Mercedes W15

[JordanMugen]

Do the "floating" sidepods remind anyone else of the AMR22?



Of course with the radiator inlet acting as a vane and the larger bluff surface, the Mercedes' pods will probably be a more effective "bargeboard" than the AMR22's small surface at 45 degrees.

[hollus]

Posts talking about gained tenths have been deleted or will be shortly. The posters got (get) the text back, you are welcome to post them in the team thread.
As usual every year at this time:
a) Welcome to all the newbies!
b) No lap times, no track or championship position, no winning and losing in the car threads. Only hardware here, winning and losing goes in the team threads. Thanks.

[cplchanb]

Bottom front wing element sort of looks like the 2006-8 era spoon wings...

[Chubbs]

W15 entering the pits

Weaving into pits with excitement I hope

[vorticism]

Look at the top element. It is connected to the nose only via legality wire

Can see this getting banned or ubiquitously copied

Rules were made to avoid generation of strong vortical structures in that area, so it would have to be banned via TD asap or other teams might follow up quickly and the whole thing could get out of hand. Recent events have shown FOM and FIA don't appreciate such solutions which hamper overtaking capabilities of following cars.

I recall the AMR22 RWEP being banned, but detached RW flaps and FW outwash footplates and FW VG slot gap separators were used all last season.

[Vanja #66]

I recall the AMR22 RWEP being banned, but detached RW flaps and FW outwash footplates and FW VG slot gap separators were used all last season.

"detached RW flaps" were never illegal, "FW VG slot gap separators" were allowed with rewording between 22 and 23. Neither of those 3 are anything close to the impact a huge vortex shed from the middle of front wing would have.

[Luscion]

Seems like W15's 4th wing element is indeed attached by wire

[mendis]

[K1Plus]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGTK5sSXoAA ... name=small

The front wing now reminds me more and more of the pre-ground effect Mercedes, especially with the upper element being like it is.

[CaribouBread]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGTK5sSXoAA ... name=small

I'm guessing the official justification/defense for this would be 'increased flow to the floor area'.

[mkay]

Is the rear suspension push-rod?

[organic]

Is the rear suspension push-rod?

Yes

[Vanja #66]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGTK5sSXoAA ... name=small

That's really an open mockery of the front wing rules...

[Emag]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGTK5sSXoAA ... name=small

Wow, from this frontal view it now looks like the 2018 Mercedes with a 2019 front wing. Incredible what they have done, but I am not so sure the other teams will let this fly. It might be technically legal, but I feel like the FIA won't allow this because it goes against the original intentions of this ruleset.

[DChemTech]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGTK5sSXoAA ... name=small

Wow, from this frontal view it now looks like the 2018 Mercedes with a 2019 front wing. Incredible what they have done, but I am not so sure the other teams will let this fly. It might be technically legal, but I feel like the FIA won't allow this because it goes against the original intentions of this ruleset.

That should be bad luck for the FIA then, it's about what is quantitatively written down in the rules, one cannot design on qualitative aspects like intent. But yeah, past years have not shown the regulators to be a body that's exquisite in acknowledging creativity, or admitting their own shortcomings in writing the rules.
I hope it flies though, coming up with creative solutions at on the limits of what the rules allow is what F1 should be about.