TECH TUESDAY: Why DAS is only the second most impressive innovation on the Mercedes W11 | Formula 1®

Although it was the revolutionary double axis steering (DAS) system that stood out when the Mercedes W11 first hit the track during winter screening, actually the automobile’s most effective efficiency upgrade over the preceding model was probably at the other end of the vehicle– and not rather so aesthetically obvious …

The rear suspension was explained by Mercedes Technical Director James Allison at the launch of the automobile as “incredibly adventurous”, with Allison including: “We have put a brand-new geometry in there that offers us more aerodynamic opportunity, and allows us to get more downforce on the vehicle.”

What Mercedes basically did was sweep the lower wishbone of the suspension back as far as possible to produce a lot more working area for the air flow to boost the performance of the diffuser.

In developing a low pressure area at the back of the underfloor, the diffuser efficiently speeds up the airflow over the entire location of the underfloor– and the faster that air flows, the more downforce is developed. What does that have to do with the airflow over the top of the diffuser, on the upper surface areas?

The more powerful that circulation, the greater the atmospheric pressure differential in between the over-body and the underbody– and the harder the air will be pulled through the floor by that diffuser. In sweeping the lower wishbone so radically far back, it has actually cleared valuable area in what is a very crowded– and very aerodynamically effective– location of the vehicle. The boost in downforce should be substantial.