F1: Mercedes brings massive upgrades to Spa

The Mercedes F1 team continues to throw the kitchen sink at their W14 car, bringing massive upgrades yet again at Spa Francorchamps.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Hoping if they throw enough $hit at the wall that something will stick, the Mercedes team has brought four significant upgrades this weekend:

1. Taller side pod inlet for reliability. A taller inlet improves flow quality to sidepod radiators, improving engine cooling and allowing fewer louvres for a given cooling level.

2. Sideview coke tube camber increased for flow conditioning. Increased coke side view camber improves onset flow to the rear of the car, notably the rear wing, which gains downforce and drag.

Where is Mercedes hiding the cost to bring all the in-season upgrades they have done? Here in Spa they are throwing the kitchen sink at the car -new Sidepods, Engine Cover, Floor, and Rear Wing. Many think they are cheating with their cost accounting.

3. Changes to floor underside volume distribution for local load. Volume distribution adjusted to extract more local load from the forward floor vortex system, which in turn improves flow to the diffuser.

4. Small chord upper rear wing for drag reduction. Reduced camber and reduced chord upper rear wing with less downforce and drag than standard – suited to low drag tracks such as Spa.

Red Bull Brings Minor Update

Coke/Engine Cover (Circuit Specific – Cooling Range) A minor revision to change the cooling exits on each side ahead of the upper rear wishbones. The geometric consequences suit the cooling requirements in relatively cool ambient conditions, which is typically encountered at Spa

Other Teams

Ferrari: Rear Wing
Alpine: Floor, Front Wing (Flaps)
McLaren: Rear Wing (Endplate & Flap), Beam Wing
Alfa Romeo: Front Wing (Flaps), Rear Wing, Beam Wing
Aston Martin: Rear Wing (Flap), Beam Wing, Floor (Edge)
Haas: None
Alpha Tauri: Rear Wing (Tips)