Gallery: The Relentless Tinkering That Makes F1 Cars Look So Funky
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Mercedes' brand new F1 car, the W07, represents the latest stage in the evolution of the extremely successful vehicle.
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The front wing is the most critical part of the car for creating downforce, Lowe says, because it affects how air flows over the rest of the vehicle.
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The wing has to fit within FIA-sanctioned dimensions, but, Lowe says, "Where we're allowed to play, we create incredible complexity."
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Every surface pushes up to the FIA's limits, and every edge is an opportunity to shape a vortex of air as it travels over the car.
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Most of the car's elements situated around the driver aren't up for debate. The FIA's rules set pretty strict standards for the size and location of the two rear-view mirrors, as well as for the driver's seating position.
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The nose of the car is pretty much closed off to innovation as well, but the suspension is the subject of much attention.
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F1's use of open-wheel cars means the suspension is necessarily in the airstream. Mercedes' engineers need to balance the structural strength of the system against its aerodynamic qualities, but leaned toward the latter, Lowe says. If there was no negative impact on air flow, they'd have used wider components.
