Mercedes are reportedly “seeing promising things” about their W15 F1 car ahead of the new season.

Lewis Hamilton on track for Mercedes in 2023;

Mercedes’ design office and wind tunnel are “seeing promising things” about their 2024 F1 car ahead of the new season, according to Sky’s Ted Kravitz.

After two hugely challenging campaigns, including enduring their first winless season since 2011 last year, Mercedes are hoping that their revamped W15 challenger will enable them to significantly close the gap to reigning world champions Red Bull.

And the early signs are encouraging for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, Sky F1’s pitlane reporter Kravitz reports.

When asked whether there have been any indications about how the teams are shaping up ahead of the new season, Kravitz told Sky Sports News: “I think the only indicators we’ve seen are somewhat of team bosses in chaos, with Guenther Steiner gone as the Haas team boss.

“Haas are welcoming in a new boss already and the season hasn’t even started.

“We have the newly signed team boss of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, has extended his contract to stay with the team, saying that they are seeing promising things for Mercedes.

“So that Lewis Hamilton and George Russell can expect a car that really matches their talents and that’s the only real whisper we’ve had out from any of Red Bull’s competitors so far.

“Toto Wolff is saying that the noises from the design office and from the wind tunnel are that for the first time this Mercedes actually feels like a proper racing car, rather than a compromised package, which is what they’ve had for the last couple of seasons.

“So there’s reasons to be cheerful and optimistic for George Russell and for Lewis Hamilton.”

Seven-time world champion Hamilton is looking to return to the top of the sport and win what would be a record-breaking eighth drivers’ crown.

The 39-year-old has remarkably not won a grand prix for two seasons, a run stretching back to the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.