"Designed in" rake.Mchamilton wrote: ↑28 Dec 2021, 17:49Why would the distance between those 2 parts of the bodywork change if the rake were changed?PlatinumZealot wrote: ↑27 Dec 2021, 18:57You can compare the distance between the top of the diffuser to the bottom of the crash structure between the 2020 and 2021 cars.SiLo wrote: ↑27 Dec 2021, 15:27
I've searched for some pictures and its hard to find the right ones, but what it looks like to me is that they ran more rake, but the trick suspension flattened the car more at speed than previously.
I'm struggling to find better pictures that are static from testing vs end of season.
The distance is virtually the same suggesting the rake hasn't changed.
The 2021 nose is the same as 2021. Same gearbox and suspension. If you increase rake by say 1degree. The flow structures will be shifted by this or likely even more.
The front splitter will be lifted higher and it's ground effect will be weaker. The front wing will also run lower and be at risk of hitting curbs etc.
RedBull design their floor and gearbox with a built-in rake that allows them to run splitter close and the front wing at the proper height.
It follows that is a collossal change for Mercedes to change the deigned range of the rake mid-season. They can't just jack the back of the car up by two inches and stiffen springs with the same chassis, gearbox and suspension and hope for the best. Everything will be thrown off.
They photos and the quotes from the team don't seem to eveidence enough well, I can't convince you.