Mercedes Formula 1 team brings new rear wheel design for Belgian GP
Mercedes has introduced an aggressive update to its rear wheel design at Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix as it attempts to find an advantage over Ferrari
The latest advance from Mercedes are aimed at both aerodynamic improvements and to help better manage the temperature of the brakes and tyres.
Tyre temperatures are a key element of performance in modern F1 and teams have continually experimented with ridges on their rims.
As last year's Red Bull RB13 shows below, it has run a ribbed surface on the outside of its rims for some time.
The main function of this design is to act as a heat sink, with cooling potential heavily linked to the amount of surface area on the car.
Mercedes has run the ridged heat sinks on the inside of its wheel rims for a while, but its upgrade in Belgium has also introduced an aggressive set of ridges around the outside area too.
The rotation of these ridges helps to draw airflow through the wheel and move hot air away from the brakes and the surrounding area of the car.
The upgrade should help Mercedes with the management of its rear tyre temperatures, which has been a critical area of performance for it in 2018.
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Jon Noble: An unfair perception or a genuine concern? Lifting the lid on Red Bull’s Tsunoda scepticism
"We love V8s" - What F1 manufacturers think about future engine regulations
'Antonelli and Sinner, Sinner and Antonelli' - Italy should handle its latest sporting hero with care
Why time is running out to make bigger F1 power unit changes for 2027
Ogier: Portugal WRC loss “hard to accept” after late puncture
BTCC Brands Hatch: Ingram takes first win of 2026 in race three
"It's only going to get better" - How Audi is responding to rocky start to F1 2026
BTCC Brands Hatch: Taylor-Smith takes shock win aboard Toyota in race two
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments