McLaren claims Mercedes’ ‘zero sidepod’ concept was destined to fail

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In the 2022 pre-season testing, Mercedes introduced the W13 with ‘zero’ side pods, contrasting with the bulkier designs seen on other teams’ cars. Despite other teams opting out of this approach, Mercedes persisted with this innovative design, incorporating it into their 2023 car. However, with its failure to produce results, it was abandoned, with a more traditional design adopted since the Monaco GP.

Dissecting the failure of the design, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has given his verdict on why it performed so poorly. Speaking to RacingNews365.com, he said, ” The sidepods, in simple terms, they act a bit like miniskirts, so aerodynamically, having the wide sidepods helps the suction [of air] to the floor. That is the concept you can’t do without if you want to maximize the suction of the floor and for the load on the car.”

Andrea Stella added, “It’s very clear that everyone is converging in that direction, and we are also moving development in that direction and hopefully, we will see results soon.” He refers to the grid leaning toward how dominant leaders at Red Bull have designed their side pods, maximizing their performance.

Ferrari, too, is a team that has notably used the Austrian constructors as the inspiration behind their new sidepods, ditching their previous in-wash design. With the zero-sidepod concept not delivering consistent results, Mercedes deviating from it has proven fruitful in the last two race weekends.

Related: “He has been pleading,” Damon Hill credits Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes’s impressive W14 upgrades

Mercedes ditching their ‘zero-sidepod’ design is already showing promise

The Monaco GP may not have been an ideal venue to measure the extent of Mercedes’ improvement. However, their drivers finished a solid P4 and P5 nonetheless. This hinted that the Spanish Grand Prix to follow could also yield good results, if not better. It did not disappoint, with the Silver Arrows securing their first double podium of the year.

The team had a lackluster start to the season, marked by inconsistency and poor results, as their drivers consistently expressed dissatisfaction with drivability issues. However, starting at the Monaco Grand Prix, the team making significant changes to their sidepod and underbody designs to narrow the gap to the leading team, Red Bull, has already resulted in their best finish of the year so far.

With their drivers finally comfortable, Lewis Hamilton cruised to a brilliant P2 finish, followed by George Russell, who cut through the field from P12 on the grid, crushing the likes of main competitors Aston Martin and Scuderia Ferrari. This has enabled them to move to second in the constructors’ standings.

Despite the progress made by the Silver Arrows in updating their machinery, they still face a considerable task in bridging the gap with Red Bull. The upcoming Canadian Grand Prix holds significant importance for them, as their car demonstrated exceptional performance in Barcelona, suggesting they have found the perfect balance. Confirming their progress in Canada will be crucial in solidifying their competitive position.

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