F1 News: Mercedes To Keep Zero Sidepod Design According To Former Team Manager

Mercedes is expected to stick with their zero sidepod concept despite bringing a major upgrade package to the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix. Peter Windsor, a former Formula 1 team manager, believes that the team will persist with the unique design direction that sets them apart from their competitors.

Acknowledging the lack of pace in the Mercedes car, the team has been working on a series of aerodynamic upgrades aimed at addressing their performance issues. While modifications will be made to the sidepod, the overall zero sidepod concept is expected to be retained by Windsor, despite only yielding one victory in the previous season.

The upgrades were planned to be brought in for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend, but after its cancellation, the Brackley-based squad has confirmed they will be brought in for the Monaco Grand Prix next weekend.

Windsor explained in his recent YouTube video:

“If you’re hoping it’ll suddenly make it as quick as a Red Bull, I think you’ll be pretty let down. If you’re looking for something that might give them a little bit more consistency – a larger sweet spot [or] operating window as they call it – maybe it’ll do that.

“It was interesting to read what they’re saying about the upgrades, which is basically: ‘This is the start of a new path which we believe, long term, will take us back to the front and winning races.’

“So the implication is they’ve made their decision on where they’re going to go with the car and this is the first step in going in that direction.

“Whether they’re going to get away from the whole zero-pod thing and this is the first step towards going towards a conventional car remains to be seen.

“But my bet is that they are still going to soldier on with this car but obviously make some changes based on better correlation between modelling, CFD and wind tunnel testing now that they’ve got a little bit more testing time, not being the World Champions last winter, and that correlation is going to be important in terms of the next step.”

Add us as a preferred source on Google