Mercedes has admitted some fresh doubts about its new Spa floor after problems at last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
The German manufacturer introduced its latest updated floor at the Belgian GP, but it was removed from the car after some confusing results during early practice.
However, the Silver Arrows were still convinced of the pdnica’s potential, and after evaluations during training sessions for the Dutch Grand Prix, they decided to race with her until the end of the weekend.
However, disappointing performances throughout the competition, as George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished well behind race winner Lando Norris, rekindled some questions about whether there would be problems with the new design.
Although the team’s data and on-track analysis show that the new floor does indeed produce more downforce than the previous spec, technical director James Allison suggested that it may introduce some negative balance characteristics – costing more lap time than it gains.
Speaking in Mercedes’ regular post-race video, Allison said they were working hard to try to understand the role the new floor had in changing the car’s performance.
When asked how the floor worked, Allison said, “The simple answer is we don’t really know.”
“You can do some simple measurements and say that the downforce it was supposed to deliver looked like it was there. So on one level, you can take solace in the fact that it worked as expected.”
“But a lot of the car’s pace this year depends on how well they behave. So it’s not just a question of whether your aero package delivers downforce, but whether it gives you the balanced car you need in the corners? Does it give you the balanced car you need in fast and slow corners?”
“We definitely know that we didn’t have a well-balanced car this weekend. This is where most of our pace was spent. Whether it was a new floor, a new aero package or not, we have to keep an open mind and something that we will have to revisit in future races.”
“Right now we know that he measured the downforce, but we are not sure that a good balance has been achieved. Something we have to explore during the year.”
Russell and Hamilton’s disappointing qualifying performances were affected by poor balance at Zandvoort – resulting in overheating tyres.
“We, for whatever reason, managed to produce a car that was too much on the edge,” he added.
“He was too ready to shoot back, only to have the rear end lose grip and contact with the track when riders try to push him. And qualifying is when they need to lean on the car and we could have got a really good lap if only they could keep this car on track.”
“Just the slightest rear end slip caused by a gust of wind, caused by anything, and then the rear tires will light up. The temperature of the tire surface increases dramatically with just one small slip.”.
“As soon as the surface temperature rises, it does not recover in several corners. At Zandvoort, the turns come thick and fast and there really aren’t any tracks to cool down on. And just like that, for a moment, there are no wings.”
