Mercedes surprises with a sidepod-less design showing, already a monstrous upturn in performance

Mercedes surprises with a sidepod-less design showing, already a monstrous upturn in performance

Mercedes-AMG F1 W13 E Performance

Mercedes recently caught everyone’s imagination when they raised the curtain off of their brand new challenger W-13. After Formula 1 undergoes seismic changes in regulations and as dawn breaks on a new era, Mercedes has decided to adapt to the changes in their own style.

The team’s new challenger is 98% new and there has been limited carry over from the last design. The design looked sleeks and Mercedes seemed to have turned back the leaf as it returns to their vintage silver base livery but also have decided to keep some black elements on the design which gives them the perfect blend of the old and the new.

This is not the impressive aspect of the new challenger. The new W13 has ‘no sidepods.’ This is something we have never imagined but Mercedes has done the unthinkable. Ferrari has gone ahead with louvred sidepod tops and Red Bull has a distinct dramatic undercut. Although Mercedes trialled with louvred sidepods during the opening test but the reports suggest that Mercedes might opt for a car without sidepods.

FS Video

Mercedes reportedly set to test out their design with no sidepods at Bahrain Grand Prix testing

Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Toto Wolff
Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Toto Wolff with the new challenger W-13

Mercedes hasn’t tested it out on the track to see the actual results but the stimulator has shown a monstrous upturn in performance which has already shown to give legendary gains to Mercedes.

“The sidepods are gone after Mercedes’ tests in the simulator showed a monstrous upturn in the performance.”

“It would be a car almost completely devoid of sides, the disappearance of which would have involved an imaginative but effective arrangement of the radiators, in the highest area of the bodywork.”

“The sidepod-less design has shown impressive simulator performances, with already legendary gains.”

“It is said to be disturbing the tech gurus at their rival teams while causing more than one team principal to be alarmed.” As reported by planetf1.

Mercedes has done the unthinkable but this is also a risk that Mercedes is willing to take as it is reportedly planning to go forward with a design which hasn’t been tested on track as of now.

Also read: In Photos: A look at Alfa Romeo C42 from all angles!