Drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have complained about lacking confidence with the rear axle of the W14. This is partly due to the cockpit being placed further forwards relative to previous years, but any resolution will have to wait for an all-new chassis to be constructed for next season.
By way of a more immediate fix for the nervous handling, as part of its major upgrade package that bore more conventional sidepods, Mercedes fitted an updated front suspension set-up for the Monaco Grand Prix last month.
The repositioned wishbone was primarily designed to work in tandem with the new sidepod concept by improving airflow and cooling. But the greater capacity to adjust geometries also improves stability.
Mercedes engineering director Shovlin said: “It is a case of trying to play with those geometries to get an influence on the aero platform to try and get a bit more stability in the car.
“It's probably given us more freedom because the issue that we always had prior to that was getting good front end when you needed it at the apex and good entry stability when you're hard on the brakes and turning in.
“That compromise was always something that we couldn't resolve. You're always left with either a weak rear on entry or a poor front at apex. So, hopefully, that's moved us in the right direction.”
However, since these tweaks have arrived mid-season to be fitted the original concept and come during an era of the cost cap that limits development, they will always carry an element of compromise.
Source: Autosport