Nearly two years have passed since the introduction of ground effect, and the Mercedes team has struggled to master it. With almost two years of underwhelming performances, the Brackley-based outfit was on the verge of losing its elite status. Further, the start of the 2024 season was no different. Despite high hopes from W15, the high-speed beast was untamed.
Thus, the shoulders were dropping, and a comeback looked almost impossible. However, the engineers, led by James Allison, made persistent efforts. Finally, after trying nearly everything from the arsenal, the W15 project looks competitive.
The Miami And Imola Upgrade Package: Paving The Way For Future Developments
The upgrade package in Miami included some track-specific changes to aid the drivers. Further, the front wing was trimmed, the angle of the front track rod was tweaked, and the engine’s cooling was enhanced. Moreover, the floor and edge wings will be smoothed as part of the future plan. However, the changes made to the underfloor remained unnoticed as they were not visible. Additionally, there were changes to the edge wing in which the number of strakes increased from two to five. Also, the size and geometrics of the starkes were altered. As a result, the dimensional tweaks were allied with the edge wing’s position, size, and shape.
Later in Imola, the Mercedes team welcomed another set of upgrades. Similar to the Miami upgrade, this one included circuit-specific changes while improving the floor. Surprisingly, the team revealed a new set of rear wings, which canceled out all the developments. The Brackley-based outfit tried to follow in the footsteps of Aston Martin. However, the lower portion exposed the tip of the car. Despite the similarities, Mercedes could call the Imola setup an innovation due to its unique approach. Further, the team following Alpine’s approach had to stretch the tip to improve the main plane’s performance. Moreover, the combination of these solutions with the outboard mounting position improved the performance. Consequently, the part of this wing is now included in the W15’s basic design.
The Canada Comeback: More Than Just ‘Front Wings”
The Mercedes team has introduced significant updates to their car’s aerodynamics, focusing on the floor’s leading edge and front wing, starting at the Monaco Grand Prix. Inspired by Red Bull’s past developments, the team added a blister to the chassis side to adjust the floor’s starting position, impacting airflow both above and below the floor. Further, these changes complemented previous floor modifications and were further enhanced by a new front-wing layout. Only George Russell had access to this new wing in Monaco, but both drivers were equipped with it by the Canadian Grand Prix. The new design abandoned the slender upper flap, favoring a narrower inboard section and wider movable flaps. This altered the wing’s performance dynamics and necessitated a redesign of the flaps, nose shape, and central wing portion.
Moreover, the main plane’s design was also changed, with a shallower profile and a semi-detached layout for three of the four elements. The second element was prioritized, and the rearward elements were adjusted to create the desired outwash effect. Subsequently, an inboard-mounted hook winglet, similar to Haas’s design, assisted the flap tips and juncture. In Canada, the team didn’t update the front wing or floor but focused on aerodynamic improvements through modifications to the front suspension fairings, enhancing the car’s overall performance.