Mercedes F1 team to use new controversial wing in Mexico
Oct.28 - Mercedes has taken a new front wing to Mexico that some speculated a week ago in Austin may be illegal.
It appears that the small winglets on the design, apparently to produce an 'outwash' effect that is against the spirit of the 2022 rules, have now been removed.
Engineering boss Andrew Shovlin denies concerns about illegality is why Mercedes did not use the wing in the US.
Lewis Hamilton driving around with an aero-rack on the Mercedes W13 in Austin
"The reason we didn't run it in Austin was that we only had one," he said.
"So if we had damaged it in qualifying, that would have meant that we would have had to change the wing spec before the race and put the affected driver on the back of the grid."
Shovlin says Mercedes now has spares in the luggage in Mexico "so we'll try it on Friday".
Technical director Mike Elliot, meanwhile, said the FIA green-lighted the design prior to Austin during a "CAD review process".
"Then they came back and said 'We're not so sure about this', but I think there is an argument to be made."
Meanwhile, some suspect that Mercedes is no longer motivated to try to chase Ferrari down for second in the constructors' championship, as that would only limit wind tunnel development time as per the regulations.
Shovlin insists that beating Ferrari is the target, even though achieving better conditions under the aerodynamic regulations would be a "small consolation prize" for losing that battle.
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Prize money for a higher finishing position has more value than wind tunnel time anyway, so more important in the big picture.
It appears that the small winglets on the design, that apparently produce an 'outwash' effect that is against the SPIRIT of the 2022 rules, have now been removed.
Engineering boss Andrew Shovlin denies concerns about illegality is why Mercedes did not use the wing in the US. "The reason we didn't run it in Austin was that we only had one," he said.
Technical director Mike Elliot, meanwhile, said the FIA green-lighted the design prior to Austin during a "CAD review process"
i.e we got some CAD software from the Pirate Bay years ago and knocked up some fancy drawings that looked to be legal.
"Then they came back and said 'We're not so sure about this".
It’s either I’m drinking too much whiskey or I’m getting dumber by the day. Why take it with you if you are not going to bolt it on? It would be like walking into a Bank with a gun and yelling out "don’t panic we forgot to bring any bullets so we won’t be robbing you know".
Mercedes Benz instead of using a Press Liaison Officer must just sit their staff down to watch a series or two of the BBC comedy Yes Minister and then send them out the door.
"The reason we didn't run it in Austin was that we only had one," he said.
Then why did they bring it to COTA? This is PR bulls**t.
So now Mercedes are both whiners (last season) and attempted cheaters (this). Boo-hoo!
What, no penalties for using an illegal part on the car?
$1.00000 fine and race ban at minimum
Oops I forgot it was Mercedes. Silly me
They removed the little dingyhoos between the blades and were considered legal.
Should never use the word legal and Merc in same breath , weren't they the ones who did that illegal tyre test in 2013, and they have the gaul to call Rb cheats.
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