In Canada, Mercedes introduced a new diffuser to the car, featuring a jagged upper edge and a flow deflector in the area of the waterfall structure
In Canada, Mercedes unveiled a comprehensive package of technical updates for the W17. In addition to work on the front and central sections of the car, new solutions appeared at the rear that had not been seen in this technical cycle until now.
The front wing, for example, was almost completely redesigned while retaining a fundamentally similar design philosophy, with adjustments made in various areas. Significant attention was also paid to the bargeboards and the underbody.
The area in front of the rear tires is now significantly more complex in design, which is particularly relevant as it is a sensitive zone where engineers are attempting to minimize the detrimental aerodynamic effects of tire rotation.
Looking a little further back, another new feature of the W17 becomes visible in the diffuser area, where the engineers from Brackley have chosen a solution that differs from the approach taken by the rest of the field.
Since the first preseason tests, teams have been trying to find ways to extend the diffuser by attaching extensions directly to the rear crash structure.
In some cases, these extensions have even been combined with the horizontal strut that supports the rear wing to maximize the diffuser’s effect within the regulations.
In addition to the vertical element along the rear crash structure, which has been present for some time, a closer look at the Montreal-spec W17 reveals that jagged profiles have now been added along the upper diffuser area.
This is somewhat reminiscent of the jagged elements that some teams use on the transparent panel in front of the driver’s cockpit.
Mercedes has thus opted for a different approach to extending the diffuser, covering more than half of its width. So far, this solution has not been seen on any other car.
However, that is not the only interesting detail. In the area of the waterfall profiles next to the diffuser, a small, outward-facing flow deflector has also been added, designed to fine-tune the flow of air exiting the underbody.
Many teams have attempted to modify the outermost section of the diffuser, precisely where it transitions into the lateral waterfall structure, with Ferrari testing its own solutions in the lower section.
Mercedes, on the other hand, took a different approach and worked on the upper section by attaching a small deflector to the top element of the waterfall structure to clean up the flow. This solution, too, had not been seen on any other car before.
