Mercedes changes its approach to a component of its new front spoiler
For the remainder of the 2024 season, Mercedes has decided to dispense with the "legality strip" an essential component of its Formula 1 front wing, in order to remedy its car's performance problems.
Mercedes has decided to drop an element of its new front wing in Formula 1, known as the “legality strip”, in order to address performance issues with its car for the 2024 season. This strip had been introduced to ensure the wing’s compliance with F1’s technical regulations.
The team realized that its car had weaknesses, particularly in terms of high and low-speed cornering performance, which led to a new development direction. A new front wing design was introduced to improve the car’s balance at different speeds and increase aerodynamic efficiency.
The new front wing design features several changes compared to the old version, including a shorter chord element and wider movable sections to offer more adjustment possibilities. These modifications have a significant impact on the distribution of the wing elements, especially in the outer section.
Progressive improvements for Mercedes
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Toto Wolff, the team boss, emphasized the importance of creating a car that inspires confidence in drivers to push to the maximum. He also mentioned that improvements to the car are made progressively, without expecting a single major change to transform the team’s performance.
In conclusion, although Mercedes initially thought that their front wing concept was the right choice, the team has now opted for a different approach to improve the fundamental basis of their car. A change in design philosophy aiming to achieve incremental gains and progress in the right direction to enhance the team’s overall performance. It remains to be seen if this strategy will be the right one this time.
