[Jody Barton]

The thing is Moroni we aren't actually dealing with stable regulations. Last season they changed the geometry and allowed elements on both the front and rear wings, and and the regulations around crash structures at the top, rear and side of the car, as well as changes to the diffuser, barge board area, including height and depth and floor elements. It was a pretty big mid regulation change... and that's before we get onto the suspension "clarifications" teams received prior to the season starting, and also mid way through the season.

I actually think there is some scope to improve drastically for some teams (besides the obvious Williams). Maybe not quite as much for the front three teams, but there's still scope. Mercedes nailed the top and rear crash structure geometry with very clean lines being allowed due to their positioning, with their severe under cut at the rear and the engine cover nowhere near maximum allowed geometry and needing a "fin" the meet minimum geometry. They also got the front wing and front suspension perfect, their barge board area though had to do a lot of work to get the airflow around their sidepods. So Ferrari style crash structures will be a pretty significant gain for Mercedes.

The same could be true of Ferrari if they copy Mercs route with their front end, from wing, nose and through the barge boards. I think there's similar scope for RBR, who really didn't get the 2019 car anywhere near where they wanted it to be until around possibly Japan. The top three could be slashing a couple of tenths off of their cars from last year at certain tracks, especially where aero efficiency is key, but it's the midfield that could see the biggest gains, not enough to get in and amongst the top 3, but certainly enough so it's not as hideously embarrassing as it was last season.

Also, yup, if the Merc does nail the Ferrari Sidepod design without compromising cooling to key components, well... The W11 could be an absolute beast as it will help them with consistent stalling of their front and rear wings on the straight and give them a nice straight line speed boost. We'll see soon enough come the opener in Melbourne.