforts on the 2011 rules package and the W02 design instead.

 

Notable features of the new car include changes to the airbox and sidepod changes, plus the higher nose that has been common on 2011 chassis so far. The livery has also received slight adjustments for the new season, with a larger amount of green colouring for title sponsor Petronas.

 

Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher will both get a chance to drive the car today, with Schumacher keen to find out whether the W02 will prove better-suited to his style than last year's machine.