Tokyo/Japan and Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Germany – Daimler Truck AG (“Daimler Truck”), Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (“MFTBC”), Hino Motors Ltd. (“Hino”) and Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”) today gave an update on the progress on the collaboration based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

In May 2023, Daimler Truck, Toyota, MFTBC, and Hino concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on accelerating the development of advanced technologies and merging MFTBC and Hino. The planned collaboration is aimed toward achieving carbon neutrality and creating a prosperous mobility society by developing CASE technologies (Connected/Autonomous & Automated/Shared/Electric) and strengthening the commercial vehicle business on a global scale.

According to the MoU, MFTBC and Hino plan to merge on an equal footing and collaborate in the areas of commercial vehicle development, procurement, and production. The plan is to build a globally competitive Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer, with Daimler Truck and Toyota investing equally in the (listed) holding company of the merged MFTBC and Hino.

While the Definitive Agreement for merging MFTBC and Hino was targeted to be signed by the end of March 2024 and integration complete by the end of 2024, the process of obtaining necessary regulatory clearances and approvals under competition and other laws and regulations, as well as the pending investigations related to Hino’s engine certification issues, are still ongoing. As such, the original schedule has been extended.

The timing of the envisaged execution of the Definitive Agreement and the implementation of the business integration will be announced as soon as a reliable timeline for the pending investigations is available. Once all parties involved reach an agreement, they will move forward based on the approval of the relevant boards of directors, shareholders, and authorities.

Based on the common desire to "contribute to a prosperous society through mobility," the four companies have been discussing how MFTBC and Hino can work together to improve business efficiency and enhance competitiveness, and how Daimler Truck and Toyota can work together to further enhance their technology development capabilities and promote CASE technology in order to contribute to customers and stakeholders in Japan and Asia, as well as the Japanese automotive industry. Through the discussion based on integrity, mutual respect and diversity and by understanding each other's strengths and corporate culture, the parties confirm that the merger discussions are progressing on a positive note and that the strategic objectives and logic of the proposed transaction continues to be valid.

Lewis Hamilton

It was very windy in FP1, and the track was very different to during the test. We didn’t know exactly where we would stack up against everyone else, but we had a positive FP2 session. The car was feeling good, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. We know there is more to extract, and our long run pace isn’t in the fight with the Red Bulls.

Overall though, I’m feeling much happier with the car than last year. We’ve made some good improvements and it feels much more like a race car. It’s a really good platform for us to build from. We just need to keep our heads down and keep chasing.
George Russell

We’re not going to get carried away after one day of practice. Our qualifying pace did look strong. We made some changes from the test and the improvement exceeded our expectations. But ultimately our long run pace is where it counts. Verstappen looked comfortably quickest, and it was very tight with the Ferraris, the McLarens, and the Aston Martins. So we’ve likely got a real fight on our hands there.

Nevertheless, we’re pleased with how our day has gone; the car is performing well. We will sit down and understand where the main improvements came from and try to sustain that. We want to be fighting for good positions on Saturday night.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

Following the test we were most concerned about our single lap pace. We had both drivers in the simulator before returning here. From the running today, it looks like we have improved. We're certainly not getting carried away, as there is plenty of scope within power unit modes and fuel loads for several cars to find a chunk of time before tomorrow. It's encouraging though that the picture we had last week seems to have improved.

The long run data also looks close. Verstappen is still comfortably out front, as we saw last week, but behind him it's going to be a tight battle for the remaining podium spots. We know we’ve got plenty to fine tune on the balance. It's still early days with the W15, and we're learning how to get lap-time out of it with each run, but it's already feeling very different to the last two years that we have been here.

James Allison has signed a long-term contract extension to remain as Technical Director, the team can confirm. The news reinforces the technical leadership of the team during a period of renewal ahead of the major rule changes for 2026.

James joined the team in 2017 as Technical Director, overseeing a prolonged period of success culminating in four Drivers’ title and five consecutive Constructors’ Championships. After a stint as Chief Technical Officer, responsible for longer term strategy and the INEOS Britannia America’s Cup project, the 55-year-old returned to a more frontline role as Technical Director in April last year.

