P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes says the new floor it took to the United States GP – geared towards confirming its 2024 development direction – will be its last upgrade of the 2023 F1 season. Gary Anderson takes a closer look at how much has changed, compared to the previous spec and since the start of the ruleset
Mercedes introduced a new floor at Austin, which sparked discussions about the 2024 Formula 1 season. The focus was on confirming the development direction for next year’s car, although the performance gain was expected to be limited due to the restrictions on changes in that area. If the results are positive, Mercedes plans to fully exploit these ideas in the future.
The areas of improvement were the underfloor leading edge, the front corner of the sidepod, and the front-outer edge of the floor. Changes were made to the profile of the outer splitter and the trailing edge. The upper surface of the floor’s leading edge was shortened, redirecting more airflow out of the side of the floor.
Mercedes also added a new splitter inside the previous pair, redirecting more of the underfloor airflow out of the front corner. This reduces the volume of airflow reaching the diffuser, resulting in faster airflow under the car and generating more downforce. Additionally, the curved underfloor splitters deflect some airflow under the lower edge of the splitter, energizing the underfloor airflow.
The aim of these modifications is to maximize the flow structure in this area, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the diffuser. The changes also required the relocation of small triangular splitters to enhance the vortex structure and improve sealing further rearward. Overall, this upgrade aims to strengthen the underfloor downforce and improve performance.
Source: The Race
