‘You question everything’ - Mercedes explain late switch to downwash sidepod F1 concept

Mercedes’ chief technical officer Mike Elliott has detailed the team’s decision to change their sidepod concept during the 2023 F1 season. 
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps,
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian…

The German manufacturer created one of the biggest talking points of the season when they brought a major upgrade to the W14 ♏at the Monaco Grand Prix. 

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A striking revamp w♔as headlined by a new-look sidepod design that saw Mercedes finally abandon their controversial ‘zeropod’ concept for a more conventional downwash approach.

It marked the first step in a new direction that Mercedes hopes will set them on a𝓀 bath back towards title contention, even if the change di💃d not bring about radical gains.

“I think when we brought the first version, it was pretty much 🦩a level change. It wasn’t something that brought lots of extra performance but there were opportunities to look at something diff𒁃erent. We’ve sort of moved forward,” Elliott explained at the Belgian Grand Prix. 

“We’re always evolving, constantly trying to bring more performance🥂. So, this is a little bit more. The next version will bring us a little bit more and hopefully we’ll keep developing over the winter.”

George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain,
George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand…

Mercedes initially continued to throw their weight behind their exiꦫsting design due to not being convinced that other directions would deliver a substantial steᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚp forward. 

“Over the winter we looked at🌠 various different concepts of bodywork and didn’t find a solution that was better than the one we had,” Elliott said. 

“I think with what we've done now, we've clearly not jumped completely to where they are or to where anybody else🌜 is. What we've tried to do is to take what we've got and adapt it.  

“Therefore, you don't sort of t🌠ake the same hit. And hopefully with time it evolves and we'll end up in a better place.” 

Elliott admitted the sidepod d🐭ilemma led to Mercedes questioning their processes, but is confident the decision to switch concepts will ultimately prove more fruitful in their ongoing bid to catch Red Bull. 

Mercedes AMG F1 W14 sidepod. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium,
Mercedes AMG F1 W14 sidepod. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Spa…

“You question everything,” he added. “You question whether you have got the right fundamental philosophies, you question whether you’ve got the ri🐈ght processes in the way you’re looking at the data.

“You’d like to think there’s some silver🔴 bullet you could find or something that’s wrong that you can fix. Butღ I think, generally speaking, it’s all about hard work.

“If you look at where we were last year, with a car and the issues that we faced, we took quite a few big steps bacဣkwards to get ourselves out of some of the positions we were in. Then, once you’re theꦆre, it is just catch up.

“I think if you look at where we are performance-wise, I think Aston made a good step over the winter but we’ve got ourselves into a decent position. Un🌄fortunately, we’ve seen McLare💙n also make a big step.

“I think you have to sort of look at that and say, on♚ the one hand, it’s disappointing for us,🃏 but on the other hand, it shows us there are opportunities to make good steps.”

Mercedes’ focus for the rest of the year is now set on gathering as much learning as possible about the W14 as they look to cre🅷ate a W15 that can win races in 2025.

Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing RB19 and Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14 battle for position. Formula 1 World
Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing RB19 and Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14 battle…

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