Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Technical Insight: Analysis of Mercedes W12’s floor and diffuser

by Rosario Giuliana
4 years ago
A A
0
Technical Insight: Analysis of Mercedes W12’s floor and diffuser
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The real Mercedes W12 was finally presented in Bahrain for the three days of testing in its final form, and we were able to appreciate the real technical innovations of the reigning world champions single-seater, after the launch renderings concealed important components such as the new floor and diffuser.

The first day of testing for Toto Wolff’s team, however, couldn’t have been much worse. A gearbox problem saw Valtteri Bottas complete just seven laps, whilst a sandstorm meant Lewis Hamilton’s running was also hit. The decision not to carry out a filming day turned out to be quite unfortunate, as it may have alerted the team to the gearbox problem much earlier.

Despite its poor Friday, Mercedes still made positive headlines with the technical details of the W12, especially with regards the floor, which was finally out in plain sight for the eyes of their rivals.

The terminal part of the floor is not as simple as that of the renderings of the presentation, it has a series of drifts connected to each other by a horizontal element, which have the purpose of throwing air towards the outside of the wheel tread. It is also noted how in the area before the diffuser there are three “fins” that comb the air-flow, this time in the innermost area of the wheel. We can see in the drawing the terminal area of the floor of the Mercedes W12.

RelatedPosts

Franco Colapinto has acknowledged where he must improve

Alpine’s mid-season driver swap is still to pay dividends in 2025

6 hours ago
Lewis Hamilton is working with Ferrari to make the 2026 car more to his liking

Lewis Hamilton working to ensure Ferrari 2026 F1 car comprises desired characteristics

7 hours ago

More curious is the anterior area of the floor, which has a wave shaped element in the area where the diagonal cut begins at 1800mm from the front axle. Mercedes have clearly worked hard over the winter to try to recover the lost downforce due to the new regulations, which effectively limit the available downforce provided by the flat floor.

The sinuous trend of the edge helps the flows to move to an area outside the car, creating vortices of air that create an aerodynamic barrier that turns the airflow outside the rear wheel, effectively reducing the tyres resistance (drag).

We have also seen a fairly similar solution on the new Aston Martin AMR21, which has undergone a transformation compared to the car that ran last week during a filming day. It follows the same technical philosophy as the Mercedes W12 – which may not come as a huge surprise.

On the Aston Martin however, the wavy element is further forward, closer to the bargeboards and before the diagonal cut of the floor.

Moving to the rear of the W12 we were finally able to see a 2021-spec diffuser following the rule changes which mandate 50mm shorter fins. However James Allison and his team have worked hard on every detail, precisely to reduce the negative impact that the new regulations have on aerodynamics.

We have highlighted in the photo the drift of the innermost diffuser, which has been divided into many elements.

Ignore the large piece of fencing on the rear of the car, which is a measurement device made up of many pitot tubes, which measure the pressure and speed of the air flow to identify the aerodynamic behaviour at the rear of the car.

Tags: F1F1TechF1TestingMercedesF1W12
Share206Tweet129Share

Related Posts

Franco Colapinto has acknowledged where he must improve
Feature

Alpine’s mid-season driver swap is still to pay dividends in 2025

6 hours ago
Lewis Hamilton is working with Ferrari to make the 2026 car more to his liking
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton working to ensure Ferrari 2026 F1 car comprises desired characteristics

7 hours ago
(L to R): Christian Horner (GBR) Red Bull Racing Team Principal with Dr Helmut Marko (AUT) Red Bull Motorsport Consultant. 01.12.2024. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 23, Qatar Grand Prix, Doha, Qatar, Race Day
Formula 1

Details of Christian Horner’s Red Bull F1 dismissal revealed

7 hours ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
13Belgian GP25-27 July
14Hungarian GP01-03 August
15Dutch GP29-31 August
16Italian GP05-07 September
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri234
Lando Norris226
Max Verstappen165
George Russell147
Charles Leclerc120
Lewis Hamilton103
Andrea Kimi Antonelli63
Alexander Albon44
Nico Hulkenberg37
Isack Hadjar28

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Franco Colapinto has acknowledged where he must improve
Feature

Alpine’s mid-season driver swap is still to pay dividends in 2025

July 14, 2025
Lewis Hamilton is working with Ferrari to make the 2026 car more to his liking
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton working to ensure Ferrari 2026 F1 car comprises desired characteristics

July 14, 2025
(L to R): Christian Horner (GBR) Red Bull Racing Team Principal with Dr Helmut Marko (AUT) Red Bull Motorsport Consultant. 01.12.2024. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 23, Qatar Grand Prix, Doha, Qatar, Race Day
Formula 1

Details of Christian Horner’s Red Bull F1 dismissal revealed

July 14, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd