Mercedes W12
The Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance, commonly abbreviated as the Mercedes W12, was a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team under the direction of James Allison to compete in the 2021 Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. The car is based on the Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance which won the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships the previous season. Whilst the W12 won the team's eighth consecutive constructors' title, this was the first Mercedes F1 car since V6 turbo -hybrid era started in 2014 with which Mercedes failed to win the Drivers' Championship with either driver with Hamilton finishing 2nd in the standings. Season report. The W12, whilst still highly competitive, was not as dominant as its predecessor either in pre-season testing or at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. The regulation changes designed to reduce downforce produced by the floor area are said to have compromised lower rake designs, like the W12, more than higher rake designs like that of Red Bull RB16B. Pundits Lawrence Barretto, Scott Mitchell, Mark Hughes and Edd Straw made Red Bull favourites for  the first race of the year due to a stronger performance than Mercedes during testing. Although Verstappen did beat the Mercedes cars of Hamilton (2nd) and Bottas (3rd) to pole at the season opener, Hamilton narrowly won from Verstappen, with Bottas finishing third. Williams driver and Mercedes protégé George Russell (who drove the W12's predecessor, the W11, at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix) suggested that the W12 and the Williams FW43B could have issues with wind sensitivity and could explain the struggles of Mercedes relative to Red Bull in Bahrain. Other appearances. Anthony Davidson drove a W12 in a  special feature for Sky Sports F1 at the Silverstone Circuit in May 2021. Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance completed.