P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The front of Mercedes’ latest F1 car, the W16, shows some interesting developments for the eight-time constructors’ champions. RacingNews365 technical expert Paolo Filisetti explains those changes.
The Mercedes W16 for the 2025 F1 season showcases a bold car concept with striking elements, particularly emphasizing the extreme sidepod undercut and unique placement of cooling inlets. The vertical slit extending from the floor to the lip covering the air inlet features a minimized letter-box cross section. Notably, the flow conditioners under the floor exhibit a revamped design compared to the previous W15 model, with a deeply curved central conditioner. The revised floor design signifies significant aerodynamic enhancements, despite no visible changes to the lateral edge. The nose tip of the car sports a different profile aiming to optimize airflow for the front wing and efficiently feed the vertical inlets on the side of the chassis. Detailed illustrations of the Mercedes front-end modifications are provided for closer examination.
