Heat transfer from brakes to rims: so Mercedes had no tire temperature problems in Canada

The sacrifice in Qualifying did not cost the front row George Russell’s technical knockout prevented Mercedes from dominating the Canadian GP, ​​but there is no doubt that without the trouble a double would have been achieved. Andrea Kimi Antonelli underlined that the track and temperatures did not allow the team to fully exploit the updates brought to the W17, but the fact that the gap in Qualifying was not too heavy for the opponents can be traced back to a precise choice made by Mercedes in view of the GP. According to what was reported by Auto Motor und Sport, in fact, Mercedes reacted to the widely expected drop in temperatures that occurred on Sunday by strengthening the rim heating system. Mercedes has developed a trick that involves an ingenious transfer of heat from the brakes to the rims by heating the tire casing from the inside. Normally teams try to cool the tires through specific rim design. In this case, however, the braking system has been modified to convey a greater quantity of hot air towards the rims. Apparently, Mercedes has developed an intelligent system that allows gradual control of the heating process. This innovation is only available from this season. In recent years, Formula 1 required the use of standard rims. Now, teams are allowed to use their own designs. George Russell had anticipated after Qualifying that a change had been made at Mercedes with a view to the race. “We have made some changes to the car. We will have to see if it was the right choice. We made these changes because of the forecast for tomorrow. This may have penalized us a little today,” were Russell’s words. Excellent tire temperature management especially at the front axle was the big difference between Mercedes and McLaren. The Woking team had enormous problems from this point of view and the braking errors of Norris and Piastri were the consequence. Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-05-27 19:30:00