Thread by @NorthHertsSam

World Champion @MercedesAMGF1 launched its new #F1 car the #W13 during Storm Eunice at Silverstone earlier today. Tech thread. #MercedesAMGF1

The long wheelbase, and indeed the whole concept of the W11/W12 has been replaced as a result of the new rules this year, so don’t expect much carry over. Compared to last year the team has stated that only the steering wheel remains the same.

At first glance the nose and front wing looks quite conventional, but so far the Mercedes is the only car with a nose tip meeting the leading edge of the forward most front wing element. Most other cars have it a little set back, or only meeting the second element

I wonder what sits behind this panel in the nose (the driver cooling slot sits at the very tip of the nose in the black painted section)

Looking at the wing in more detail it is notable how much it thins out and drops down at the inner edge, something we have not seen on other cars. It also flattens out a lot at the outer edge.

The front wing end plate strake is a little flatter compared to that seen on the show car, but fairly similar.

Mercedes has opted for push rod front suspension on the W13 - more about the reasoning on this

https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/status/1488215409757245445

A look at the front brake ducts, which seem to be split into four internal segments, likely feeding different parts of the brake system.

Mercedes seems to be part of the trend for small boxy sidepod inlet ducts, but like Aston Martin the bodywork just alongside the outer edge of the duct is swept backwards.

Low drag mirrors are a feature of the Mercedes, for more on that concept have a look at this link but the real interest is in the mirror supports.

https://twitter.com/NorthHertsSam/status/1493290907206098952

The wing mirror ‘support’ is clearly part of the aerodynamic package in this area and essentially extends the shape of the leading edge of the sidepod rearward. Note how this shape dips down just above the P of Petronas.

As the launch car was in ‘ready to run’ condition we got the first proper look at the leading edge of the floor and the elements of the car at the underfloor tunnel entry. Note the shape of the protruding elements.

Various sensors were fitted to the car, again showing that this car was launched ‘ready’ to run. Note the way the outer face of the floor edge drops down abruptly.

The leading edge of the floor of the W13 is fascinating, and its ‘wobbly’ outer edge will have the attention of a lot of rival teams. It looks to be a similar to the approach used by the team in 2021 as well as that used by Aston Martin.

At the rear the floor looks a little less complex than some examples seen so far, it may be that Mercedes has a different philosophy in this area or there is still more to come. Note the rear brake cooling duct.

The rear suspension has a pull rod layout. I’m not certain what the exposed cable is in this picture, my first thought was that it is a wheel tether but perhaps the orange colour could suggest that it is related to the high voltage system

The roll hoop of the car looks largely similar in concept to the W11 as expected, where the A shape is the structural part, the curved section is a cooling duct. Note the sensors in the duct. The A shape might be slightly taller and narrower on the new car.

The launch car had the small jagged windscreen we have seen on most recent Mercedes designs.

Interestingly there appears to be no hump on the bodywork to accommodate the wide Mercedes V6 plenum. The removable panel could possibly be switched for outlet gills.

More parts have been changed for the 2022 Power Unit than on any previous iterations since the introduction of the V6 Turbos in 2014. Note how long and flat the rear section of the engine cover appears to be when viewing from the side, this shape likely houses the plenum bulge.

The rear wing has a single support pylon, thought to be a lower drag option than the twin supports used by some teams. The wing itself raises up and flattens out in the centre section. Note the dipping shape on the outer edge.

There is a lot more interest in this car to be uncovered I suspect, as usual we have seen almost nothing of the rear of the car. This is the best view I've seen.

https://twitter.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/1494686542337658881

Well for now thats it, but this is another very interesting car! @F1 this year is going to be a lot of fun.