2023 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[PlatinumZealot]

In this train of thought I am just wondering. All client teams of Merc are getting the engine along with the cooling sub-system ready. The build the car around that without being able to change the shape of it.
It is not irrational to say that with better cooling you are able to push the engine more to the limit keeping the same operating temperature. This could be with a richer air-fuel mixture or a few more rpms to the limiter. This in theory can improve things and lets assume you get 5-10 ponies out of this.
The client teams and I am looking more at McLaren will be able to utilize that 5-10 extra ponies as well. And if their aero-package is still better than Merc's at the start of the next season they might be the leading team and not the works team...

Nor quite... There is already a maximum cooling and it's easy to achieve...cooling steals energy. It's instead how much can you reduce it and make the parts around the cooler more aerodynamically efficient.

The teams with better combustion rejects less heat and needs less cooling. Teams with better materials and lubricants reject less heat and in some cases cab run hotter engines so leed cooling is needed. Means less fuel usage, lighter weight.. Less need for downforce.. Means More efficient bodywork.. It's keeps giving and giving if improve the combustion and materials.

[georgekyr]

Nor quite... There is already a maximum cooling and it's easy to achieve...cooling steals energy. It's instead how much can you reduce it and make the parts around the cooler more aerodynamically efficient.

There might be a situation where the zero-pod design could not accommodate any optimal (or maximum as you put it) cooling system and a compromising decision was made in that a degree lower power was better in order to get the much increased overall aero performance of the car (which in hind-sight was never attainable). More aggressive thermal management of the motor would have to be applied in that case. The increased space and more optimal air flow in a new design might make the cooling system operate better and allow the drivers to choose higher operating modes during the race without worrying for overheating issues. So, indeed, it is not a matter of getting +10 PS or whatever, it might be under race conditions the ability to choose higher operating modes of the power unit more frequently giving you more power over longer periods of time.
And then again as you mention it is the aspect of making the parts around the cooler more aerodynamically efficient. Red Bull has exploited the limitless time for cooling system optimization in the wind tunnel. Most probably if time was unlimited they would have never designed and implemented such constricted runs which need to conform to specific rules, but given that wind tunnel is a commodity in scarcity, less than optimal unlimited runs might just as well be used to bring some improvement. If I remember correctly RB have redesigned the cooling aero something like 3 times this year and I cannot see any other realistic reason for doing so other than getting around the very limited wind tunnel time they had aiming at even marginal overall gains.

And of course, now that Merc faces a real situation of redesigning the cooling system due to a new car concept, why not do the same thing as RB and try to benefit from both of the above items.

[TFSA]

Both Russell and Hamilton seem to be sparking a lot on the straits in FP. Plank wear gonna be an issue unless they change the setup before the qualifying?

[organic]

Both Russell and Hamilton seem to be sparking a lot on the straits in FP. Plank wear gonna be another issue unless they change the setup before the qualifying?

I think others are just fairly conservative on the ride height in FP1. They will drop down to Merc's level I think

[Luscion]

James Allison on the W15

[DGP123]

Nothing new from JA, other than if next years car (W15) is a dog, don’t bother watching until, 26’.

[AR3-GP]

James Allison on the W15

James allison is a riot!

[AR3-GP]

Toto Wolff having knee surgery:
https://www.reuters.com/sports/motor-sp ... 023-10-05/

[chrisc90]

Toto Wolff having knee surgery:
https://www.reuters.com/sports/motor-sp ... 023-10-05/

Always a little too convenient on a Title awarding weekend

[j_ste]

Toto Wolff having knee surgery:
https://www.reuters.com/sports/motor-sp ... 023-10-05/

Always a little too convenient on a Title awarding weekend

The title he cares most about was won in japan

[organic]

Toto Wolff having knee surgery:
https://www.reuters.com/sports/motor-sp ... 023-10-05/

Always a little too convenient on a Title awarding weekend

The title he cares most about was won in japan

He missed Japan as well. But the WCC/wdc is not relevant. He would've had the surgery scheduled for ages as he knew it would have to happen already in the summer break I think

[organic]

Big opportunity for Hamilton to get closer to Perez on Sunday thanks to that q2... Also Sainz out in Q2 meaning it'll be more comfortable in constructors as well if all goes well.

[ringo]

Lewis missed a big opportunity there with the slides. Looks like tyres werent warm.
Max also slid and Lando. But yes he is in a good position to get a good points gap to Perez this weekend both in sprint and the race.

[j_ste]

That was a really good session. Non red bull, looks like the track does suit them...onwards

[Bill_Kar]

Let's see how much (and if) the others can gain during the weekend. Especially Ferrari seemed way off confidence. 2-3 to start the Sunday race is very nice indeed.