Mercedes updates: the fund is a masterpiece

The long-awaited updates arrive at Mercedes, in response to the developments that the competition had introduced in Miami. The Brackley team intervened 360° on the W17, refining both the lower and upper aerodynamics, also taking action regarding the problem of departures. Meanwhile, at the office we are already thinking about the next package, for which Antonelli has given some indications for the first time. Baroque background Those of Mercedes are silent updates, those that do not make noise, but which are not therefore irrelevant. The most impressive part of the W17’s evolutionary package is the rearmost part of the floor, the one in front of the rear wheels and to which all the teams are devoting great attention. This is in fact a crucial area, where the grooves allow high-energy flows to be injected under the surface, also in an attempt to mitigate the vortices that are generated on the sides of the contact patch between the rubber and the asphalt. Mercedes has outdone itself on this front, offering an incredibly complex, almost rococo aerodynamic structure. Four carbon tongues curl at the sides of the bottom, creating a sophisticated blowing effect. A small vertical bulkhead also appears on the outside, similar to the one on the Red Bull. Finally, the rear flap disappears, lengthening the complex group of carvings and appendages. The leaders of the classification also worked on the diffuser, which was even more important than in the previous generation of cars. In particular, the technical department coordinated by James Allison worked on the volumes of the ramp and the vertical bulkheads. Also noteworthy are the interventions on the appendages of the wheel units, both to increase the local load and to refine the vortex structure which maximizes the performance of the diffuser. The other new features Toto Wolff’s team also developed the front aerodynamics, demonstrating how Canada’s is an organic package designed as a whole rather than a simple sum of parts. The front wing is completely new, with a less arched profile, so much so that the main element connects directly to the external pavement, demonstrating a completely different management of flows towards the rest of the single-seater. The shape of the endplate, however, is now much more arched to divert the flows outwards, as can be seen from the notch in the upper part. Furthermore, the team stated that it has also added strips under the wing, useful for generating vortices and better controlling the flows towards the rear axle. Finally, on the diveplane, the flap on the outside of the endplate, a small vortex diverter makes its appearance, constantly searching for the outwash effect to push the flows outside the wheels. Moving their gaze backwards, they notice the changes to the Venetian blind, the cascade of horizontal profiles on the sides of the entrance section of the fund. Mercedes remains faithful to its approach, similar to that of Red Bull, rejecting the vertical bulkheads seen instead on Ferrari and McLaren. What has changed above all is the lower profile, with the aim of increasing the local load and better shielding the surface from wheel turbulence. Finally, the team retouched the cooling ducts of the front brakes, given the heavy workload on the Montreal track. Corrective measures for the start The Mercedes technical department cannot allow itself the luxury of taking a breather. Work is already underway at Brackley on the next developments, in view of which Antonelli gave some input after the Miami Grand Prix. The objective, however, is not to bring as many new features as possible, but to create valid packages that ensure great profits, as the Italian driver underlined: “It won’t just be a race to see who brings the most updates, but who brings developments that are effective and that really work.” Antonelli himself has a modified steering wheel in the clutch lever in Canada, an intervention aimed at improving the many slow starts in the first races. Mercedes has also worked on the software part, always with the aim of better measuring the torque transmitted to the wheels to limit slippage when starting from a standstill. So far the Mercedes have always managed to catch up, but the W17’s advantage could be reduced, also depending on whether and how effective the updates prove to be. 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 , 2026-05-23 05:28:00