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Mercedes’ Technical Director James Allison explains the thinking behind Mercedes’ new front wing, which caused quite a stir ahead of pre-season testing.
Mercedes raised a few eyebrows when it was revealed that the front wing on their 2024 car connects to the nose at the second flap and the fourth flap with what appears to be a wire.
Some have raised questions about the front wing’s legality, but according to reports it has been given the ok by the FIA.
After pre-season testing, the team’s Technical Director James Allison was asked about this design choice.
“We just didn’t want a lot of cord at that point,” the Briton said.
“If you look at all wings, their cord varies across all the span on the wing according to what the team thinks is going to work for them.
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“I guess with our little inboard flap, we have to satisfy the rule so we have to have some flap there, but don’t want an enormous one so made a small one.”
Asked if he was surprised that no other team had thought of it before, Allison said:
“I imagine lots of people have thought of it before, maybe they haven’t wanted to have less cord there.
“But I don’t think people up and down the pit lane would have gone: ‘Oh my god, we never thought of that,'” he concluded.