James said: “F1 has brought me a lot of good fortune, but none greater than answering Toto’s call to join Mercedes in 2017. It is a great privilege to continue this adventure, working alongside brilliant colleagues and fighting together for championship success.”

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team added: “I am thrilled that James has committed his long-term future to the team. Put simply, he is the most impressive technical leader in our sport. His gladiator spirit, along with his knowledge, experience, and determination, make him second-to-none. His influence and impact, however, goes so much further than that. Since joining in 2017, he has been a key ally and sparring partner for me personally. We can challenge each other openly and honestly; an embodiment of the ‘tough love’ culture of the team that is vital in helping us all perform at our very best. Most importantly though, James is a true friend you can rely on, not only in times of success but in difficult moments too. It has been a pleasure to work with him over the past seven years and I look forward to doing so for many more to come.”

Our journey towards the start of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship season continues today with the launch of the Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E PERFORMANCE.

FP1 in Bahrain, the start of the 2024 campaign, lies 15 days away. Just 80 days ago, the 2023 season ended. Despite the lack of racing, the factories at Brackley and Brixworth have been buzzing with activity. The team has been hard at work on a project that began almost 12 months ago.

In the immediate aftermath of a disappointing 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, the team looked hard in the mirror at every aspect of our operations. A new direction was set, beginning a period of renewal. Despite the limitations of the W14’s pre-existing architecture, there was tangible progress. A hard-fought, year-long battle netted second in the Constructors’ Championship. The mission continues into 2024.

“We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front. There are no miracles in this sport,” Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, commented. “But our ambition and determination are strong. Since charting this new course, development has progressed well. We had several items on our priority list for this car. We will soon see if we’ve made the step we’ve aimed for.”

Continued Evolution

“The design of any car is an iterative process. And a long one at that,” Technical Director James Allison explained. “It stretches back to last year. A new car enables the team to make bigger alterations that are not possible during the season. These are decisions that are taken during the preceding summer.”

These changes include a new chassis, and new gearbox casing. Aerodynamically, as ever, the focus has been on efficiency. The endless quest for finding more downforce with less drag and delivering it to the track in a manner that complements the function of the suspension and tyres.

“A big focus has been on improving the previous car’s unpredictable rear axle,” James continued. “We have worked hard to ensure that both axles, but particularly the rear axle, retain better control of the tyre than on the W14. There’s also been some housekeeping on areas in which we had room for improvement, including the DRS effect, and pit stop performance.”   

However, it is the underside of the car where the main differentiating factors lie. James added: “With this current generation of cars, so much of the performance comes from how the floor interacts with the road. Whether or not a car is effective is down to how well that floor is permitted to behave aerodynamically.

“We feel like we have had a good winter, but F1 is a relative game and only time will tell how big a step we’ve made. We’re focused on getting the most from the car we launch, but we are excited by the development race that will follow as the regulations are still young and opportunities abound,” James concluded.

Toto added: “As the saying goes: when it stings, it sticks. I believe the previous two years were necessary for us to readjust, recalibrate and reinvent ourselves in certain areas. That root-and-branch approach is never easy. But we’ve made progress and look forward to taking the next step with the W15. It won’t be a linear path, but when we stumble, we will get back up and keep climbing.”

Reflecting Who We Are

Another visible difference with the W15? The livery. In a year when the iconic Silver Arrows mark their 90th anniversary, the famous silver returns to complement the iconic black of recent seasons.

“Performance was always at the forefront of our minds with the black livery last year,” Toto explained. “Weight is a crucial factor in this current generation of cars. We knew that, once we were in position to do so, we would bring back the Mercedes silver to accompany the black that has become a pillar of our team identity. The livery truly reflects who we are as a team with the distinctive colours of INEOS and PETRONAS providing important highlights.”

The nose section therefore transforms to silver, with the iconic three-pointed star pattern on the engine cover. The distinguished INEOS ‘Toto Rosso’ red features predominantly on the rear-wing and roll hoop in a nod to INEOS Sport, with PETRONAS green providing a dynamic flow across the car.

