FIA Bans Uncompetitive Mercedes Front Wing Design

A front wing design that Mercedes produced but never raced in 2022 has been banned by the FIA.

Mercedes has unveiled a new front wing design as part of an upgrade package at the United States Grand Prix. However, he did not contest the new wing in its old form for fear of opposition from rival factions.

The team described the wing as having a “reduced camber front wingtip and an additional intake gap separator.” But in the year While the 2022 rules allowed for the additions “primarily for mechanical, structural or measurement reasons”, the Mercedes winglets would have provided aerodynamic benefits.

Before the new wing was run for the first time at the Mexican Grand Prix, Mercedes decided to avoid any objections to the wing and removed the space gap tags.

The revised technical regulations for the 2023 season published by the FIA have changed the meaning of the gap separation. Up to eight spacer brackets are allowed on each side of the car, with the rules now saying they “must form a structural connection between series.” [front wing] Profiles.

During the United States Grand Prix weekend, Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott said the team had consulted the FIA on the design of the front wing before introducing it.

“We go through CAD [computed aided design] Review the process with the FIA before we come to the circuit, that always happens,” he explained. “So there was something that was seen there and then they came back and said, ‘We’re not sure about that.'”