Every F1 team has to go through various crash tests and procedures with their 🎐new cars to ensure they’re safe before they take to the track in winter tꦕesting next month.

Mercedes’ announ🦄cement comes after rumours over the weekend that its W13 had failed the crash tests.

2022 will see the introduction of entirꦫely new technical regulations in a bid to make the grid more competitive. 

The minimum weight of the cars has also been increased෴ as a result of the new regulations, but also✨ to allow for stronger impact structures.

The statement from Mercedes read: “For clarity, W13 completed its FIA homologation process on 13 January 2022; the relevant procedures for th꧑is (which have changed somewhat for this season, including a reinforced side squeeze test) are captured in Article 13 of the 2022 Technical Regulations.”

Mercedes will reveal the W13 to t🌌he public on Fꦓebruary 18.

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton is expected to return alongside George Russell for t൲his season.

Hamilton has maintained silence over social media since his controversial defeat to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi𝓰. 

Russell will make hi⛄s full-ꦜtime debut for the team in Bahrain after three seasons with Williams. 

Pre-season testing at the Circuit de🔯 Barcelona-Catalunya gets under🌃way on February 23-26.

The season itself starts with the Bahr🔥ain Grand Prix on March 18-20.