HeadlinesBriefing favicon HeadlinesBriefing.com

Mercedes rolls out unique diffuser at Canadian GP

Autosport F1 News •
×

Mercedes unveiled its most comprehensive upgrade package of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix, reshaping front wing, bargeboards, floor and rear aero. The front wing received an almost total redesign while bargeboards and floor were refined to tighten airflow. These changes marked the team's first major mid‑season evolution, aiming to close the gap to rivals this season for Mercedes.

At Montreal the W17 introduced a novel diffuser solution never seen on the grid. Mercedes added serrated profiles along the upper diffuser, extending it across more than half its width, and fitted a small outward‑facing deflector on the highest waterfall element to clean the wake. This approach contrasts with other teams that have attached extensions to the rear crash structure in detail.

The rear‑tyre zone received extra complexity, with redesigned bargeboards and floor work aimed at neutralising the turbulent air from tyre rotation. By targeting both the diffuser and the airflow behind the rear wheels, Mercedes hopes the package will translate into faster lap times and stronger qualifying positions, a needed boost overall as the championship heads into its second half.