Mercedes AMG F1 W03 (pre-launch speculation)

[ArchAngel]

Too early for either Willis or Costa to start throwing their weight around when neither of them have yet to prove how many tenths they can add to the W03 based on the cards they bring to the table.

That is, no one among them is already in a position to say "I told you so."

I think these guys will ,if asked be straightforward in answering when asked what they think of the new product.They have been introduced to give direction and leadership in the first place and everyone is prepared to listen after 2011...
But having run your own show it must be hard to accept the Bell style or not trying to do it Costa style or giving the concept a willis touch to it.So it is a delicate situation and sure they all will do their best to impress their new employers with new insight and solutions to known and unknown problems...it´s not like they come in and look on for months ..

I don't think we're off the same page at all. I certainly think both Willis & Costa will want to pull out all the stops to prove their weight in gold. They'll certainly need to learn to dance with each other in order to achieve the best synergy possible.

It's just that I think this early, both their focus will be intently on how they can contribute towards developing the car and making it faster, rather than engaging in a game of one-upmanship, unproductively rocking the boat, and usurping political power. On the surface, neither seem to be the devious type who'd readily embarrass Ross Brawn so soon after he'd just brought them out of the cold and into the Merc fold.

[xpensive]

...
On the surface, neither seem to be the devious type who'd readily embarrass Ross Brawn so soon after he'd just brought them out of the cold and into the Merc fold.

No, that would probably be un-wise, but embarrass the other two, like in every competitive environment, hell yeah.

[raymondu999]

They won't be missing the test, they wiil be present with a modified W02. The can get valuable information form doing back to back testing. A lot of people are writing doom scenario's because they aren't debuting the W03 at the first test.

The MP4-26 also debuted in the first test and it was shocking, so being at the fist test is no guarantee for succes.

As I understand it - they won't even be there with a W02; and McLaren had an MP4-25 at the first test. The MP4-26 was set out on the 2nd test.

EDIT: Note that I'm not arguing for the "Mercedes will fail" camp - I'm just correcting factual errors in your post

[MercAMGF1Fans]

yeah i thought that they were skipping the first test completely?

[NewtonMeter]

Those among us that says that Costa and Willis will try to one-up each other, I'd hate to be your colleague. Seriously, don't EVER work with me. Because I can only assume you're projecting as that's what you'd do and frankly it's wildly unprofessional. I know the type, they're usually stuck in middle management.

Like them, I just started a new job at a new company and a very busy one. We're facing some pretty daunting deadlines at the moment and believe you me, there is NO time for clever office politics. We need all the help we can get to keep head above water. And the best way to get work done is to work together and help each other out. No other way works. Which is not to say that I like everyone I'm working with, but when the heat is on you do what you have to, to get the job done.

I'd bet my house that the same thing is going on at Brackly. These guys have nothing to prove, FFS! And furthermore, they all know ross brawn and probably each other as well. I see no reason why they would start getting childish now when they most need each other.

[xpensive]

...
I know the type, they're usually stuck in middle management.
...

And you are not?

[NewtonMeter]

...
I know the type, they're usually stuck in middle management.
...

And you are not?

Hit a nerve?

[Mr.S]

I also think Willis & Costa will do their best to make it successful.

With Costa it's game over,Paddy & Newey are doing fantastic jobs at Mclaren & RBR. If he fails in Merc after failing as a TD in Ferrari,it's game over Ferrari.

There are no Available spots in any team. Mclaren hired Sam Michael,RBR have Prodromou & ferrari have been hiring Massive amounts of people in all spheres.

The only way is too take a step down. Willis can go to another Virgin where pay drivers drive,with 100 non-permanent rookies,with 0 resources & a petty salary. & the budget is so less than no decent car can be made. With Mercedes there are 2 slots available in the future,TD & TP. Brawn will step down in 2-3-4 years & TP will be open. Or if Bell becomes TP,the TD slot becomes available.


With Costa & Willis,options are running out,nobody will pay them as much as Mercedes,they are old & have got children to feed & there is Championship Winning Team which will hire them. END OF STORY.

[Mr.S]

They won't be missing the test, they wiil be present with a modified W02. The can get valuable information form doing back to back testing. A lot of people are writing doom scenario's because they aren't debuting the W03 at the first test.

