While common trends are visible on this year’s challenger, it’s evident that with key elements the German manufacturer still likes to go its own way
JAKE BOXALL-LEGGE
SUSPENSION
The front suspension has received attention, retaining a pushrod layout but with each member redefined and repositioned to improve the front-end grip on offer. The front leg of the upper wishbone (1) is positioned closely to the pushrod at their chassis mounting points, appearing to place airflow downwards and remove the need for the blister present in this area on the W14. The rear leg of that wishbone is positioned low down, another recent trend owing to its positive effect on the car’s anti-dive properties, which benefits the floor performance. The rear suspension now switches to a pushrod layout.
FRONT END
Visually, the W15 is a very different contender to its predecessor. At the front, the pointy nose has been replaced with a flatter, wider solution that – if nothing else – appears to be a much more elegant solution. This blends into a front wing that appears to bear much in the way of complexity, and the team has produced the smallest hint of an upper wing element between the nose and flap adjuster. This is to satisfy the rules mandating four elements, but perhaps the wing element heralds the return of vortices generated here – known as the Y250 vortex under the old rules. The shorter nose frees up the central section for a spoon-shaped treatment.
CHASSIS
“A big focus has been on improving the previous car’s unpredictable rear axle,” explained technical director James Allison. “We have worked hard to ensure that both axles, but particularly the rear axle, retain better control of the tyre than on the W14.” It also appears that the cockpit is positioned slightly further back – an area that
