Mercedes was expected to roll out a significantly updated W13 for F1's second leg of pre-season testing in Bahrain, and the Brackley squad didn't disappoint as it unveiled a virtually sidepod-less Silver Arrow.
As the reigning world champions' new car rolled out on to the pitlane, rival teams' engineers were scrambling to get a clear view of the W13's colossal upgrade.
In Barcelona, Mercedes' W13 featured a proper sidepod design, one that followed the trend of featuring high air inlets and a tapered profile.
But the car's new aggressive sidepod design has been slimmed to the max, with a vertically profiled inlet that immediately shrinks at the back.
The overall purpose of the concept is obviously to maximise airflow while minimizing drag, and optimizing the work of the car's venturi underfloor.
The element also incorporates a series of vents on its upper surface to ensure maximum cooling of the package, while a prominent aero fin element is attached to the cockpit on each side.
Despite the extraordinary narrow and tightly packed sidepod design, Mercedes' W13 features F1's mandatory side impact spars (SIS) that all teams must include.
But contrary to the widespread design currently seen on rival cars, the Brackley squad's approach completely separates, or de-integrates, the sidepod and SIS elements.
It's a bold piece of innovation that its competitors will certainly be pouring over, with the rule book in hand.
"It's impressive and this is what is the great thing about the innovation of Formula 1," said Ross Brawn, Managing Director-Motorsport, on Mercedes' radical design concept.
"I'm sure there will be a lot of discussion about it. For a set of rules that everyone said were too prescriptive, everyone has come up with very different things."
Big changes at @MercedesAMGF1 since the last time we were on track 👀#F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/6oPKiH9vQS
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 10, 2022
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