The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League is the venue for the conclusion of the first quarter of the 2024 Formula 1 season. In this race, two teams, McLaren and Mercedes, chose to unveil their most significant improvements so far, in an attempt to reduce the gap to Red Bull. However, they are not the only ones making changes, as eight teams have brought new parts to test in the United States. Mark Hughes provides a summary of what was revealed during Friday’s presentation.
Mercedes introduced a major improvement centered around a new floor design. The roof geometry and floor edge were modified to improve airflow to the diffuser and increase front floor load, reducing local air pressure. In addition, a smaller chord front wing was introduced to balance the car with a lower drag rear wing. The team also added more cooling openings in the bodywork to cope with the high temperatures in Miami.
McLaren made a significant improvement that spans from the front to the rear of the car, both above and below. The team believes these changes will result in a substantial increase in load in all conditions. The bodywork and engine cover were redesigned, along with a new sidepod inlet and a revised Coke bottle section at the back. These modifications work in conjunction with a new floor. The front wing, front suspension geometry, and front brake ducts were also revised to improve flow control. Changes were also made to the rear wing and rear brake duct winglets to make the most of the new airflow.
Red Bull removed one of the floor edge wing supports to save weight, as it was deemed sufficiently stiff.
An Aston Martin made several minor circuit-specific changes. This includes a less aggressive front wing profile to balance the car with a combination of lower downforce rear wing/beam wing and an increased cooling outlet area for the rear bodywork. A shorter chord front wing was introduced to better suit the balance requirements at the optimal level of downforce. The team also made further developments to the floor and diffuser body, as well as introducing a lower downforce rear wing and revising the diffuser geometry with the addition of a gurney flap to improve airflow attachment.
No updates were declared by Ferrari and Alpine.
