F1 | Mercedes, James Vowles: “The black livery does not cause any overheating problems”

The choice of the one caused a lot of discussion Mercedes to color black for the 2020 season as a sign of the fight against racism, giving voice to the movement #BlackLivesMatter strongly desired by Lewis Hamilton. More than anything, leaving aside the fact whether it is right or not (the car is still beautiful, ed.), last weekend in Austria we wondered if this color could influence the reliability of the W11, already precarious in itself, given that black attracts heat, increasing the temperature of the engine components by a few degrees. Well, according to James vowles, head of Mercedes strategies (the one who spoke to Hamilton and Bottas on the radio on Sunday, ed.), the black man gives no help to the overheating of the power unit, and explains why.

“The reality is that it's not a problem – Vowles admitted. Inside the bonnet there is a silver, heat-resistant lining, positioned regardless of the exterior color. The temperatures of our radiator or other central systems inside the car do not vary depending on the color on the outside. There is some reflection on a lighter color, but in reality it has negligible or even no effect on our system temperatures. We must use this moment to educate: I have personally experienced racism in my life, I have seen my family and friends deal with it, I speak from the heart when I make calls for change. When I spoke to Toto about my hopes for what we could achieve as a team, I said it was important that we all stick together. I would like to thank him and the Mercedes Board for taking the time to listen, talk and understand my experiences and passion. We want to build a legacy that goes beyond sport, and if we can be leaders in sending such strong messages and giving others the confidence to start a dialogue about how to make change, then all that is welcome.”