Mercedes seem to be using an adjustable steering wheel which helps in the alignment of the front tyres
Formula One is a sport that is littered with technological inventions, something that top teams, such as Mercedes, often produce.
We have had six-wheeled cars in the past, weird-looking noses (BMW Williams) and horns on the nose too, but Mercedes took it to another level on the second day of the 2020 pre-season test.
Eagle-eyed cameras and F1 fans saw Lewis Hamilton flick his steering wheel up and down as he reached a corner in Barcelona.
The front wheels also seemed to move when the racer flicked the steering wheel, and F1 later explained how this was helping the toe-out and toe-in and alignment while taking corners.
Basically, this helped reduce the wear of the tyres when taking turns and allowed some sections of the tyres a break when speeding in a straight-line.
Mercedes' My-steer-ious wheel 🧐@SportmphMark explains the importance behind the Silver Arrows' latest innovation 👀⬇️#F1 #F1Testing
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 20, 2020
The effective heat and wear distribution around the tyre would increase its performance, and any slight advantage is a huge boost in the F1 grid.
“If the Mercedes mechanism works as assumed, the tyres will be heated more evenly across their width as they run fully upright, but the benefits of toe-out can still be deployed into the corner. It will be of particular benefit on circuits with long straights.”
Fans not impressed with this technology
An F1 analysis also added that the technology seems to be a mechanical device and isn’t automatic, so the driver is in control.
It will be interesting to see how this system develops in the coming days of testing. The Silver Arrows were the leading cars and they have insisted that the new technology is legal and safe.
Many teams have tried different moves in the past but have fallen foul of the FIA. Some fans were not impressed with Mercedes finding something extra in the rules and regulations, and wanted a ban on the technology going into the new season.
https://twitter.com/shadowmoim/status/1230459985152311296?s=20
https://twitter.com/TifosoTR/status/1230460106434924546?s=20
There is just no way that should be legal. Changing the position of the steering wheel at 300 km/h has to be considered a safety concern, right??
— Brian Krähe (@thewxrunner) February 20, 2020
The romance between FIA and Mercedes continues 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/oRC7FQ09qV
— Jinska04🇵🇭🇷🇺🇵🇸 (@Jinska041) February 20, 2020
RIP F1 season 2020
— Benno van der Ent (@bvanderent) February 20, 2020
There is NO WAY a team as efficient as @MercedesAMGF1 will implement an adjustment this big and not be wary of its legality. They have found the mother of all loopholes! If this works & keeps tyres in their optimum window, they should be lauded and not ostracised for innovation!
— ℝ𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕔𝕒 🏁 (@RishcaAbrahams) February 20, 2020
— Leo 🌏 (@leo_shane) February 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/TheOnlyShaunyB/status/1230463529737523202?s=20
Ahaha Mercedes made another selfdriving rocket for Ham, who knew! What @fia will say? Umm probably nothing
— Вот такой вот интерфейс (@buldozerxxx) February 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/ZeroSV_/status/1230459784845021184?s=20
Pretty much. Mercedes have been allowed to cheat since 2014. As long as Ferrari and RedBull are slower they don’t care but when they find something the fia get asked by Toto to ban RedBull’s package so golden boy Lewis can win
— Grandad (@Grandad75086885) February 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/lol__VEVO/status/1230468598856134656?s=20
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