The new livery reflects the team’s commercial strength, as does recent news. Blue-chip brands such as SAP, WhatsApp, and Luminar have all joined the team’s partner ecosystem in recent months.

“Our commercial strategy has evolved over recent years,” Toto explained. “We have always been focused on building long-term relationships with partners that share our values and delivering clear return on investment. We have now made the conscious decision to refine our partner ecosystem. We want to concentrate on a smaller, select group of partners, to better serve and deliver on their return on investment. We pride ourselves on trying to be the very best in every single area, and we believe this approach is the way we can achieve this with our partners.”

A Focused Driver Pairing

Behind-the-wheel of the W15 will be race drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

“We’ve learnt and grown as a team over the past two seasons,” George commented. “It’s not been plain sailing, but I truly believe the journey we’ve been on will make us stronger in the long run. The whole team has been working incredibly hard and we hope to have made a step with the W15,” he continued.

“The learnings of the past two years have helped us find our direction,” Lewis added. “It’s enabled us to find our north star. It’s still going to be a work in progress, but we will face whatever challenges present themselves with our heads up, with open minds, and work through diligently.”

Dialling out the inconsistent performance of the W14 and its sometimes spiteful rear-end has been a key technical focus. Both George and Lewis are clear on the rewards that could bring if the team has been able to do so.

Lewis explained: “If you’re not comfortable with the car, you’re not able to extract the maximum performance. A more stable, more predictable car will enable us to extract the potential from not only the car, but ourselves as drivers.”

“We made progress with some of the nastier characteristics of the W14 throughout last year. But we still had a narrow operating window and, once we were outside of that, the car was difficult to drive. If we can continue to widen the operating window of the car, that will provide confidence for us as a drivers and from there, lap time is easier to find,” George added.

The work the team has put in over the past two years has been an inspiration for both George and Lewis. 

“F1 is an incredibly difficult sport. It’s very hard to win. And that’s why we love it. Every woman and man at Brackley and Brixworth is so focused on getting to the top. We continue with that focus and dedication into 2024 and I’m excited to see where that takes us,” George said.

Lewis continued: “I know what this team is capable of. I am incredibly grateful for the work of every single person in this team. Every time you’re in the factory, you can see the sheer drive and determination of everyone. We are all mega-motivated for the year ahead and will be giving it everything we’ve got on the journey ahead.”

Providing cover for Lewis and George will be Reserve Drivers Mick Schumacher and Fred Vesti. Mick continues in the role he held in 2023, whilst Fred steps up to this position following his graduation from the Junior Programme.

Teamwork with HPP

Another key contributor on the journey described by Lewis and George is Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP). Despite being limited to only reliability upgrades of the Power Unit, Brixworth has been focused on delivering every millisecond of performance possible under the regulations.

“We’ve worked incredibly closely with our team-mates in Brackley,” Hywel Thomas, Managing Director of HPP explained. “We all have our piece of the jigsaw we are responsible for. We’re always looking at how we maximise our part, but also how we work together to create the strongest possible package. Despite the homologation of the Power Unit, there’s still performance we can bring.”

This can be found through the efficient integration of the Power Unit each year to the chassis and gearbox. Or the work on the dyno ahead of testing, to ensure mileage is maximised once the W15 hits the track.

“We are focused on providing the highest performing, but also the most reliable product we can. This year, reliability is arguably even more important that in 2023.”

That is because of the record-breaking length of the 2024 calendar which comes in at 24 races.

“It’s quite a big challenge,” Hywel admitted. “We know that not finishing races is detrimental to your points scoring so it’s a huge focus. The change to the regulations to ensure we still have four Power Units across the season is helpful. But we know that with the longest calendar in F1 history, our ability to create the most reliable and performant product possible will still be tested.”

The current generation power unit homologation, including reduced dyno hours, are designed to afford the space for manufacturers to look ahead to 2026. That is a challenge that HPP is thoroughly enjoying.

