New upgrade package from the world champion team is definitely the biggest news on the first day of the second test in Barcelona which includes revised front wing, bargeboards, sidepods and floor for Mercedes F1 W10 – MAXF1.net reviews the most important changes.
After having problems last week with the balance of their new F1 W10 in Barcelona, Mercedes brought a large package of aerodynamic improvements that were planned for the second week to get as new as possible parts on the track.
Basic checks were completed successfully in the first week and in the second week they will focus on checking the efficiency of a new package, comparing old and new packaga, extracting more performance and finding optimal car settings for the new package.
Nose and front wing
For years, Mercedes is using a different nose than most other teams, without the central extension that allows a more air to flow underneath the nose on the each side of the extension. Now they have modified their concept and narrowed its tip (turquoise) to bring more air underneath the ‘cap’.
Mercedes modified the front wing as well as they were the only team whose front wing endplates (pink) were pointing inwards. Now they are pointing outward and aiming to direct the airflow to the outside of the front wheels.
Mercedes has slightly changed the shape of the front wing top flap as well as the arrangement of clamps holding the elements together while the vertical fences under the wing, which must be situated between 500 and 800 mm from the center of the front wing, are now closer to the endplates.
The top flap (red) is now gently bent down where it joins the endplate, not nearly as extreme as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Toro Rosso and McLaren, but they now also try to gain some outwash effect. The aim of this kind of solution is to allow some of the airflow to spill to the outside of the front wheels instead of trying to push the air over the front wheel.
At the side edges of the S-duct system exit, Mercedes added curved ears (orange) similar to those used by Renault on their 2005 (R25) and 2006 (R26) F1 cars.
The ears shape the airflow this an area that favors the elements behind them and also help to extract air from the S-duct system, increasing its efficiency and reduces flow separation on this part of the chassis.
Front suspension and area behind the front wheels
Mercedes has changed the shape of the lower wishbone (turquoise) which is now larger and more aerodynamically shaped and at the bottom of the picture, you can also see the ears at the exit of the S-duct system.
Mercedes has thoroughly upgraded this key area and now use two instead of one fins (orange) attached to the chassis which pull the airflow aggressively downwards to turn it bellow the sidepod inlets and turning it around the sidepod bottom edge, which is critical for the airflow coming over the top of the diffuser.
There are also two horizontal aerodynamically profiled fins (turquoise and purple), and the first vertical element in front of the side (yellow) is now somewhat narrower.
Sidepods
Mercedes has changed the layout of components in their sidepods to slim their shape, similiar to Red Bull RB15 which has very steep sidepods. Reason behind changing their shape is to keep the airflow attached to the sidepod flanks as close as possible to have as much flow as possible to the rear end, especially above the diffuser, increasing its efficiency.
Halo protection
Mercedes has added double winglet to its halo protection to help shape the airflow around the driver’s helmet and increase the airflow quality around the cockpit area and towards the rear end.
Rear end
Mercedes introduced new double T-wing with curved endplates (turquoise) to generate some additional rear downforce and shape the airflow bellow the rear wing.
On the floor in front of the rear whells there are small fins Ferrari that tested first last year while Red Bull followed their example after just one week on their RB14.
No team used those fins in the race, but they made the first checks of such a concept. It seems that Mercedes has found the benefit of such vortex generators in this very important area.
