Sky analyst: 'The Mercedes needs to be quite different to get it to work'

The Formula 1 winter break has begun, but extra hard work is being done at Mercedes' factory to get the car ready for next year. After all the problems with the W13, Karun Chandhok expects the Mercedes to look very different next season.

Mercedes attracted a lot of attention at the beginning of the season during the test days in Bahrain. The Brackley-based team appeared on the track with a car without sidepods. Another exciting design is expected from Mercedes next year.

"I think that Mercedes, they got the concept wrong. They have been very open about it. For me, one of the most intriguing things when we all go to Bahrain for pre-season testing next year, is what does the 2023 Mercedes look like?" begins Chandhok in the Season Review by Sky Sports.

Mercedes needs to change direction with W14

Mercedes could not keep pace with Red Bull Racing and Ferrari during the season. The German racing team did develop the W13 for a long time, which made the gap a lot smaller in the closing stages of the season. Still, Mercedes will have to take a completely different approach with the W14 if it wants to compete for the title in 2023.

Chandhok concludes: "Because out of the cars that have run this year, they are the ones that will look quite different. The Red Bull will be an evolution, Ferrari will be an evolution, but the Mercedes needs to be quite different to get it to work." The test days in Bahrain will take place from 23 to 25 February.