“To have a rule set that has attracted new manufacturers, and has a clear real-world relevance, is excellent,” concluded Hywel. “It’s a chance to showcase our talent, our innovative approaches, and the possibilities the sport can bring. It’s great, and people walk around with smiles on their faces as they tackle this project.”

The Next Step

The W15 gets its first laps at Silverstone later today. From there, the focus turns to Bahrain.

Toto said: “We’re intrigued to see how the car will perform. We hope to have solved some of the inherent problems and we will get our first indications of the progress we’ve made during pre-season testing. From there, we will understand more about the challenge that is ahead of us. There are no crystal balls in this sport. But we will at least know the gap we are aiming to close down. Our ambition is strong and we’re ready to get going.”

Toto Talks Bahrain

A new season brings new opportunity and it’s exciting to be heading into a new campaign with all the drama it will inevitably bring.

Each of the last two seasons, we’ve headed to the first race of the year on the back foot. There was inherent goodness in the W13 and W14, but it often proved too difficult to unlock. They were inconsistent machines. Our main aim going into 2024 therefore was clear: create a consistent and stable platform. A car that would react as we expected. One that the drivers could consistently push. And one that we can develop throughout the year, in the knowledge that we are bringing real-world performance to the track.

Over these first two races, we will get a much better understanding of the job we have done. After pre-season testing though, we can draw some initial conclusions. The drivers are much happier with the overall balance. The basic platform is working as we expected. The correlation to our simulations looks to be accurate. This is all encouraging. It’s a good foundation that we can build on.

Our focus at the test was on learning about the car we have. Our attention can now turn to tuning performance for the Bahrain race weekend. Red Bull, as is to be expected, look to be at the head of the field. The chasing pack looks tight. We will soon get an idea of where we stack up in that. And the task that is ahead of us to close the gap to the front.

Wherever we net out though, the whole team is relishing the challenge ahead. There is a palpable sense of energy running through the factories and those trackside. The year ahead is long. There will be many ups, along with the inevitable downs. But this is why we love racing. And now, we can’t wait to get going.

Fact File: Bahrain Grand Prix

    Located in the middle of the desert, on what was formerly a camel farm, the Bahrain International Circuit features 1,120 palm trees.
    Being situated in a desert, you may expect sand to be an issue. However, the surrounding desert is sprayed with a sticky adhesive substance to minimize the amount of sand blowing on to the track.
    From the first breaking of the ground to build the Bahrain International Circuit to completion took just 496 days.
    The length of the tyre barriers is 4100 metres and a total of 82,000 tyres are used to do this.
    The total run-off area is 140,000 sq. metres.
    The Bahrain International Circuit has five FIA certified track layouts.
    Focus for car set-up is on optimising low and medium-speed corner performance. Mechanical grip is crucial out of the slower corners, whilst the high-speed sections are easily taken flat-out.
    The track surface is made from a special aggregate that was shipped from a quarry in England.
    Owing to the abrasiveness of the track, which is one of the roughest of the season, tyre degradation tends to be amongst the highest seen at any race across the calendar. 
    One of the most challenging corners on the track is Turn 10. It’s long, combined corner entry that tightens before dropping away at the apex. Drivers must apply the brakes whilst completing the wide corner arc of Turn 9; this causes the front-left tyre to go light and increases the risk of a lock-up.
    The 5.412 km layout comprises seven braking events, including two classified as ‘heavy.’
    This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first Bahrain Grand Prix and will be the 21st F1 Championship round at the Sakhir circuit. The race was cancelled in 2011 due to civil unrest, while the track hosted two races in 2020.
    This will be the sixth time that the Bahrain Grand Prix will serve as the opening round of an F1 season (2006, 2010, 2021, 2022, 2023).
    Four drivers have multiple wins at the event. Lewis Hamilton has the most with five.
    George Russell made his first start for Mercedes in Sakhir in 2020, deputising for Lewis.
    For the first time in its history, the race will take place on a Saturday.
    At least one Mercedes-engined car has finished in the points in each of the last 300 Grand Prix, dating back to the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix.