F1 Fast Five: Mercedes abandons front wing legality strip, Ford eyes showdown with GM, and other big updates

Mercedes abandons front wing legality strip

Mercedes is changing its Formula 1 front wing design to tackle the issues with its 2024 car, and they've opted to remove the legality strip element for a new approach. The strip was meant to reduce drag and manage airflow, but the team found it necessary to pursue a different design direction to improve performance across various speeds.  The revised front wing, used by George Russell in Monaco, aims to improve balance and outwash, and it reflects a new focus on incremental gains and driver confidence. This change shows Mercedes' commitment to ongoing improvement rather than expecting one big upgrade to fix everything.

Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble & Matt Somerfield (motorsport.com)

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Ford eyes showdown with GM

Ford is gearing up for its 2026 Formula 1 debut with a keen eye on competing against General Motors (GM) in the motorsports arena. Despite both being active competitors in other series like NASCAR, Ford seeks a direct confrontation with GM's Cadillac brand in F1. Mark Rushbrook, global director for Ford Performance, expressed eagerness for GM to enter F1 as a power unit manufacturer, suggesting they could partner with any of the existing teams.

Click here to read the full article at autoblog.com

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Haas explains double Monaco quali disqualification

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu clarified that a breakdown in communication and procedure caused both cars to be disqualified from Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying. Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen were disqualified because their rear wing elements exceeded the permitted opening. Komatsu noted that the team's designers failed to properly convey the differences in the new rear wing to the trackside squad responsible for legality checks.

Click here to read the full article at skysports.com

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Allison talks upgrades and weekend performance

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Mercedes' Technical Director, James Allison, responded to fan questions about the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Allison discussed the team's upgrades, acknowledging the difficulty in assessing their impact, and outlined plans for the upcoming races. He also mentioned the W15's performance shift from Friday to Saturday and talked about his eat out experience.

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Team Torque with Williams

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In this episode of Team Torque, the Williams drivers are in Imola and begin by discussing their activities since the Miami Grand Prix. Sargeant mentioned spending time with family and friends, golfing, and working out. Albon flew to the Cayman Islands and had an amazing time. This was just one of the many questions they answered.