The Ferrari team brought a new wheel design to the Formula 1 winter tests in Barcelona that closely resembles the controversial rear wheel design Mercedes used last season.
The new solution was tested on the second day of testing, when the new wheel rim had a series of raised sections to control the temperature inside the wheel.
The design must conduct heat away from the tire, ensuring that heat is distributed relatively evenly in the rubber - reducing thermal degradation of the tire.
Mercedes presented its version of the wheels last year at the Belgian Grand Prix, as at that time the Silver Arrows had very big problems with tire wear.
However, after the appearance of these discs in the remaining races of the last season, the team was able to win six victories, which were won, among other things, through the new discs.
The Ferrari team also decided to test similar rims in an attempt to address heat loss issues in the rear tires and to manage wear and blistering from high temperatures.
Compared to the Mercedes design, Ferrari rims have more raised sections, due to which designers hope the desired heat management effect can be increased.
The McLaren team also tested similar wheels this week, additionally painting them with thermal black paint to minimize heat transfer to the tires.
It is not yet known whether the team will go the way of Mercedes, because holes were also used in the wheel of the latter to minimize the transfer of temperature from the brakes. Their design also has a series of small holes leading from the spacer to the wheel rim, which should facilitate the passage of air to cool the wheel.
On Wednesday, several teams are conducting aerodynamic tests using aerodynamic sensors to analyze disc designs in the real world. Now you will need to compare the track data with the numbers that were obtained using the aerodynamic tunnel and testing using CFD methods.
Mercedes and Red Bull used a pitot birdcage - a common instrument for Friday practice before the Grand Prix - to determine the flow pressure around certain components. This is to ensure that the airflow works as intended so that teams can make changes to any designs if there are inconsistencies.
The Ferrari team also attached large turret-shaped sensors to the rear wing, which also monitored pressure and provided data on the area directly around this section of the car, which would determine the aerodynamic efficiency of the rear.
Toro Rosso also released a car with sensors, but this time around the nose and end plates of the front wing, which provided monitoring of changes in aerodynamics in this part of the car.
