As a part of a revamp that Mercedes has made to its new W15 challenger, the group has moved to a push-rod configuration on its rear suspension structure.
Used to good impact by Crimson Bull and McLaren because the begin of the bottom impact period, this configuration gives aerodynamic benefits because it permits a extra streamlined gearbox and higher airflow via the ground and onto the rear wing.
The change by Mercedes to a push-rod structure had been anticipated to comply with via routinely to its gearbox prospects Aston Martin and Williams for 2024.
Nevertheless, regardless of Aston Martin duly taking it, it has emerged that Williams has not opted for the newest Mercedes elements and is as an alternative sticking to the 2023 components – which incorporates final yr’s gearbox and the pull-rod structure.
It’s understood that the choice, which was made by Williams many months in the past, was reached collectively with Mercedes to assist each events.
For Mercedes, having to produce two buyer groups will all-new gearbox and rear suspension layouts would have been an excessive logistical problem.
Moreover for Williams, there’s a value cap profit in going for the year-old components, which implies that it will probably liberate price range for different areas of the automotive the place extra efficiency might be extracted.
Talking on the season launch earlier this month, Williams group principal James Vowles stated that the selection of gearbox was not one thing that may have a huge effect on the squad’s efficiency for 2024.
Williams FW46
Picture by: Williams
“The gearbox is equipped by Mercedes, and clearly I do know it very effectively, for a lot of, a few years,” he stated.
“It is a very dependable gearbox and it gives a superb construction to work from. When it comes to the importance to us, it is only a identified entity.
“Essentially, the gearbox is not the efficiency powerhouse that it was once. It does not make an incredible quantity of distinction.
“It simply defines not even the wheelbase, it simply defines just a little bit extra the place the positioning of the rear is and just a little bit concerning the gasoline cell.
“When it comes to the rear suspension, there’s bits that we’re comfortable to speak about, however I am going to put it aside for Bahrain, as a result of there’s some attention-grabbing issues to speak about the place we have gone on rear suspension.”
