Mercedes emerged as the dominant force in Montreal not only because of outright pace, but also thanks to a clever setup solution that reportedly gave the Silver Arrows a huge advantage in managing tyre temperatures throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.
According to German publication Auto Motor und Sport, the Brackley-based team introduced a specific modification before qualifying that helped George Russell and Mercedes overcome the low-temperature conditions that troubled several rivals. The solution proved crucial both during Saturday qualifying and throughout Sunday’s race.
The key innovation: using wheel heat to bring tyres into the operating window
The central idea behind the development reportedly focused on thermal management of the tyres. Sensor data apparently showed that Mercedes managed to increase tyre temperatures much faster than its competitors already during the laps to the grid and throughout the two formation laps before the race start.
That detail became especially important during the opening seven laps of the Canadian Grand Prix, when several teams struggled to switch on their tyres properly in the cool Montreal conditions.
Auto Motor und Sport explained that Mercedes modified both the wheel rims and the brake duct housing. The brake cooling system was reportedly redesigned to direct more hot air towards the rims, allowing residual brake heat to warm up the tyre carcass from the inside.
The team is also believed to have developed a more progressive heating control system, something made possible by the latest Formula 1 regulations. This season, teams have been given greater freedom to design their own wheel rim concepts instead of relying on a more standardized format.
After qualifying, George Russell avoided revealing too many technical details but admitted that Mercedes had already adapted the setup with Sunday’s expected temperatures in mind.
“We made a few changes to the car. We need to see if we went in the right direction. We made these changes because of the forecast for tomorrow,” said the British driver.
Ferrari and Red Bull paid the price in cold conditions
The practical advantage for Mercedes quickly became obvious once the race started. While George Russell was immediately able to extract performance from the tyres, several rival teams struggled to bring the compounds into the correct operating window. Ferrari appeared to suffer the most. According to the report, the Maranello team lost around three tenths of a second per lap during the opening phase of the race purely because of tyre temperature issues.
Red Bull also encountered similar difficulties, although to a lesser extent. Max Verstappen still managed to remain in contention for second place for a long period thanks to his driving ability and tyre management skills.
McLaren may also have struggled to properly warm up the front axle, although the Woking-based team effectively removed itself from the fight for victory much earlier after making a major tyre choice mistake at the start of the race.
Pirelli also noticed the impact of the new wheel designs
Pirelli itself reportedly observed how the new wheel rim regulations have significantly changed the way Formula 1 teams can control tyre temperatures.
Traditionally, the main goal was to reduce overheating during races. However, in unique conditions like the cold temperatures seen in Montreal, becoming more efficient at heating the tyre carcass turned into a decisive competitive advantage.
While Mercedes’ ingenuity delivered immediate results on track in Canada, the real battle may now move behind the scenes inside the factories and engineering departments.
The increased design freedom surrounding wheel rims is rapidly becoming a major area of experimentation in Formula 1. As a result, discussions throughout the paddock could soon shift back toward tyre temperature windows and tyre management rather than focusing exclusively on power units, electrical deployment and clipping issues.
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