F1 British Grand Prix: Mercedes, McLaren Plan to Transform Wet Weather Racing in Formula 1

In the wake of the next two-day tyre test, Mercedes and McLaren will put into action a new wet-weather-optimised wheel arch at Silverstone in an effort to significantly reduce spray from a wet track surface. New components may have a significant impact on driving in the rain, when spray is a major hazard. The World Motor Sport Council came up with the concept for the piece last November while they were discussing how to deal with harsh weather. The test will be conducted by Mercedes and McLaren on July 13 at Silverstone's National circuit, which will be artificially flooded before the vehicles go to the track. The officials will record the tests to see how an F1 vehicle generates spray and whether the wheel arches have the desired impact. It is hoped that these new components will have the necessary effect after the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, during which no racing laps were completed owing to horrible rainy conditions.

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F1: McLaren’s Austrian Grand Prix Performance Worries Rivals

McLaren driver Lando Norris hopes to duplicate his performance from the previous weekend in front of his home Formula One supporters at Silverstone. Norris was the best of the British drivers in Austria. At the Red Bull Ring, the 23-year-old finished in fourth place, ahead Mercedes' George Russell and  Lewis Hamilton, who finished seventh and eighth, respectively, due to penalties. Hamilton has 106 points and Russell has 72, but Norris only has 24 in the championship rankings. In the constructors' standings, Mercedes is in second place and McLaren is in sixth.

Norris drove with gusto to finish fifth, which became fourth following an extra track limits penalty for Ferrari's Carlos Sainz. McLaren benefited from Mercedes and Aston Martin having an off-weekend.

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F1: McLaren to Run Special Chrome Livery at Silverstone

McLaren is bringing back one of its most famous Formula One liveries, the chrome look. There will be a unique Chrome livery on both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's vehicles for the remainder of the British Grand Prix weekend. The design is a nod to the team's very successful chrome livery, which ran from 2006 to 2014 and was largely responsible for the team's meteoric rise to prominence, culminating in Lewis Hamilton's drivers' world championship in 2008. 

McLaren's Formula One and IndyCar cars have had a wide range of special looks throughout several seasons. Two years ago, it revived Gulf's historic livery for the Monaco Grand Prix and this year, it used a distinct 'Triple Crown' colour scheme for that race. On the same day, it ran three legacy liveries for the Indianapolis 500. Norris admired the 1984 McLaren MP4/2 piloted by Alain Prost and Niki Lauda and said he'd want to race a vehicle with a similar livery someday.