
Such as...
There is a connection. @vorticism made a fantastic post on how the Mercedes brake cooling operates and it's not only because the air is being extracted from very small outlets, but most of the heat from the brakes are being insulated in the brake hub.AR3-GP wrote: ↑02 Jun 2025, 06:34https://i.postimg.cc/3NKVhQ55/image.png
From Spanish GP '25. On the left is Mercedes who struggles with rear tire temperature management. On the right is the team with the best rear tire management of the top 4. Rear brake duct exit outlined in yellow. Mercedes duct exit has single channel of air exiting the duct. Mclaren duct exit has 3 divided channels inside the exit. Mclaren's outlet is so much bigger than Merc's. I wonder if there is a connection.
https://i.postimg.cc/rFx64TMT/image.png
To be fair Miami was the big, exceeding all expectations, 2024 McLaren upgrade, with a raft of new components. At the time, the brake ducts were considered the minor part of the upgrade. From memory there were in subsequent weekends, tweaks to airflow around brake ducts on multiple occasions. They've probably been working on this area since mid 2023 when they started to become a regular podium contender and the performance gains have been many and incremental. Just my 5c worth.....AR3-GP wrote: ↑02 Jun 2025, 06:44Something that was missed was that last year Ferrari introduced a new front brake duct in Miami.
Reportedly to reduce the amount of heat radiating from the brakes into the front tires. They made a step towards Red Bull in race pace after that weekend. Coincidence?
https://cdn-9.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... -deta.webp
It could be. I also wonder if the more outboard channel(s) (closer to the tire sidewall), are more likely to be a free air channels, creating an "air curtain" to limit the amount of brake duct heat which is flowing against the sidewall of the tire. If the brake duct exhaust were being exposed directly to the sidewall, I think that would contribute to more heating of the tires. If this is true, then one can see how the Mercedes design seems less optimal. They mix the brake disc exhaust and a free stream in the brake disc collector, but that air is heated and expelled right next to the sidewall of the tire. It seems to lack the air curtain.
AR3-GP wrote: ↑02 Jun 2025, 15:59It could be. I also wonder if the more outboard channel(s) (closer to the tire sidewall), are more likely to be a free air channels, creating an "air curtain" to limit the amount of brake duct heat which is flowing against the sidewall of the tire. If the brake duct exhaust were being exposed directly to the sidewall, I think that would contribute to more heating of the tires. If this is true, then one can see how the Mercedes design seems less optimal. They mix the brake disc exhaust and a free stream in the brake disc collector, but that air is heated and expelled right next to the sidewall of the tire. It seems to lack the air curtain.
https://i.postimg.cc/3r98yD5g/image.png