Mercedes back down after FIA ‘exchange’ ahead of Mexican Grand Prix

F1 preview: A lap at the Mexican Grand Prix

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Mercedes are set to back down in their tense exchange with the FIA over their new front wing by removing the fasteners they proposed adding at last weekend’s US Grand Prix. The upgraded bodywork was displayed on Thursday ahead of the on-track action in Austin with Toto Wolff admitting he had questions over its legality. 

Last week Mercedes unveiled a new front wing among a wide upgrade package with improvements to the floor and rear wing. While most of the updates gained little publicity, the team’s front wing received the attention of the rest of the paddock. It contained fasteners between the top two flaps, conceived to try and encourage aerodynamic outwash. 

The team had no intention of using the new bodywork at the Circuit of the Americas as it did not suit the profile of the track and they had also only brought one to the event. However, they floated the idea of using it in Mexico, where it would be more suitable. 

There was a debate over whether or not the wing met with the current technical regulations which had been brought in to prevent any kind of outwash. Wolff himself had admitted he had his doubts over its legitimacy and it appears Mercedes have decided not to risk falling foul of the rules at this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.

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The Race reports that the team have decided to remove the fasteners from the wing for Sunday’s event. They are not present upon the wing currently within the Mercedes garage and it looks likely it will stay this way throughout the weekend. 

 In Austin, Wolff admitted the team had debated tinkering with the device in order to help improve its chances of being admissible in Mexico while he also confirmed the team had an exchange with the FIA. 

“Well we could, but I don’t want to go in the detail because we’re thinking of running it and we had an exchange with the FIA,” he said when asked if they would be able to run with the wing. “So maybe we need to tweak a little bit here and there. But it’s not yet decided.”

Mercedes techinical director Mike Elliott also had his doubts, arguing that he felt it was legal but was unsure whether or not to run it as he felt the gains would not be big enough. 

“That detail looks interesting but it’s not the big thing on the front wing,” he explained. “Personally, I think we could argue them, but the question becomes whether we want to or not.

“The gain for those bits is so small, is it worth the risk of falling foul of the stewards?”

Mercedes have fallen short of their usual standards this season, failing to win the Constructors Championship for the first time since 2013. It is hoped the upgrades will help the team to start their recovery – but it appears they will be attempting to do so without their front-wing innovations. 

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