Mercedes wants to gain time with modified mirrors
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Mercedes, like the other teams, are doing everything they can to take the win in 2021. That win might just be achieved by something as simple as its mirrors. Mercedes is working on the ultimate mirrors to make the difference and secure victory in the 2021 Formula One season.
Motorsport.com reports this based on the seat fitting of Valtteri Bottas. Mercedes has been working for years on small elements of its cars that make marginal gains, but always do just enough to make the car a hundredths if not tenths faster in a race. Everything makes a difference and so do the mirrors. Mercedes is now changing the mirrors to a knurled design and hopes to make the necessary gains again in 2021.
The mirrors seem to be a bit longer than those of last year and also have a jagged edge. The longer design and knurled edge should help Mercedes put Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton back in front.
Serrated edges have been part of the design for years
The serrations are already found in various parts of the Mercedes car. The mirrors already have a serrated edge and the spoiler also has a similar design. It all makes a small difference, but it does ensure that the car leaves the competition in the dust every year. The serrated edges break up airflow and reduce drag on the car's various parts.
Whether the new changes will enable Mercedes to take home the win again in 2021 remains to be seen. At the moment there is only testing going on. The races will start in a few weeks.