Mercedes drops new F1 suspension as upgrade doubts continue

The Mercedes Formula 1 team has decided to withhold its upgraded rear suspension, which was brought to Imola, as it continues to refine the component.

This upgrade, part of a larger package that also included a new front wing and revised front suspension fairings for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, featured changes to the rear suspension geometry. A key modification was a new inner pickup point for the top wishbone's forward leg, seemingly connecting to the inner lower wishbone's forward pickup point. Illustrations suggest this change lowered the pickup point by approximately 25-30mm, likely accompanied by further internal tweaks to the wishbone mounts.

Mercedes had anticipated these revisions would enhance the car's mechanical and aerodynamic platform and improve tyre management. However, the desired outcomes were not fully realized, with both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli reporting difficulties in achieving consistent car performance compared to earlier in the season.

Uncertain if the suspension changes were the cause of their disappointing Imola showing, Mercedes reverted to its previous specification for the Monaco Grand Prix. This decision was also influenced by the need for a more familiar baseline on the challenging Monaco street circuit, aiming for quicker set-up solutions for a car that continues to present challenges to its drivers.

While the team considered reintroducing the Imola-spec suspension for the Spanish Grand Prix, they have ultimately opted to conduct further work on the upgrade at the factory before its return to the track. Consequently, they will continue with the specification used at the season's start. No specific date has been announced for the new suspension's reappearance.

Upgrade Doubts The introduction and subsequent withdrawal of the updated rear suspension highlight Mercedes' ongoing uncertainty regarding the reasons behind its recent performance decline. Following a strong start to the 2025 season with consistent podium finishes, the team experienced a downturn starting from Bahrain, with performance dipping further in Imola and Monaco. This slump has impacted the constructors' championship, allowing Ferrari and Red Bull to close the gap. Red Bull, despite not dominating as in previous years, has achieved greater consistency through updates that have seemingly improved the RB21's balance.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff acknowledged the team's lack of a clear answer, questioning whether the performance dip stems from a misstep with upgrades or struggles in hot conditions, reminiscent of their 2024 challenges. "We've seen not only with us, but also with Red Bull and Ferrari, that you suddenly lose a little bit of your way, and you come into some kind of state where you're not sure whether an upgrade works," Wolff stated. "Or it could be the ambient conditions that have you over. The hot races were our Achilles' heel last year and the cold ones, we dominated. So we will assess. Let's see how Barcelona goes and the races after that. But it's less of a performance than we had pre-Miami."

Latest Wing Another notable aspect of Mercedes' Imola upgrade was its front wing design, featuring a revised arrangement of flap connectors. Accompanying this new wing was a return to a nose design that extends to the mainplane, diverging from the shorter nose used earlier in the season. Alterations to front wing designs are complex, particularly with current F1 cars highly sensitive to aerodynamic balance and airflow into the venturi tunnels.

The timing of this new wing's introduction, just two weekends before a new FIA technical directive mandating stiffer wings from the Spanish GP, surprised many. Rivals like Ferrari are implementing aerodynamic and structural changes for Barcelona. It's possible Mercedes' Imola wing was designed with increased rigidity to comply with the upcoming regulations, potentially negating the advantage gained from more flexible designs previously. This strategic timing might have been to gather data on the car's behavior and prepare for Spain with minimal surprises. The most plausible explanation is that Mercedes utilized the Imola and Monaco races to collect comparative data and validate the new component under stricter forthcoming checks, while still aiming to maximize legal flexibility.