Earlier this week, RacingNews365 technical analyst Paolo Filisetti explained why the 2023 Mercedes W14 is in every way a further development of the W13 . The most obvious changes were found on the sidepods and the engine cover. The team were forced to stick with last year's concept as completely changing it to start afresh would mean losing 12 months of learning and development. A second look at Mercedes' black Formula 1 car, however, reveals that more changes have been made to the car, but in smaller details. The front of the W14 is characterized by a different shape of the front wing and the connection of the flaps on the nose (see image below). Of interest is the profile hollowed out at the bottom of the nose to direct a greater amount of air to the lower part of the car. The front suspension has been redesigned, especially at the level of the lower triangle. Text continues below image.
Additional air duct
Some things are also noticeable further back. The powertrain packaging has been only partially changed, with the sidepods receiving a continuous profile where the W13's profile was interrupted at the point where the sidepods curve inward. The new principle is maintained to hold the airflow to the rear of the car according to the Coanda effect against the bodywork. The lower part of the hood, meanwhile, features a channel to direct airflow across the rear part of the bodywork toward the low-lying beams of the rear wings (visible under the Filisetti logo in image below) for greater aerodynamic efficiency. Mercedes is clearly tackling both the airflows moving across the car and the airflows running underneath the car in search of that perfect aerodynamic balance that was so often lacking in 2022.
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