Why Mercedes’ F1 sidepod changes are still only a makeshift solution

The centrepiece to those changes was made to its sidepods, and builds on the conceptual shift taken at the Monaco Grand Prix when it opted to abandon the ‘zeropod’ concept used since the start of the current ground effect era.

Mercedes had switched to a wider, downwash ramp-style solution in a similar vein to its rivals, but it appears it cannot go as aggressive with the bodywork shaping as it would like, so only really has a makeshift…