Mercedes using clever gizmo to monitor F1 tyres in real time

Mercedes team are the innovators of the latest Formula 1 gizmo, according to Auto Motor und Sport.

Suffering in recent years with a lack of in-season development, and recently grappling with excessive tyre wear, the report said that the Brackley based team has come up with a cunning trick in 2013.

It is a thermal infrared camera, mounted backwards on the front wing of the W04 cars raced this season by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

The mini camera streams data to engineers about the live performance of Pirelli's sensitive 2013 tyres, including early signs about possible overheating. (GMM)

Subbed by AJN.