Mercedes launches its 2014 W05 Formula 1 car

The new car completed a 40km shakedown in the hands of Nico Rosberg at Silverstone last Friday and Lewis Hamilton is to drive the car for the first time at Jerez on Tuesday morning.

Paddy Lowe, who has effectively succeeded ex-team principal Ross Brawn at the helm of the chassis side of the team in his role as executive director (technical), is satisfied with the work the team has done over the winter both with the development of the engine and the car.

"The whole team has done a fantastic job on the management of the project and its delivery," said Lowe.

"We have hit our milestones and hit our targets but, as ever, we will only begin to understand how successful we have been once we begin running in anger on track.

"The new car is an elegant, but aggressive, design and, as is often the way, its beauty is much more than skin deep.

"The internal engineering of the car is extremely innovative and intelligent.

"Our team can be justifiably proud of its work so far - but none of us are under any illusions about the amount we still have to do before the first race in six weeks' time."

Mercedes had its most successful season since re-establishing its works team last year, winning three races and finishing second in the constructors' championship.

Toto Wolff, who heads up the business side of the team, is confident that the team can build on last year's progress but echoed the comments of rivals such as Ferrari that reliability will be key.

"We have a busy winter testing period ahead of us and a long season where both performance and reliability will be critically important," said Wolff.

"Lewis and Nico begin the season hungry for success and I am confident that our team will benefit thanks to the continuity of their work during the winter period.

"We have positive momentum after our second-place finish last season.

"Our clear target is to continue building up our team and we aim to deliver on every single race weekend in 2014."

Mercedes has revealed its 2014 Formula 1 challenger, the F1 W05, which it hopes will earn the marque its first world championship as a works team since 1955.

The new car completed a 40km shakedown in the hands of Nico Rosberg at Silverstone last Friday and Lewis Hamilton is to drive the car for the first time at Jerez on Tuesday morning.

Mercedes had its most successful season since re-establishing its works team last year, winning three races and finishing second in the constructors' championship.

The W05 features a nose solution similar to that on the Ferrari F14 T, without one of the controversial protrusions.