Mercedes introduced a rather radical looking barge-board at the second day of pre-season testing in Barcelona on Tuesday.
It’s an ominous sign for rival teams that Mercedes have already begun testing new parts. Usually the first test is reserved for system checks, electronics, engine installation and general aero analysis, but Mercedes, which is so confident in its W07, has already begun assessing new parts.
On Monday, Mercedes promised some unusual parts and the team delivered on Tuesday morning when Nico Rosberg left the garage in a car that resembled something from Mad Max.
The new barge-board is made up of six vertical elements [1] and several split horizontal strakes [2].
A barge-board is typically used to direct airflow from the centreline around the sidepod to the rear of the car. However with slimmer sidepods and large undercuts up and down the grid, directing airflow isn’t such a necessity anymore, as there is plenty of airflow heading that way.
Mercedes have recognised this and believe the airflow would be better directed underneath the car, where it will meet the diffuser, sealing the edges and sucking the car to the track more effectively.
To achieve this within the rules, they have created vertical slits in the barge-board, which allows the airflow to bleed through, meeting the front of the sidepod where it’s directed downward to the floor [3]. Again, Mercedes have continued the slits horizontally from the barge-board to the floor [2], allowing the airflow an escape route underneath the car.
The strakes will also condition the disrupted airflow, straightening it, which improves how it flows underneath the car to meet the diffuser.
