Formula 1

The Complexities Of Aerodynamics: Why Mercedes Is Struggling To Keep Up With Red Bull

Published

2 months ago

24/03/2023

Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff has acknowledged that it will take time for his team to match Red Bull’s level of expertise regarding the intricate aerodynamic intricacies crucial for optimizing the current generation of Formula 1 vehicles’ performance.

According to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, it will require a period of “six to twelve months” for them to match Red Bull’s level of comprehension regarding the intricate aerodynamic intricacies crucial for optimizing the current generation of Formula 1 vehicles’ performance. Wolff has mentioned significant advancements taking place in the wind tunnel as Mercedes seeks a change in approach aimed at unlocking more substantial performance capabilities.

Toto Wolff acknowledges that Red Bull has acquired substantial expertise in optimizing the performance of the current generation of ground effect cars. Hence, he concedes that it will take time for Mercedes to catch up to that level of expertise. Additionally, Wolff notes that since Red Bull’s concept is more established, its rate of progress will naturally slow down, which could potentially provide Mercedes with the opportunity to make relative gains.

When asked about the duration required to match Red Bull’s level of comprehension regarding the car’s performance, Toto Wolff stated that he believes it would take around six to 12 months. This is due to the time it took for Mercedes to understand the car’s dynamics fully. To catch up, Wolff emphasizes that they need to double their development speed and maintain a steep development slope.

Toto Wolff suggests that while windtunnel time could aid them a bit in terms of aero, it won’t make a significant difference. He believes that the key to catching up to Red Bull is to get their approach right fundamentally, and then they can make substantial strides forward. However, he stresses the importance of being flawless in their execution. It should be noted that the timeframe of 6-12 months is not a target but rather an estimation of the time required to match Red Bull’s level of understanding. Mercedes is determined to achieve this as swiftly as possible.

Although Mercedes has emphasized its downforce deficit as a significant factor, it is not just about matching Red Bull’s downforce levels. What matters is having the ability to fine-tune the aero map and characteristics to optimize performance fully.

The Complexities Of Aerodynamics: Why Mercedes Is Struggling To Keep Up With Red Bull

For Mercedes to recover, it must first comprehend why it went in the wrong direction. Despite trying designs based on the Red Bull concept in both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and windtunnel testing, the team has not observed any gains or potential for enhanced performance through development. Therefore, the question remains as to why these attempts did not yield positive results.

Determining why previous attempts to optimize performance based on the Red Bull concept did not produce positive results is a difficult task, even for those on the inside. Mercedes will need to understand how to make the car work with its new concept, which will expose the team to new areas to explore in understanding the underlying science of aerodynamic optimization in F1 cars. This process will likely be a challenging yet essential step towards regaining competitive form.

There has been considerable discussion around the sidepod concept, with Mercedes acknowledging a modified design even before the start of the season. The team plans to introduce the new sidepod design at the Imola race in May, which will differ from both the Red Bull design and the current Mercedes “zero-sidepod” design.

According to technical director Mike Elliott, incorporating the new sidepod design will necessitate modifications to the packaging beneath the car’s bodywork.

While the sidepod design is a significant aspect of the concept change, it is not the only area of focus. The foundation of the concept of a modern F1 car is the potent underfloor, and any modifications must start there. Other changes made to the car are about optimizing it as part of a complex and intricate network of airflows, both on and off the bodywork. It is apparent that Mercedes is currently facing a knowledge gap in this regard, particularly when compared to Red Bull.

Andrew Shovlin, the trackside engineering director at Mercedes, clarified the meaning of the term “concept change.” He stated that the team may have been too focused on the sidepod design when using the term. In reality, Mercedes is exploring more significant departures from their previous approach. The current car is an evolution of last year’s model, with a focus on the side-impact structure.

Shovlin stated that Mercedes is exploring more significant changes because it is evident that the current approach has not produced the desired performance. While the team is primarily focusing on the side-impact structure, there are other areas of the car that also require improvement. It would be imprudent to assume that simply changing the sidepod design will resolve all the performance gaps between Mercedes and Red Bull.

Shovlin acknowledged that the majority of the performance gap between Mercedes and Red Bull cannot be addressed solely through changes to the sidepod design. Instead, improvements will have to be made in other areas of the car as well. He confirmed that Mercedes has numerous ongoing projects aimed at enhancing the car’s performance over the next five races.

Mercedes is likely to learn as it progresses through the season, and it is possible that their previous design trend of running low-rake cars before the 2022 season has contributed to their current disadvantage.

Under the previous rules regime, Red Bull used a high-rake car and likely developed an extensive understanding of the intricate details of the car’s aerodynamics, such as controlling the underfloor performance at different ride heights and the interaction between aero and mechanical characteristics. This provided an opportunity for Red Bull to build a knowledge base that Mercedes may lack, which could have informed the development of their current cars.

Regardless of the reasons behind it, Mercedes’ change in concept will require the team to venture into unfamiliar territory. While Wolff’s assertion of significant progress is encouraging, the more advanced the car becomes, the more precise the control required to optimize its performance. There may be obstacles ahead that could temporarily impede their gains while they build a better understanding of the aerodynamic phenomena involved.

When asked about why Red Bull and Aston Martin have been successful with their car concepts, Toto Wolff acknowledged that Mercedes has not spent enough time examining the areas where these teams are finding performance gains. He stated that it was crucial to rediscover their own identity, which they have achieved. Now, they need to take the next step and analyze the two cars closely to identify what they are doing differently and what Mercedes may be missing.

Mercedes only decided to pursue this new concept after the Bahrain Grand Prix, but work on the alternative design had already begun. That may explain why the team has made a strong start in its development. However, catching up with Red Bull and making up for lost ground will take time, not just in terms of performance deficits (currently around 0.7% based on the first two weekends) but also in knowledge deficits. Mercedes has a lot of ground to make up in terms of understanding the complex aerodynamic interactions that underpin F1 car performance.

Although Toto Wolff has not explicitly stated it, the significant knowledge deficit that Mercedes currently faces suggests that catching up to Red Bull in time to pose a title threat for the 2023 season is highly unlikely.

When asked about the possibility of closing the performance gap to Red Bull, Toto Wolff emphasized that it’s still early in the season, with only two races completed. He acknowledged that the current performance gap is substantial and that closing it may not be realistic at this point. However, he emphasized the importance of giving it their all and seeing where that takes them. He cited their progress from last year as an example of how they can catch up, even with a problematic car. Winning races and closing the gap should remain their aspiration.

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