Mercedes among five teams to unveil Azerbaijan Grand Prix rear-wing

Ian Parkes
Friday 10 June 2022 11:45

Mercedes is one of five teams that will run a new rear wing for this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine and Alfa Romeo join the reigning constructors' champions in introducing the component. Title leaders Red Bull, in contrast, has opted for changes to its floor for the Baku street race.

The new Mercedes rear wing is circuit specific given the nature of the track and has been designed to generate less drag and downforce to allow greater top speed on the straights.

The Ferrari design, initially taken to Miami but not used, has been described by the Scuderia as featuring "depowered top rear-wing profiles in order to adapt to the Baku City Circuit layout peculiarities and efficiency requirements".

Mercedes has also slightly modified its front wing which has a 'smaller chord and reduced angle of attack mid-chord flap elements' in order to "reduce front-wing load efficiently to meet the aero balance requirements" of the track.

Mercedes state that a decision on whether they run this element will be based "a little on which rear-wing level and balance we settle on during Friday practice".

Red Bull's RB18 has updated components on the front corner, but primarily tweaks have been made to the floor body, fences and edge.

With regard to the front corner, there is now additional front brake and caliper cooling which builds on the duct geometry the team applied for Monaco.

For the floor body, the change is minor, with external wire added to better support the floor, while in relation to the fences and edge, alterations have been made in pursuit of what the team describes as "local load".

McLaren is also running a new coke/engine cover which has been developed to reduce cooling and maximise aerodynamic performance by providing reduced drag and improving rear downforce.

Three teams, Aston Martin, Williams and Haas, have no new components for this race.