MERCEDES' SEGMENTED BARGEBOARDS
With undercut sidepods and front wing arches gaining momentum, bargeboards have become smaller and more segmented in recent years. While these aero elements used to only divert the airflow, they now let part of it through.
While putting together this technical gallery, we found the above picture of the 2013-spec Lotus E21. As one can notice, the bargeboards on the Grand Prix-winning machine foretold what can be seen on the 2016-spec W07. Even the winglet on the lower bargeboard was already there (see yellow arrow).
Did current Mercedes head of aerodynamics Mike Elliott, who joined the team from Lotus over the summer of 2012, bring the concept along?
