Mercedes lead the way with Imola updates
Mercedes lead the way with Imola updates
Mercedes has detailed a list of updated aerodynamic tweaks ahead of this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The reigning eight-time constructors' champions are on the backfoot at present in the wake of the heavily revised rules for this season as it heads into the race at Imola trailing Ferrari by 39 points.
Ordinarily, after a three-race flyaway start to the campaign, the first event in Europe would lead to the teams bringing major upgrade packages.
But with only one practice session before qualifying given it is a sprint race weekend, the teams have decided to bide their time, and it will be the sixth race in Barcelona where we will see significant updates.
Below are changes made for this weekend by each team.
Mercedes
Mercedes has updated its sidepod inlet, adding a turning vane ahead of it, as well as reprofiling the upper shroud and the mirror housing.
The vanes improve the airflow quality into the sidepod radiator duct and, in turn, the overall cooling of the car.
To the diffuser, there is a reduced floor edge curl ahead of the rear tyre to help with airflow separation and improve the flow in the diffuser to increase the rear load.
Finally, there is a tweak to the lower deflector endplate designed to generate increased local load on the lower deflector inside the rear wheels, which in turn increases overall diffuser load.
Red Bull
A secondary wing on the keel has been added to the floor, while there is additional rear-brake cooling.
Ferrari
No updates
There is an update to the beam wing to locally modify load and pressure in that area which will prove useful given the wet conditions.
Alpine
In a bid to create more downforce, minor geometric changes have been made to the floor which will be tested during FP1.
In tandem with the floor, there is also a new rear beam wing that will provide better aerodynamic support for the diffuser to help improve performance on the car.
AlphaTauri
The team has made significant changes, notably to the floor, maximising downforce at the front via ride height, while at the rear the changes are designed to work better with the structures generated from the edge of the floor to increase the overall floor load.
At the front corner of the car, there is now a shorter but wider inlet which will work with the front suspension to enhance its loading and to better control the wake from the front wheels.
Aston Martin
There is a new halo vane that is part of a package that also includes the mirror sidepod stay to modify airflow to the back of the car that apparently suits Imola's characteristics.
Front-floor mounting stays have been moved forward in a bid to reduce porpoising.
There is a small update to the top of the rear wing to improve the efficiency of the DRS when it is open, while a change to the front suspension shrouding aids load delivery to the rear.
For Imola and the wet conditions, there is a circuit-specific revised front brake duct system.
Additional downforce has been created via a modified floor, while diffuser performance has been enhanced courtesy of a new coke/engine cover.
There are also updated rear-brake ducts that allow improvements to the cooling, and to some extent, the external aerodynamics.
A new floor edge to control porpoising.
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton fired serious warning by Wolff as F1 star takes aim at controversial FIA decision - GPFans F1 Recap
- 1 hour ago
F1's quirkiest star begins selling ICE CREAM in latest venture
- 2 hours ago
F1 colleagues UNFOLLOW each other as internal drama cranks up
- 3 hours ago
Hamilton 'emotional burden' heading into 2024 season revealed
- Yesterday 21:12
Marko DIRECTLY addresses Verstappen quit rumours
- Yesterday 20:27
Vettel CONFIRMS F1 comeback and reveals what's holding it up
- Yesterday 19:42
- 1
F1 Race Calendar
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
- GP JAPAN 5 - 7 Apr
- GP CHINA 19 - 21 Apr
- GP USA 3 - 6 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
Related news
F1 pundit SLAMS Mercedes as Hamilton woes continue
Hamilton labelled 'best that's ever walked the earth' after INCREDIBLE display
F1 team SAVED Russell from major injuries after horror crash
Mercedes F1 star will 'MISS' Japanese Grand Prix
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860