Mercedes unleashes biggest F1 update in Austria

Just a week after the Brackley-based team introduced an engine upgrade in France, a raft of changes to the W09 – including to the sidepods and rear wing – are proof of an aggressive push at this stage of the season.

Having opted for a more conventional sidepod layout, rather than the concept introduced by Ferrari in 2017 that was copied by several other teams, Mercedes locked itself into that route for the entire season.

But with a well thought out plan to make a change, tweaks made in this area to play both to the aerodynamic demands of the car as well as helping the engine operate at its maximum potential.

Mercedes AMG F1 W09 side pods

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The sidepod update consists of several changes, which all centre around the slimming of the inlet and targeted as a way of improving flow consistency around the sidepod's undercut to the rear of the car.

On the upper corner of the sidepod bodywork, and connected to the slat that runs over its leading edge, a new flow diverter can be found (red arrow).

This not only looks to change the direction of the airflow's travel but also encloses the side impact protection spar that might otherwise protrude out of the bodywork.

Mercedes AMG F1 W09 mirror mount

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The W09's facelift is not only isolated to the sidepods, with a new outboard mirror stalk installed to support the already lengthened mirrors (in France).

The stalk clearly fulfils an aerodynamic purpose though, as at its base the surface is twisted to encourage airflow to travel in a certain direction.

Mercedes AMG F1 W09 rear wing

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

At the rear of the car, the design team from Brackley has taken a leaf out of McLaren's book (inset), which has utilised the wording minutiae in the regulations to add overhanging strakes in a box area that's supposed to create the transition between the wider upper section of the wing to that of the narrower lower section.

The aggressive overhaul in Austria is in contrast to a relatively minor change that was made at the French Grand Prix to a winglet on its front brake duct.

Mercedes W09 front brake fins, French GP

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The usual single element (inset) cast aside in favour of a twin element configuration, much like the ones above and below it have done over time.

The role of these winglets is to improve the direction and flow quality of the air as it is disturbed by the front wing and passes by the brake duct fence and suspension elements.

This in-turn reduces the turbulence created by the tyre alongside and has a performance knock-on effect for the aerodynamic surfaces downstream.