Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10, arrives on the grid
Prime
Analysis

Mercedes' cooling "Achilles' heel" explained

Mercedes suffered its first defeat of the 2019 season in Austria last weekend, which it put down to poor performance in the sweltering heat. Our technical experts explain how high temperatures can thwart even the strongest Formula 1 squads

Motorsport.com's Prime content

The best content from Motorsport.com Prime, our subscription service. Subscribe here to get access to all the features.

Mercedes was unable to fight for victory in the Austrian Grand Prix because of cooling limitations, which were the results of the compromises implicit in designing modern Formula 1 cars.

Beyond the regulations themselves, cooling has a significant impact on the aerodynamic package, so designs are not only defined by maximising the airflow to radiators.

Previous article Drivers say Renault upgrade did not work as expected
Next article The roles Ocon, Alonso could play in F1's silly season

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia