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Eight of the 10 Formula 1 teams have brought upgrades to the British Grand Prix, as revealed in the latest ‘show and tell’.
Mark Hughes rounds up all the upgrades – including major packages for Mercedes, Aston Martin and Williams.
Mercedes
A significant round of upgrades for Mercedes here. Around the front suspension pushrod the chassis has been widened and additional bodywork fillets made to redirect the airflow and create a vortex which helps improve the flow to the underfloor.
The sidepod vanes have been re-angled in a way that the team claims improves the cooling efficiency of the radiator. The floor edge mini wing has been reprofiled, increasing the direct load on the front of the floor.
The floor fence has been modified to both improve direct floor load and the flow to the diffuser. A trimmed version of the medium downforce wing family has been created especially for Silverstone.
Red Bull
Red Bull’s reshaped engine cover is the most visually obvious of several changes to the car. The team claims this gives them a wider range of cooling options for a variety of tracks in the second half of the season.
The front brake calipers have been re-engineered to avoid the hot spots of the previous components. The geometry of the floor edge and floor fences have been modified in conjunction with the new engine cover.
Ferrari
Ferrari is reporting a revised undercut at the rear of the sidepod as part of their ongoing development cycle. The cooling exit has also been revised as part of this aero upgrade.
McLaren
Newly trimmed rear wing flaps specific to Silverstone and an additional cooling panel which gives the team more options in trading cooling and aero performance.
Alpine
A big bodywork upgrade for the A522, with a Ferrari-like channel on the upper surface – and an accompanying new floor. The front suspension pushrod has also been reshaped as part of the revised flow.
Aston Martin
The car has received its second major upgrade of the season here. The vanes atop the sidepod have been redesigned, with the aim of improving airflow around the cockpit. The floor edge and vanes are new, as are the vanes atop the rear brake ducts. The lower beam wing is of a new design. Together the changes are expected to bring a very significant performance gain.
Williams
An all-new sidepod and floor comprise the first serious upgrade of this year’s Williams. There has been a move away from the ‘zero’ sidepod philosophy, with a more bulbous, outwashing-style with a deep forward undercut. There are accompanying changes virtually throughout the car – from revised front wing profiles, floor fences, halo, diffuser, bodywork around the rear suspension and cooling louvres.
Haas
Detail changes to the front wing endplate to improve aero efficiency, enhancing underbody airflow.
No updates reported – Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri
