Mercedes will finally have sidepods in Monaco. In 2022, the team appeared at the start with what looked like yet another innovative idea from Mercedes, with which it was going to make competition difficult. The 'zeropods' turned out not to work.

Mercedes in Monaco with new look

What was most striking about this misfire by Mercedes was that the team stuck rigidly to the not particularly aerodynamic design of the W14 throughout the year. When the team showed up at the start in 2023, the zeropods were still there. Mercedes had to come to its senses though, after another slow start to the F1 season. In Monaco, the sixth race of the season, the team will finally have sidepods again.

The question, however, is whether it is a wise time for Mercedes to take the upgrades to Monaco. Because of the track's characteristics, the upgrades may not make a big difference. It is also difficult for the team to read the precise data and estimate what difference the upgrades will make. After all, Monaco is a peculiar circuit. It is also more likely than usual that the new equipment will break down due to a crash.

Photos of new sidepods Mercedes W14

In the tweets below, you can see pictures of the W14's new bodywork. A lot clearer pictures than the ones that appeared yesterday.

Comparativas de los nuevos pontones de Mercedes

New @MercedesAMGF1 sidepods comparissions #f1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/NuMcAYaPMe

— Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) May 25, 2023

Sidepods. pic.twitter.com/vqoWTTv8i7

— Simon Lazenby (@simon_lazenbyF1) May 25, 2023