https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/09 ... r-bahrain/
HAVE MERCEDES GOT A SECRET WEAPON FOR BAHRAIN?
Jad Mallak 9 March, 2022
Grandprix247’s tech guru Mark Kay gave his opinion about the Mercedes upgrade rumor, and said: “If the rumors are true it would seem like a huge risk to me. In 2022 F1 has been forced into risk adverse development behaviors.
“Given the diminishing resources afforded the most successful teams in accordance with the handicapping intent of the new regime regulations, Mercedes would need to be very sure that it was a path worthy of empirical verification if the whispers were true, because the penalty of not being so will be very detrimental to their development budget balance for the rest of the year.
Mercedes need to be very sure about their development path
“Even though I haven’t had much time to consider the implications of the rumored Mercedes solution, the obvious benefits would be associated with reduced drag bodywork, the potential ability to position weight closer to the cars center line, and quite possibly the freeing up of space to be able to innovate rear suspension and rear floor work,” Mark explains.
“Obviously though, if the sidepods were narrowed, or even omitted completely, there would still be the need for cooling system components, and the logical solution then would be for them to be positioned higher up.
“One of the benefits of a more orthodox positioning of the cooling system is that the weight can be kept lower down and positioned more symmetrically about the car’s center line. By having to locate coolant filled radiators higher up and potentially in a more concentrated position it might not necessarily be optimal for suspension load distribution, and inertia moments.
“Nevertheless, irrespective of the benefits or disadvantages, as I understand it, Liberty and the FIA have quite clearly reserved the right to alter the regulations if and when a team comes up with an innovation that is such an advantage that it contravenes the intent of the new regulations, which is a closer and more diverse competition,” Grandprix247’s Tech expert concluded.
Bahrain’s official pre-season test kicks off on Thursday, March 10, and will be held over three days, when all will be revealed regarding the teams’ upgraded cars, and especially Mercedes’ W13
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-rumour ... -sidepods/
F1 rumours: Radical Mercedes W13 with no sidepods?
Date published: March 9 2022 - Michelle Foster
But whether it will lead to a protest should Mercedes run the design at the Bahrain Grand Prix remains to be seen with the Brackley squad having said to have asked for ‘substantial clarifications before proceeding’ with the design.
Over at Mercedes, they are being coy about the upgraded package.
A spokesman for the team told Auto Motor und Sport: “Everyone flies to Bahrain with new parts. The biggest upgrades are usually the ones you can see from the outside.”
Sky Sport’s Ted Kravitz reckons this week could see a barrage of protests, or at least questions, being put before the FIA and its new race directors.