Mercedes 'disappearing sidepods' design "very extreme" - Ross Brawn

Mercedes

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Mercedes 'disappearing sidepods' design "very extreme" - Brawn

Team has caught the eye with innovative design

Ian Parkes

Thursday 10 March 2022 10:51

Ross Brawn has described Mercedes' 'disappearing sidepods' design as "extreme" that is set to spark "debate" within F1 over the coming days.

Mercedes has caused a stir with the rollout of its updated W13 ahead of the second pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit with what appears to be a clever interpretation of the new aerodynamic regulations.

The sidepods across the cars has been the one area that has offered up a variety of ideas, with Mercedes now going a step further with its package, with cooling inboard so resulting in a sleeker shape.

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"It's impossible to anticipate the creative scope of the teams," said F1 managing director Brawn on Sky Sports F1.

"Once they get the regulations, you've got a thousand engineers working on all the regulations and how they can use them.

"Some of the solutions, quite honestly, we never anticipated. I think we will go back in to investigate those solutions and make sure they maintain the objective of the new rules.

"I think they do. Our initial impressions are that there is nothing here we would be overly concerned about in terms of those objectives in the regulations.

"So it's just fascinating to see such a wide range of solutions.

"And what's become a step-change for the teams is a lot of new cooler innovation, a lot of innovation in the heat exchanges and the radiators, which has given them more scope to create the designs they've got."

Referring to the Mercedes concept, in particular, Brawn said his department "did not anticipate" such a design.

He added: "It's a very extreme interpretation of the regulation.

"Inevitably, there's going to be a lot of debate about their interpretation. That's what happens with new regulations.

"However hard you try to close off all the options - and believe me, we've closed off hundreds of them - innovation in Formula 1 is always extreme.

"So from our perspective, it's largely about the objective of the regulations. From the teams' perspective, they want to be sure no one has taken an interpretation they don't feel is correct.

"So I think there is going to be a lot of debate in the next few days."

Casting his eye over the car in the pitlane, Brawn concluded the design was "impressive".

"This is the great thing about the innovation in Formula 1," said Brawn.

"It's just keeping it within boundaries, sensible, that there are no compromises in terms of the objective, in terms of what we wanted to achieve.

"I think you have to be fair. When a team comes up with an idea, an innovation, a novelty, you shouldn't be penalise it straight away.

"The regulator of the sport knows what's going on and they're okay with it so far.

"But, of course, a team may come in and raise an objection the FIA hasn't considered, and then we've a problem.

"I've been through that many a time where your idea is okay, the FIA agree it's okay, but a team comes in with another perspective that hasn't been considered and an argument that's valid.

"I feel there's going to be a lot of discussion that's valid."