Lewis Hamilton has been exceptional at COTA, winning five races here (joint-most with Max Verstappen) in his F1 career. Therefore, the Briton was eyeing an ambitious upgrade plan by Mercedes to extend his record. However, his dreams were crushed on the third lap of the race as he beached his W15. The seven-time world champion doubted the latest upgrade package could be the culprit. His doubt seems justified, as Russel, who was on old specs, managed to secure the sixth spot.
However, the Mercedes team remains defiant, claiming the mishap had nothing to do with the upgrade. Moreover, on closer inspection, Hamilton was cruising through the rivals despite starting from the seventeenth spot. Although it was a brief run, the W15 showcased great speed and control until the crash. Even the Briton acknowledged that this was one of the best race starts he had experienced in a long time. Therefore, could this new upgrade be a blessing in disguise for the Silver Arrows?
The Sidepod Inlets Mystery–Is Mercedes’ Latest Upgrade A Hidden Blessing In Disguise?
The W15 has significantly transformed by introducing the much-discussed overbite sidepod inlets. This design feature, popularized by Red Bull earlier in the season, has now been embraced by several other teams in the grid. Although there were speculations about Mercedes adopting this innovation, it took longer than anticipated to integrate this design philosophy into its car. A longer upper edge characterizes the overbite inlet compared to the rest of the inlet, a design choice aimed at enhancing airflow over the top of the sidepod. This improvement directs airflow toward critical aerodynamic components at the rear of the car, allowing for better control and more efficient movement of air.
One of the challenges at certain speeds is that air struggles to enter the sidepod due to increased pressure at the inlet. The extended upper edge of the overbite inlet helps mitigate this issue by preventing excess air from flowing over the sidepod, instead pushing it beneath towards the undercut region. This design grants engineers greater control over both clean and turbulent airflow.
While the overall shape of the inlet remains similar, it is now narrower, resulting in a more pronounced undercut. This alteration likely gives Mercedes a competitive advantage, as it creates a smaller internal sidepod area, potentially necessitating a more intricate cooling system arrangement.
The Sidepod Inlet: A Boon For W15’s Airflow
The additional space beneath the car’s sides enhances airflow towards the diffuser and beam wing and allows for better management of dirty air generated by the rear wheels. These changes are modifications to the engine cover’s geometry, which can be observed from the rear of the car. This adjustment appears to optimize the cooling system for the power unit, which is likely influenced by the updates made to the sidepod inlets.
