How did Mercedes produce their radical sidepod, what benefit does it offer and does it meet F1’s rules? A closer look at their ‘slimline’ design.
F1 technology articles archive
F1 technology
Analysis: How F1’s midfield leaders tackled the new rules in their 2022 designs
F1 technology
Posted onLast year’s top midfield teams McLaren, Alpine and AlphaTauri have taken a noticeably different approaches to Formula 1’s new rules for 2022.
Analysis: The stand-out technical features on Ferrari’s bold new F1-75
F1 technology
Posted onFerrari’s new F1-75 features several striking differences which set it apart from the other F1 cars revealed so far, including its curvaceous sidepods.
The hidden challenges of F1’s biggest change to its power unit rules since 2014
News Focus
Posted onFormula 1’s switch to 10% ethanol ‘E10’ fuel for 2022 presents an added headache for engineers in a year of upheaval in the regulations.
What Aston Martin revealed – and concealed – in the first ‘real’ F1 car launch of 2022
2022 F1 season
Posted onAston Martin offered the very first look at a genuine 2022 F1 car yesterday. Engineering expert Alto Ono casts his eye over the AMR22.
“An enormous task”: How McLaren crammed a Mercedes into a car built for a Renault
2021 F1 season
Posted onMercedes’ power unit may be “chassis-friendly” but fitting it into a car designed for a Renault was an enormous challenge for McLaren, technical director James Key explained.
Analysis: Why Racing Point is under protest by Renault – and the loophole which could clear them
2020 F1 season
Posted onWhy has Renault focused its protest against the ‘pink Mercedes’ on its brake ducts? And could a vital detail in the rule book put Racing Point in the clear?
Analysis: Why the FIA stewards ruled Mercedes’ DAS is legal
2020 F1 season
Posted onRed Bull’s attempt to have Mercedes’ DAS banned was thrown out by the stewards because they rejected the claim it is part of the car’s suspension.
Will F1’s hiatus cost Mercedes its DAS advantage?
2020 F1 season
Posted onThe unprecedented disruption to the new season may have given Mercedes’ rivals more time to copy their innovative DAS system. But do they need to?
How the FIA’s new encrypted fuel flow meter targets Ferrari’s suspected ‘aliasing’ trick
F1 technology
Posted onThe new, second fuel flow meter the FIA has added to Formula 1 cars this year is designed to prevent a trick Ferrari is believed to have used last season.
New Mercedes adopts rivals’ sidepod design but features “adventurous” new suspension
2020 F1 season
Posted onThe new Mercedes follows one major design trends and has an “adventurous” development of its own, technical director James Allison reveals.
Ferrari adds cape with nose update in Singapore
2019 Singapore Grand Prix
Posted onFerrari has followed a popular design trend with its new nose for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, at a track where the team suspects it could struggle.
Analysis: New sidepods are first step in Racing Point upgrade
F1 technology
Posted onRacing Point is bringing a series of upgrades for its RP19, starting with new sidepods which mark a substantial departure from the previous specification.
Analysis: Mercedes overhaul their sidepods for German GP
F1 technology
Posted onAs final practice came to an end Mercedes were unusually far off the pace. What’s changed on the W10? Craig Scarborough analyses their new sidepod aerodynamics.
Analysis: Williams strives to catch midfield with new aero
F1 technology
Posted onWilliams has brought its biggest aerodynamic update yet, which the team hopes will prove the upgrade they need to cut the FW42’s deficit to the rest of the F1 field.
Analysis: Williams and Racing Point make small steps ahead of big upgrades
F1 technology
Posted onWith major updates due for Racing Point and Williams at the German Grand Prix, F1’s most regular Q2-dodgers brought modest upgrades for their home race.
Analysis: Struggling Haas try upgrade and downgrade at Silverstone
F1 technology
Posted onHaas got “four turns” of data from Sunday at the British Grand Prix after Romain Grosjean’s old-spec VF-19 collided with Kevin Magnussen’s upgraded car.
Why F1 rejected proposal to legalise active suspension in 2021
2021 F1 season
Posted onA proposal to bring back computer-controlled active suspension systems in 2021 was rejected because it could have had a negative effect on the racing.
Alfa Romeo’s latest additions to the C38’s complex nose
F1 technology
Posted onAlfa Romeo has had a further layer of complexity to the nose of its C38, while Antonio Giovinazzi has an unusual new addition to his cockpit.
Return of ground effect in 2021 to make “massive” difference to overtaking
2021 F1 season
Posted onFormula 1 will reintroduce ‘ground effect’ aerodynamics in 2021, a change the sport’s technical directors believe will make a “massive” difference to how easily cars can follow each other.