Mercedes AMG F1 W03 (pre-launch speculation)

[Mr.S]

Its a reason, not an excuse.

On topic.

I understand according to a few online sources that the reasons Mercedes are delaying the W03 is because it wants maximum wind tunnel time(as many have already suggested) to maximise the front wing F-duct.
Apparently the design has been knocking around Brackley since their rear wing f-duct was developed.
Since then the design was shown in very basic form around Suzuka during the FP sessions so the team could verify data from their simulation models.

The complexity surrounding the concept forced their hand somewhat in that is was shown sooner than they wanted, but the kick back is that they have verified the data collected.

If it works as well as Mercedes anticipate, Mercedes could be podium contenders out the blocks. There is also alot written about the front ride height adjuster Renault pioneered. Again, a source suggests Mercedes will be sporting this development at the second test, in very developed from.

Source?? You talk so assuredly like you have insider information & access to Mercedes employees. [...]

[hardingfv32]

Where do you/they propose to put a legal intake opening for this mythical F duct?

Brian

[beelsebob]

Where do you/they propose to put a legal intake opening for this mythical F duct?

Brian

In the nose, as they ran at suzuka.

[hardingfv32]

In the nose, as they ran at suzuka.

The rules state that the nose opening can only be for cooling, the driver I believe.

Brian

[beelsebob]

In the nose, as they ran at suzuka.

The rules state that the nose opening can only be for cooling, the driver I believe.

Hah, hadn't spotted that one, oh well, I guess they'll choose a point less than 150mm in front of the front wheel centre line, or below 125mm above the reference plane.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Here you go guys, courtesy once more of Scarbs.



And inline with my sources comments.....

This design is somewhat similar to Mercedes early 2010 F-duct rear wing, which was passive. The driver didn’t have a control duct, as with the McLaren system. Instead the ductwork would only blow with enough force to stall the rear wing at a certain airspeed. Tricky to design and tune, this system worked well for Mercedes last year. Its not improbably that just such a system could be made to work on the front wing.

[yener]

@JohnsonsEvilTwin

Didnt the FIA say that they would forbid the "hole" in the nose?
Cause it would be very sad to see the Fduct system working and being banned after the first race after all the effort the team put in.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Its speculative to say that it will only work using the nose hole.

Some other sites have it that it doesnt need the nose hole at all, but an entry duct near the nose pylons. There are many ways to circumvent the nose reg by locating the entry duct at another location. The only problem with that is finding an efficient way to do so, which is why Mercedes are looking to use wind tunnel time.

[beelsebob]

JET – for reference, the rule we were talking about was not anything about driver control, it was:

3.7.8 Only a single section, which must be open, may be contained within any longitudinal vertical cross section taken parallel to the car centre line forward of a point 150mm ahead of the front wheel centre line, less than 250mm from the car centre line and more than 125mm above the reference plane.
Any cameras or camera housings approved by the FIA in addition to a single inlet aperture for the purpose of driver cooling (such aperture having a maximum projected surface area of 1500mm2 and being situated forward of the section referred to in Article 15.4.3) will be exempt from the above.

[yace]

hi guys, here is some changes i did on the w02, i think the w03 won't be too different from it:



lower nose, new length, up poited exhausts + some details

[Joie de vivre]

that's nice actually
i just hope they redesign whole FW + narrower end like rbr ...
also i hope they'll run some rake at the end

[scuderiafan]

I have a hard time believing that FW F-duct works. How effectively would the air travel wen it goes 90 degrees from the nose to the pylon, down the main plane of the wing? The path the air should theoretically travel seems too abrupt for the FW f-duct concept to work.

[scuderiafan]

The Mclaren is comfortably the longest & one of the longest I have seen in some time. RBR is long,maybe even 2 longest but not longer than Mclaren.

Nope, the RBR is the longest.

Sorry, but this is not a very good way to compare and contrast the cars. For one, the angle of almost every picture is different, and the RB7 (which seems to be the subject of length discussions) is also larger in proportion to the other cars.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

JET – for reference, the rule we were talking about was not anything about driver control, it was:]

Sure. Im certain that the rule applies to the bodywork of the car.

But what about the pylons or the wing itself? Apertures cannot be over ruled in this area as all cars would then have single element basic wings.
Pylons can house apertures too.

@Yace
Very good rendering =D>

[godlameroso]

Stalling the FW could be used in the following fashion:

Run a lot of front wing, so the front end is pointy, and then bleed some DF at speed to maintain the balance of the car, pretty ingenious if they can get it to work.