Mercedes AMG F1 W03 (pre-launch speculation)

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

No matter what changes they make or do not make, I don't like the fact that they're going to miss the first test session. I'm sick already of their "unique" approach every year.

Why?

There is no precedent to suggest missing a test is a bad thing. They are making their decisions based "on the ground" with intimate knowledge of what the W03 requires in terms of gestation etc etc.
So if they want an extra week to hone developments, then thats their business.

As for it being unique, Red Bull Mclaren and Brawn(Mercedes) have all done this in the last 3 seasons, didnt work out too bad for them.

[wunderkind]

I beg to differ, I believe that Costa will change things as we knew them.

Don't you think costa's arrival is a tad late for something as fundamental as a complete change in rear suspension geometry?

It will probably affect:
CoG
Rear aerodynamics
- impacting on CoP
- if neccesary, associated design modifications of front aero
Gearbox casing
- structural design modifications
- drive train design modifications
Rear wheel upright design
- associated drive train design
- associated braking system design
Tyre usage
- this in turn will probably affect ballast distribution
- in turn affecting ballast placement positions and associated redesign

That's off the top of my head. I think it's a helluva undertaking for a project so close to the deadline, don't you think?

This!

That would be a B-spec car to say the least. I still think Willis had been able to unlock some aero performance gain by optimizing the wind tunnel. Anything more would require some wholesale changes to the car and one additional working week is totally insufficient for such undertaking. Costa's job right now is probably to review the car's mechanical specification and decide what should be done by the time of the first European race.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

+1 wunderkind

Either he has an idea that needed a bit more time or found something that wouldnt work as expected and needed more time.

Speculative.

[wunderkind]

+1 wunderkind

Either he has an idea that needed a bit more time or found something that wouldnt work as expected and needed more time.

Speculative.

That could indeed be a possibility. But if it's something innovative, it will probably be kept under wraps until the first race.

One area no one knows for certain is the exhausts and how teams would harness the exhaust gas to produce more downforce. How about a little winglet immediately behind the exhaust outlets to direct high velocity exhaust gas flows to the bottom plane of the rear wing? Or even more adventurous rear wings with an elaborately shaped single central beam that sits on top of the gearbox casing (as opposed to the rear crash structure located further back) to condition the exhaust gases to the bottom plane? The desired effect is for the air flow from the rear wing to "pull" the air flow from the underbody of the car to replicate the double decker diffuser effect that has been lost. To make it work, the bottom plane of the rear wing has to be as low as possible and the airflow from the underbody to be "kicked" up sufficiently to meet the air flow off the bottom plane of the rear wing without slowing too much.

[ell66]

Because a push-rod makes mechanical and geometrical sense, specifically when aerodynamic rear is not that important anymore, besides Costa is on to it

The rear end is more important than ever with the loss of double diffusers and now exhaust blowing, its known that a pull rod offers more room around the rear and I guarantee they stick with a pull rod next year.

[aleks_ader]

+1 wunderkind

Either he has an idea that needed a bit more time or found something that wouldnt work as expected and needed more time.

Speculative.

That could indeed be a possibility. But if it's something innovative, it will probably be kept under wraps until the first race.

One area no one knows for certain is the exhausts and how teams would harness the exhaust gas to produce more downforce. How about a little winglet immediately behind the exhaust outlets to direct high velocity exhaust gas flows to the bottom plane of the rear wing? Or even more adventurous rear wings with an elaborately shaped single central beam that sits on top of the gearbox casing (as opposed to the rear crash structure located further back) to condition the exhaust gases to the bottom plane? The desired effect is for the air flow from the rear wing to "pull" the air flow from the underbody of the car to replicate the double decker diffuser effect that has been lost. To make it work, the bottom plane of the rear wing has to be as low as possible and the airflow from the underbody to be "kicked" up sufficiently to meet the air flow off the bottom plane of the rear wing without slowing too much.

No any exhaust gases interuption IS FORBITEN!

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Or even more adventurous rear wings with an elaborately shaped single central beam that sits on top of the gearbox casing (as opposed to the rear crash structure located further back) to condition the exhaust gases to the bottom plane?

As in an elaborate "monkey seat"?

I doubt there is anything secretive, but the possibility is always there.
The F-duct front wing was very interesting to me, although I dont half think that it was a bit of a ploy by Mercedes to introduce this red herring at Japan to make other teams stop their development to take a look at it.

If it is in fact workable, then I take it back.

