Mercedes and Alpine announce launch dates for 2024 F1 cars

Mercedes and Alpine have become the latest Formula 1 teams toannounce the launch dates of their 2024 cars. The Mercedes-AMG F1W15 E Performance will be unveiled at Silverstone on WednesdayFebruary 14th - Valentine's Day - as part of a digital launchevent, which will be broadcast on social media. This falls sevendays after Alpine is set for a 'Motorsport Season Launch' onWednesday February 7th, where its F1 and WEC programmes are to beunveiled. Both teams will be hoping for vastly improved Grand Prixracing seasons in 2024, with Mercedes hoping the W15 will enable itto return to race-winning and championship contention after failingto win a race in 2023. The team has committed to bold changes tothe architecture of the W15, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russellhoping for a car capable of challenging Max Verstappen and RedBull. As for Alpine, the team slipped to sixth in 2023 in a seasonof upheaval in which the Team Principal, CEO, Sporting Director andChief Technical Officer all departed. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gaslywill remain as the driver line-up for a second season, with bothdrivers scoring one podium apiece in 2023. With Mercedes and Alpineannouncing their launch dates, over half of the grid has now doneso, with Ferrari, Aston Martin, Williams and Stake also announcingtheir plans. It leaves Red Bull, AlphaTauri, McLaren and Haas asthe remaining teams.