Maybe. Different engine cover shapes will be available to any team. They could build them straight down to the floor like this W13, it just requires lots of new panels. If Merc can swap between sidepod shapes without needing to drastically alter FW, RW, rear engine cover, and diffuser, then anyone can. Keep in mind the diffuser is practically the same shape for everyone, and even the FW and RW are not drastically different between teams this year, by design. As well the halo, the front and rear brake ducts, and even the nosecones of the cars are practically identical this year.Hoffman900 wrote: ↑10 Mar 2022, 16:31This.cplchanb wrote: ↑10 Mar 2022, 16:25By perfecting the tight internal packaging concept merc is free to use whatever side pod shape size that falls in between these 2 extremes and beyond. Should their nosidepod side pods fail to deliver they have the flexibility to go wide undercut physically rather easily. On the other hand, if the former prove to work well, no other non merc team have easy means to copy
Doing what they did gives them a lot of options when the sidepods are essentially just body work.
My point is that the rules are forcing spec geometries all over the place. If you can still copy/paste parts into that formula, anyone should be able to. If the cost of manufacturing extra parts isn't too great.
Only caveat for me, is whether the notch/undercut in the fuel tank is critical. Still, it is no so severe. Maybe 100mm inward across 200mm?