The more I think about the W03 the more I think it will be a big departure from the W02. It will have a different nose(as per regs), Longer wheelbase and chassis, Lower mounted KERS, "radicle" cooling solutions, no EBD(rear will have changed to accomadate the non blowing regs along the reference plane of aero devices not allowed within the area of the exhaust exit).

A front pull rod set up is unlikely after viewing the nose regs for 2012. It doesnt go far enough to help with such a set up as the noses are still fairly high...only the nose tips get a step down.

[allstaruk08]

"No any exhaust gases interuptio IS FORBITEN!"

how can it be regulated? with a thermal camera?

[bonjon1979]

"No any exhaust gases interuptio IS FORBITEN!"

how can it be regulated? with a thermal camera?

Monitoring ECU - all throttle inputs are regulated and recorded in onboard computer. Which the FIA now will be able to monitor in real time apparently. At least that's the gist I got from the new regulations. If there is elaborate mapping it will be discovered.

[wunderkind]

+1 wunderkind

Either he has an idea that needed a bit more time or found something that wouldnt work as expected and needed more time.

Speculative.

That could indeed be a possibility. But if it's something innovative, it will probably be kept under wraps until the first race.

One area no one knows for certain is the exhausts and how teams would harness the exhaust gas to produce more downforce. How about a little winglet immediately behind the exhaust outlets to direct high velocity exhaust gas flows to the bottom plane of the rear wing? Or even more adventurous rear wings with an elaborately shaped single central beam that sits on top of the gearbox casing (as opposed to the rear crash structure located further back) to condition the exhaust gases to the bottom plane? The desired effect is for the air flow from the rear wing to "pull" the air flow from the underbody of the car to replicate the double decker diffuser effect that has been lost. To make it work, the bottom plane of the rear wing has to be as low as possible and the airflow from the underbody to be "kicked" up sufficiently to meet the air flow off the bottom plane of the rear wing without slowing too much.

No any exhaust gases interuptio IS FORBITEN!

Yes, but it's not impossible.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

"No any exhaust gases interuptio IS FORBITEN!"

how can it be regulated? with a thermal camera?

It can be interupted outside of the plane as specified by the FIA regs.
Again check out Scarbs informative view on the matter.

Lastly the exhaust position is also controlled by ensuring no bodywork sits in the tail pipes wake. To measure this, an imaginary cone (diverging at 3 degrees) in line with the pipe, reaching as far back as the rear axle line must be drawn. This cone (drawn red in the illustrations) must not touch any bodywork, nor must bodywork be placed over the cone. With a typical F1 car the only bodywork in the regions behind the tailpipe are the rear wing endplates, the front portion of rear brake ducts and any central top bodywork (i.e. Red Bulls bulged central cooling exit

[kooleracer]

If take the williams rear wing and if you angle the exhaust to it, arent you then able to blow the rear wing in 2012?

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

If take the williams rear wing and if you angle the exhaust to it, arent you then able to blow the rear wing in 2012?

A possibility.

But there are drawbacks with regard to the drag of the exhaust gasses reaching the rear wing. It wont work at all speeds, so you have to sacrifice one area for another.

[Mr.S]

No matter what changes they make or do not make, I don't like the fact that they're going to miss the first test session. I'm sick already of their "unique" approach every year.

Why?

There is no precedent to suggest missing a test is a bad thing. They are making their decisions based "on the ground" with intimate knowledge of what the W03 requires in terms of gestation etc etc.
So if they want an extra week to hone developments, then thats their business.

As for it being unique, Red Bull Mclaren and Brawn(Mercedes) have all done this in the last 3 seasons, didnt work out too bad for them.

Times change. Now we have 3 tests only. So bayern are effectively missing 2 pre-season tests compared to last year. Brawn has DD,Red Bull had EBD. Mclaren was a horrible car & was probably saved by swiftly copying the exhaust. Anyways Mclaren actually had 3 pre-season tests last year,Merc have too. If Mclaren had 2 pre-season tests to get the car running they probably would not WON any races. More like 4th of 5th fastest car.

If Mercedes get something wrong,there is no time to get in right. This is already a HUGE SETBACK. No need to sugarcoat it.

[elf341]

Do the rules allow Mercedes to perform full-scale windtunnel testing in lieu of the track testing that they will miss?

I know that they can do that for the straight-line/constant-radius tests. IIRC they did not use at least three of their four allocated straight line tests, which I think is the highest of the top teams and which they presumably have converted into 100% windtunnel time for the W03.