P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes joins Williams and RB with ‘quick and cheap’ F1 cockpit airflow upgrades
Teams are often hesitant to introduce major development packages for sprint race weekends due to limited track running, but they are still looking for gains through other means. For the race in Shanghai, three teams have made revisions to the driver and cockpit area: RB focused on reshaping the headrest, Mercedes added small flicks behind the Halo, and Williams adjusted the geometry at the forward part of the halo. These changes aim to improve airflow control around the cockpit and boost aerodynamic efficiency towards the rear of the car. According to Williams head of vehicle performance Dave Robson, these adjustments in the critical cockpit area matter significantly in distributing airflow around the car, and they can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively. He emphasized the importance of incremental upgrades to enhance overall performance, especially in conjunction with larger aero packages being developed for future races.
