» Longer wheelbase for Mercedes GP W01

Mercedes GP is aiming to roll out a heavily revised W01 chassis in time for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, with one of its enhancements expected to be a longer wheelbase that is expected to help both its drivers.

The opening four races have featured mix results for its driver line-up: Nico Rosberg has picked up two podiums; Michael Schumacher has had a more torrid start to his comeback season.

Team boss Ross Brawn explained that lengthening the wheelbase will improve the overall stability and weight distribution of the car.

When speaking with AUTOSPORT, Brawn explained: "The problem is not actually the wheelbase per se, it is the weight distribution. We got the weight distribution wrong.

"When we got to test these tyres, we realised we didn’t have the correct weight distribution and we went to the limit with what we could achieve with this car. It is not the wheelbase, as such – it is the weight distribution which is not how we wanted it."

Brawn also went on to describe the rear wing enhancements the team rain at the last round in China – dubbed a ‘tube’ wing, it is a much simplified version of McLaren’s ‘F-duct’ run since the start of the season.

"McLaren’s system, which is driver-operated, is quite complicated to get to work properly," Ross added. "McLaren conceived that car to accommodate the system and it’s not so easy to put it onto [rival] cars.

"What we had in China was a simple, passive system – it is not driver operated, so it is not as effective as the McLaren system; we are still working on a proper system that we will have at Barcelona or Istanbul – it is complicated to get to work properly but our aerodynamicists are working on it."

Anything to improve the performance of the Mercedes GP is only a good thing!

[Original image via GP Update]