© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes’ Technical Director Mike Elliott discusses if Mercedes can “easily” change its sidepods concept, and talks about “a very different sidepod that’s coming”.
Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, before team boss Toto Wolff explicitly stated that Mercedes’ current car concept is not going to work, Technical Director Mike Elliott answered questions on the team’s sidepods concept.
At the Bahrain Grand Prix Friday press conference, Elliott was asked how integral the ‘zero sidepods’ concept is to the W14, and if it can be changed “easily”.
“I think I’ve sat here before and talked about the same thing,” Elliott said.
“I think, for us, it’s how we developed the car last year. I think we’ve done a lot of work looking at other types of solutions.
“And we keep coming back to this one as being the one that favours us. Is that the right long term solution? I guess we’re going to find out.
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“As it happens, I think Toto has already said, we’ve got a different body work coming. It won’t be the same as other people’s and it won’t be the same as what we’ve got. But it’ll be different.
He was then asked if Mercedes’ announced sidepods upgrade is just a “small tweak” or a “fundamental upgrade”.
“It’s just part of the normal development. We have got a very different sidepod that’s coming – I say a very different – a different sidepod that’s coming.
“I think Toto said that in the press, but it takes time to bring that. It takes time to make the bits, it takes time to change the bits that go underneath the body work for it to fit.
“So we’ll bring it as soon as we can.”
Asked if there could be a “point of no return”, after which the team is “locked into an aerodynamic concept”, because of the budget cap and aero testing restrictions, Elliott said:
“I think like I said before, until we know where we are, you can’t make that assessment. I think the ATR [aerodynamic testing restrictions] is definitely a big restriction for teams like us.
“We are a long way short of where people further back on the grid were and it makes it a difficult decision if you do want to do something very different.
“But I think you’ve just got to take a long-term view to that and say, if you were on the wrong path, what would you do?
“And you obviously need to address that but let’s see where we are in qualifying and in the race this weekend.
“It doesn’t feel like we’re anywhere near trying to make that sort of decision,” the Briton concluded.
