A week after introducing the "phase 2.1" of its engine in France, Mercedes brought to Austria a significant evolution of the bodywork of its W09 - probably its most important aerodynamic update since the beginning of the season.
Unlike the Ferrari, the Red Bull, the Haas and the Williams, the Silver Arrows displayed a classic configuration of the sidepod air intakes. Indeed, its side impact bars (i.e. one of the two carbon bars hidden under the bodywork to absorb shocks, marked in yellow above) is not lowered to the maximum permissible as is the case on the Ferrari.
© F1i
Mercedes looked at Ferrari's design while maintaining the positioning of its crash structures. While in essence it is a new wrapping, do note that the interior air duct has been slightly redesigned, as can be seen by comparing the blue arrows above. The outline of the air opening in the pontoon is a little rounder.
Instead of just being triangular, the air intake is rather more complex: compare the two areas marked in blue below. The base sits further forward and, on the sides, hugs the side panel and becomes a proper winglet.
© F1i
A vane (marked in pink) has been added, which is reminiscent of the one that can be seen on the Ferrari.
The rear-view mirror has received an additional pylon (compare zones marked in yellow), whose curved base acts essentially as an aerodynamic element. The "C" shaped deflector which was placed in front of the mirror is now attached (compare the elements marked in green).
Spain was supposed to be a weekend of consolidation for McLaren, but for Oscar Piastri,…
Freddie Slater’s rapid rise through the junior ranks is taking another significant step forward, with…
Liam Lawson has spent the past three Formula 1 weekends with an unusual problem: preparing…
Laurent Mekies says Red Bull had little choice but to order Max Verstappen to hand…
On this day in 1985, Ayrton Senna won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, skillfully…
Ferrari’s decision to pull Lewis Hamilton out of the Spanish Grand Prix after just seven…