The MP4-26 also debuted in the first test and it was shocking, so being at the fist test is no guarantee for succes.

As I understand it - they won't even be there with a W02; and McLaren had an MP4-25 at the first test. The MP4-26 was set out on the 2nd test.

EDIT: Note that I'm not arguing for the "Mercedes will fail" camp - I'm just correcting factual errors in your post

You dont know that. They said they will miss the 1st test with reference to the new car debuting. My 2 cents they run the W02 with various modified exhaust position. Requires very little resource & time.

[ArchAngel]

To be fair, one can't really expect to hear anything else from drivers during the preseason other than childlike optimism for the season ahead. Publicly speaking their minds out like what Petrov and Barrichello did would only see them end up in the same rut those two did. Sometimes, blind & canine-like loyalty & obedience can buy even an under-performing driver (e.g. Massa) an extra season or two.

As for Merc's participation in the first test, I was also initially under the impression that they would show up with a modified W02 for some baseline testing. However, more recent news feeds I've come across specifically state that they'll skip the first test entirely and just show up in Catalunya with the W03 already in tow. I can only surmise that Merc would rather have all hands on deck for the W03's development, rather than spare resources for a test team in Jerez.

Perhaps they feel the W03 will be a sufficiently radical departure from the W02. Ergo, testing bits & pieces of the W03 slapped onto the W02 would only yield inconclusive data since the said components are integral (or tightly integrated) to the W03's overall design & engineering concept. Very optimistic, I know. But hey.

[raymondu999]

They said they will miss the 1st test with reference to the new car debuting.

As I remember it further statements have said that the TEAM will skip the test; not the CAR.

[yener]

1 -LWB instead SWB
This will improve the CoG
More overall Downforce
More space too solve problems like cooling issues. (also lower fuelltank)


2 -RBR like Rear end of the car
Improves better airflow.
Less (side) resistance in corners.

3 -Optimized Periscope exhaust
Only blow when in corners which can be possible by somekind of ridehight system.
So the exhaust and rear wing shouldnt have linear connections. When the car is on straight the car (especially the rear) will be pushed down. If the exhaust doesnt move in the same angle you can create an effective blown rear wing

4 -No time and money expensive investigation in things like front fduct and double flour. They are not in the situation right now. They have to keep it simple and conservative.

If they can workout the subjects on the lists they could be in the top 3 very easy.

[MercAMGF1Fans]

They said they will miss the 1st test with reference to the new car debuting.

As I remember it further statements have said that the TEAM will skip the test; not the CAR.

hehehe

[Schulteiss]

1 -LWB instead SWB
This will improve the CoG
More overall Downforce
More space too solve problems like cooling issues. (also lower fuelltank)


2 -RBR like Rear end of the car
Improves better airflow.
Less (side) resistance in corners.

3 -Optimized Periscope exhaust
Only blow when in corners which can be possible by somekind of ridehight system.
So the exhaust and rear wing shouldnt have linear connections. When the car is on straight the car (especially the rear) will be pushed down. If the exhaust doesnt move in the same angle you can create an effective blown rear wing

4 -No time and money expensive investigation in things like front fduct and double flour. They are not in the situation right now. They have to keep it simple and conservative.

If they can workout the subjects on the lists they could be in the top 3 very easy.

1, LWB was optimum for EBD. No EBD - keep the SWB. Totally wrong there.
2, Everybody has an RB -like rear end. Even Ferrari went for pull-rods this year.
3, You cannot "blow" anywhere, mate. Least of all corners. You cannot "optimize" anything, that kind of engine mapping is banned.
4, There was time enough, and the team is loaded. They have not investigated anything. If the front f-duct worked, it will be on the car. If not they have dumped it long ago.
They are exactly in the situation to be a little creative. No rush there. They have said they are not out for the WDC yet, they want to edge closer.

You might want to collect your thoughts before posting rubbish.

[Schulteiss]

They said they will miss the 1st test with reference to the new car debuting.

As I remember it further statements have said that the TEAM will skip the test; not the CAR.

hehehe

I hardly think they will miss out on collecting data on the 2012 rubbers. Even if it is with the W02, they will have a direct comparison between the 2011-2012 Pirellis. First test will be about the Pirellis for everybody anyways, IMHO.