Engine cover and side pod underside

[PlatinumZealot]

This has only just caught my attention: The underside of the Ferrari engine cover is black as expected, but interestingly the underside of the Mercedes engine cover is some shade of grey. I was told carbon fibre is black, so does this mean the Merc painted the underside of the engine cover? or is this some other material?

[DaveKillens]

Considering that a lot of heat is present under those carbon fiber pieces of bodywork, it makes sense to incorporate some kind of insulation or heat shielding. Obviously weight is important, but it appears a coat of light silver or grey is better at reflecting the heat back and away from the bodywork.

[mx_tifoso]

...it appears a coat of light silver or grey is better at reflecting the heat back and away from the bodywork.

Why would you want to reflect the heat back to the source? Besides, the vents and natural contained airflow do their job of channeling the heat towards the rear.

Although if you think about it the visible gray area on the Mercedes doesn't even deal with heat, as it is in front of the radiators and the top part is around the intake.

I also go with the guess of painted CF, but for the sake of the attention to detail.

[HungryHebbo]

I'd say that it's almost certainly painted CF. You can see the same weave pattern in the Mercedes cover as the Ferrari (unless they're just JPEG artifacts!)

[Fil]

its quite a harsh edge to the grey underside at the surrounding black stripes. i highly doubt they'd mask the edges like that just to paint underneath..

it sure does look like some sort of material glued to it, especially with the jigsaw-like deep-cut edge in front of the Mercedes logo & the slight creases/wrinkles at the front corner of the sidepod.
almost like a dense foam underside.. why have it? i have no idea!

[Federico]

it seems a very thin reflective aluminium foil, I think the purpose is to keep the bodywork at a safer temperature.