The 2024 season was dull and dingy for the Mercedes team. The never-ending slump felt like an eternity, as their technical team looked clueless. Moreover, the team has failed to finish at P1 since 2022 due to numerous technical woes. However, the Canadian Grand Prix brought a tint of hope for the Brackley-based outfit.
After persistent efforts by James Allison & crew, the German marque looked fierce on the Mont Real track. As a result, George Russell scored his first podium of the season. Moreover, Lewis Hamilton was also in contention till the last few laps. Despite finishing in third place, Russell had a strong chance of winning the race. However, a few minor mistakes ultimately cost him the opportunity to secure victory. Now, the technical team is getting all the praise for its consistent efforts.
Technical Breakdown: The New Front Wings Setup Works Wonder For The Silver Arrows
Mercedes’s new front wing setup was the trending topic during the Monaco GP. While George Russell used the new setup, Lewis Hamilton had to compromise. However, the technical team clarified they only had one set of teh new wings, and Hamilton gave it to Russell. Later, ahead of the Canadian GP, Toto Wolff confirmed both drivers will use the latest setup. Moreover, their Canada GP performance has justified all the buzz around these new front wings. Further, this tweak is considered the core of the entire upgrade. Before this, the fundamental aerodynamic issue made balancing almost impossible on the corners. Conjointly, it was due to the old front wings with the ‘legality tube’ top flap hindering the airflow. Thus, it feels like the engineers at Brackley have finally found a way out of the ‘ground effect’ maze. Earlier, the drivers complained about the car’s nervous balance due to the excessive front grip.
The front wings were at the center of their woes, as it was crucial to leverage the ground effect. Further, the old wings worked well for the rear end, but at a high speed, they troubled the drivers. Mercedes’ technical head, James Allison, explained the upgrade. He said bigger front wings make the low-riding cars ‘nervous’ at higher speeds. Further, he claimed the previous wings created a discontinuity in the airflow, resulting in an imbalance. Ultimately, Allison doesn’t want to take away the ‘Aerodynamic happiness’ of the W15; thus, mechanical changes were not an option. Therefore, the front wings have been the game changer, and it’ll get better till the Barcelona race.
F1 Expert Feels Mercedes Have Found The ‘Silver Bullet’
On the F1 Nation podcast, Tom Clarkson discussed Mercedes’ recent performance gains, emphasizing their tremendous progress in the previous two races. Clarkson ascribed this to several variables rather than a single improvement.
He added that Mercedes’ technical director, James Allison, stressed the importance of numerous factors contributing to the car’s improvement. On the other hand, Clarkson described the new front wing, which George Russell used for the first time in Monaco and both drivers used in Montreal, as a “silver bullet.” He stated that the front wing’s regulatory-compliant design had made a considerable impact by allowing for some freedom within the allowable limitations.
