And while Silverstone’s features would improve its chances, the key to moving forward was a much-discussed upgrade that had been in the pipeline for some time.
While Red Bull had been fairly aggressive with regular minor updates, Mercedes had waited its time to bring something bigger straight away. The upgrade focused on the central part of the car and addressed some of the aerodynamic issues raised by the 2021 regulatory changes.
Instead of gradually eliminating these problems, as others have done, Mercedes faced them directly with an all-encompassing upgrade package.
Here we take a detailed look at all of the changes …
Mercedes AMG F1 W12 Sidepod Deflector Floor Comparison
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
The skyscraper’s deflector has been shortened so that all of the louvers in the blind-like arrangement can be extended to the front, increasing their influence on the airflow.
The skyscraper’s main deflector has been split into two sections, removing the arch that previously framed the sidepod’s shoulder and instead providing two surfaces that can be used to create vortices.
The sidepod wing now features a design that can be seen almost everywhere on the grille, with an upturned tip that changes the course and vortices of the airflow.
It’s an interesting U-turn considering it hit that path with a similar upgrade package for the Japanese Grand Prix in 2019 but returned to the framed solution for 2020.
Also read:
There were numerous changes at this point, and not only the first wave in the “wavy” floor arrangement was softened. The skyscraper deflector is now connected to the ground across its full width, while a third “R” -shaped guide vane has been inserted.
A lowered section in the bottom spiral replaces the deeper shaft, and the shape of the valve support has also been changed. After the aerodynamicists cut back the scrolled edge of the floor, they filled that volume with a secondary flap.
Most of the grille now has some form of angled fins at this position between the side box and the floor, with Mercedes adding four fins to its arsenal as they are supposed to direct the peeling airflow.
A little further downstream, four more fins have been added, the angle and shape of which are slightly different from the front ones.
Red Bull is also pushing …
Red Bull Racing RB16B new ground
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
With Red Bull introducing new parts at almost every race this season, Red Bull has a program that gets its drivers off-beat, with Max Verstappen getting the parts one race ahead of Sergio Perez.
She continued that formula for the British Grand Prix when a new solution found its way into Max Verstappen’s RB16B at Silverstone.
In the middle part of the floor a new step-like winglet has been mounted, complete with three levels angled towards the edge of the floor and undoubtedly aiding the other aerodynamic surfaces that try to stimulate airflow over and around the rear of the tires.
The post The F1 upgrades that made Mercedes triumph at the British GP first appeared on monter-une-startup.
