Mercedes Technical Director Denies Sidepods Solely Responsible for 2023 Struggles
Mercedes Technical Director, James Allison, has refuted claims that the team’s ‘zeropod’ concept was the sole reason for their lack of competitiveness during the 2023 Formula 1 season. The unveiling of the new design in 2022, featuring what was playfully dubbed the ‘zeropod’ concept due to its seemingly absent sidepods, raised eyebrows and expectations across the paddock.
The unconventional design, a bold move by Mercedes, was considered an all-or-nothing play. However, as the season progressed, it became evident that the concept did not yield the desired results, prompting the team to abandon it entirely during the 2023 season.
Criticism was directed at Mercedes for sticking with the concept, but Allison has defended the team, stating that there were more complexities at play than what met the eye.
Mercedes sidepods not to blame for F1 failure
“Well, I don’t quite see the world the same way you guys do, looking at a sidepod and deciding that’s a concept,” Allison explained to Sky Sports.
“We definitely took a path with our car, and I would say that’s from the tip of the nose to the very back of the tail, which was not a competitive one.
“The most visually noticeable aspect were our sidepods, of course, but by no means the definitive factor.
“It was not right from front to back, and that’s the thing we’ve had to learn and have to deal with.
“That’s taken us longer than we would have liked but the sidepods are maybe emblematic of a team that took too long to figure out which way was up but by no means the distinguishing feature that sealed our fate.”
Allison emphasizes that while the sidepods were visually prominent, they were not the sole determinant of the team’s struggles. The acknowledgment suggests that there were broader issues with the overall car design, and Mercedes is working to address and rectify those challenges for the upcoming seasons.
