F1 News: Crash Unveils Mercedes' Secret Upgrade - Williams Chief Excited To Learn

James Vowles is very interested in getting the new Mercedes floor under the microscope.

During the final free practice session in Monaco, Lewis Hamilton's crash resulted in the Mercedes W14 being lifted into the air, revealing the highly anticipated secret new floor. James Vowles, the team boss of Williams, expressed his belief that there is much to be learned from this unexpected footage.

Mercedes arrived in Monaco equipped with an extensive array of upgrades, including a significant change in their floor design. The floor plays a crucial role in the performance of the current generation of Formula 1 cars due to their focus on ground effect aerodynamics, and teams typically keep the underside of the floor hidden to maintain secrecy. However, Mercedes' attempt to conceal their design was thwarted by the way the car was lifted into the air after Hamilton's crash.

Vowles, recognising the unique opportunity, acknowledged that there is always extensive discussion about the visible parts of a car, but the true secrets lie beneath the surface. 

Speaking to ServusTV, Vowles shared his excitement, saying:

"We can learn a lot from it. There is always a lot of talk about the parts of the car you can see, but the real secrets are underneath the car.

"It is rare that a car is lifted and you can see the underside. You can't learn anything immediately from it, but you can see what the team is doing with the airflow under the car. We will analyse that at the factory and try to understand how the approach differs from ours."

For the Williams team, gaining insights from Mercedes' exposed floor could prove invaluable in refining their own designs and performance strategies. The unexpected unveiling of Mercedes' floor has added an exciting twist to the Monaco Grand Prix weekend.

Brings a brand new floor, immediately gets it photographed, classic F1 pic.twitter.com/dH4NANGRbv

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