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For the upcoming campaign, Mercedes has gone back to using the colour scheme it ran during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, when the W11s and W12s were painted black at Hamilton’s behest to highlight motorsport’s diversity issues, as well as the problem of global racial inequality.
This time, however, while Mercedes is pleased its livery can again help to promote those important messages, the primary goal has been to ensure the W14 is running at or as close as possible to the 798kg car weight limit.
When it returned to using a silver livery for 2022, the team did not ever run at that figure.
That number was set to be lowered to 796kg for this year before the FIA decided to stick to the previous limit in part because the 2023 tyre compounds are heavier and all cars have to run a new electronics box.
Mercedes also added extra aerodynamic parts to claw back downforce lost …