Mercedes has evolved its single-seater concept for the W11

All competing technical departments must undoubtedly scrutinize the new features unveiled this morning on the Mercedes W11 by the world champion team. And for good reason, the technical team of Brackley and Brixworth has largely dominated the last six years, notably with very advanced management of hybridization.

Before the major technical upheaval which will take place in 2021 with the new regulations which will be proposed by the FIA ​​and Liberty Media, this W11 will have to continue in the victorious line of its predecessors. And if Ferrari achieved a clear improvement in terms of the powertrain in 2019, Mercedes wanted to take its engine concept even further this year.

« We examined each system, confesses Andy Cowell, head of the Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains entity. We sought to improve our combustion efficiency, powertrain systems and auxiliary systems on the Power Unit.

We studied the losses that occur when we transmit energy around the Power Unit and we tried to reduce the friction and rolling losses through surface work.

We have optimized techniques in the design process and introduced new materials with improved properties. And all this work has to be done within the usual constraints of a racing car, where the Power Unit cannot get bigger like at Christmas and the scales are not allowed to read one gram more.

For all new systems, we had to ensure that they would be offset by weight reductions on existing systems. »

Cooling was one of the major areas of work, with the systems this year being designed to operate at “a higher temperature” according to Andy Cowell. “This is a difficult challenge to meet because large parts of the engine are aluminum and the temperatures we operate at mean the material properties degrade quite quickly. »

Another potential asset for the Silver Arrows is the work accomplished by Mercedes in Formula E. The German brand is indeed trying to transfer the technological achievements of the 100% electric series into F1, where hybridization remains a major element in the performance of single-seaters.

“The efficiency of this electrical machine, the inverter and all the control systems are essential, and the precision of the torque delivered is crucial, Cowell says. Some of the development has now been fed back into F1, so from Melbourne this year we will benefit from our development work in Formula E. »

A general concept in evolution

In addition to the engine plan, the W11 will be able to count on a clear evolution of the basic concept of the W10 of 2019. With the objective of a greater potential working range for development during the season.

“If we had simply continued adding changes to the 2019 base, we would have found gains, but in all likelihood diminishing returns would manifest now, estimates James Allison, technical director of the team.

We wanted to change aspects of the car concept – aspects that would be completely impossible to change in one season – to give us a more fertile platform.

At the front, we have accepted greater structural complexity around the pillars and rims in order to provide a more efficient overall package. In the middle of the car, we followed the pit lane trend by moving our upper side impact tube to a lowered position, taking advantage of the aerodynamic gain that comes with this layout.

At the rear, we opted for a daring suspension setup to unlock opportunities for aerodynamic development. These three investments are improvements in their own right, but their real effect is to leverage a series of secondary aerodynamic gains both during the winter and, we hope, throughout the coming season. »

Allison further confirms that Mercedes will not repeat the same pattern of 2019, which saw two very different cars between the launch and the second week of testing in Barcelona, ​​​​which foreshadows the first developments to come for Melbourne.