FIA to trial wet weather wheel arches at Silverstone F1 test

The FIA is set to trial at Silverstone this month a wet weather wheel arch for F1 that it has developed to significantly reduce the amount of spray thrown up by cars on a wet track.

The governing body's initiated its research on the specific element in the wake of the embarrassing events that marked the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, where rain made it impossible to hold the race in safe conditions and the race was concluded after a handful of laps behind the safety car, much to the fans' ire.

The standard element would be made mandatory and fitted by all teams in the event of extreme wet weather conditions to ensure that safe running is made possible.

The FIA team has relied on computer simulations to guide the design of the arches and to assess how well they might work.

But the upcoming test that will take place at Silverstone on July 13 will provide a clear indication of the efficiency of the component and how it works in relation to a ground-effect car's under-floor tunnels and diffuser.

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According to Motorsport.com, Mercedes and McLaren will take part in the trial that will take place on Silverstone's shorter national circuit, but only the main straight will be artificially soaked with water.

However, it is believed that only Mercedes will have the prototype element fitted to its W14 in order to conduct a direct comparison on its effect. The FIA will film the test while aero data will also be gathered by the teams.

FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis said last December that, in all likelihood, wheel arches would rarely be used.

"We only think it's going to be something that gets used on a couple of occasions a year, maybe three, that sort of thing," he explained.

"We don't want it to be that every time there's a drop of rain, then suddenly you have to fit these things."

"Also, we would not be asking for them to be fitted or removed in a rush," he added.

"Their fitting or removal would either be before a race or during a red flag. If a race starts very wet and gets dry, they would stay on.

"I'm expecting that it's going to be a maybe 50 per cent improvement kind of thing," he noted.

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