Mercedes AMG F1 W09 EQ Power+

[F1Krof]

I meant to say this:

Look how much cleaner the airflow would be on the Ferrari compared to Mercedes.

[Sierra117]

I meant to say this:

Look how much cleaner the airflow would be on the Ferrari compared to Mercedes.

https://cdn-9.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... arison.jpg

https://snag.gy/Qdoe1T.jpg

I'm not sure we can draw conclusions without a more orthographic view. Plus, there's also how the air flow will behave slightly differently the faster it goes. Bottas commented how much more stable the car is and we could see it in Austria, so clearly they've made a huge step otherwise the car was always lighting its rear up and sliding around like it was in the wet or something!

[F1Krof]

I meant to say this:

Look how much cleaner the airflow would be on the Ferrari compared to Mercedes.

https://cdn-9.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... arison.jpg

https://snag.gy/Qdoe1T.jpg

I'm not sure we can draw conclusions without a more orthographic view. Plus, there's also how the air flow will behave slightly differently the faster it goes. Bottas commented how much more stable the car is and we could see it in Austria, so clearly they've made a huge step otherwise the car was always lighting its rear up and sliding around like it was in the wet or something!

I agree on the sliding part. The car looked planted out of the corner in Austria.

Of course it cannot be conclusive, just an illustration how much higher the Ferrari's sidepod inlet are.

[Sierra117]

I meant to say this:

Look how much cleaner the airflow would be on the Ferrari compared to Mercedes.

https://cdn-9.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... arison.jpg

https://snag.gy/Qdoe1T.jpg

I'm not sure we can draw conclusions without a more orthographic view. Plus, there's also how the air flow will behave slightly differently the faster it goes. Bottas commented how much more stable the car is and we could see it in Austria, so clearly they've made a huge step otherwise the car was always lighting its rear up and sliding around like it was in the wet or something!

I agree on the sliding part. The car looked planted out of the corner in Austria.

Of course it cannot be conclusive, just an illustration how much higher the Ferrari's sidepod inlet are.

True; that probably has something to do with the higher rake so the sidepods can be more effective. Need to get the Vanja-signal out for this one

[Just_a_fan]

I meant to say this:

Look how much cleaner the airflow would be on the Ferrari compared to Mercedes.

https://cdn-9.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... arison.jpg

https://snag.gy/Qdoe1T.jpg

The air going to the sidepods will be that going between the wishbones on the Merc - they're a lot higher than the Ferrari's. There's a lot of aero pieces between the wishbones and the sidepods so it's impossible to really look at that image and say one is better than the other. One might just as easily conclude that the Ferrari uses the top entry sidepods because its front suspension gets in the way of a conventional approach. No way for us to know. Different aero philosopies is all we can say.

[Just_a_fan]

Thanks to the positive voter.

To the negative voter who said "no technical value just a guess": that's the point. None of these posts is anything much more than a guess. The poster who said "Look how much cleaner the airflow would be on the Ferrari compared to Mercedes." is guessing too. Anyone who can't see that is on the wrong forum.

[GrandAxe]

I agree with just_a_fan. You really can't know what the flows are like at the sidepods of both cars without considering the effects of of the front wing, the wing shaped suspension elements and the various vanes both at the front and on the tub. Its not a straightforward thing that can be concluded by line of sight.

Opportunities to generate downforce at the rear would likely offset any increased turbulence at the sidepods as well.

[Jolle]

I meant to say this:

Look how much cleaner the airflow would be on the Ferrari compared to Mercedes.

https://cdn-9.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... arison.jpg

https://snag.gy/Qdoe1T.jpg

What this image does also show is the huge “hole” Mercedes made between the nose, wing and lower wishbones. Looks like since 2014 they have been concentrated on this area to keep it as clean as possibly. First with the combined lower wishbone, thinner nose and now with raising the whole suspension.

If you look at the Ferrari, there is a big chunk of nose, some wishbones, etc etc.

I think with Mercedes this area is key how they manage the flow to the rear. The rest is tuned into this stream from front to back.

[Just_a_fan]

I agree with just_a_fan. You really can't know what the flows are like at the sidepods of both cars without considering the effects of of the front wing, the wing shaped suspension elements and the various vanes both at the front and on the tub. Its not a straightforward thing that can be concluded by line of sight.

Opportunities to generate downforce at the rear would likely offset any increased turbulence at the sidepods as well.

And yet someone downvoted me again for my post with "Off topic and as usual combative". Seems like someone can't debate in public.

Some people think you can look at a single image and determine a complex 3d flow structure. Got to laugh.

[Vanja #66]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DW9FAwWWsAASkhS.jpg

Enhanced



First flow viz photo of this side pod design I saw for a full year now. Look at how much air is going down and around side pods, it's madness.

This is the only flow viz photo of Ferrari-styled side pods I've seen in a year and a half. There is a lot of air going under them, seems like some of the air from the top of the tub is sliding down as well. With plain side pods, that isn't the case in the same magnitude. Air is naturally going down, but not as much. Here's MCL32 as an example.



So, air coming to Ferrari intake is very likely coming from above front suspension. All those winglets on top of Ferrari tub in 2017 suggested this in the first place. Air coming to Mercedes intake is likely coming through front suspension.

[Just_a_fan]

Air coming to Mercedes intake is likely coming through front suspension.

Yeah, I said that and got a downvote. Careful or you'll be feeling the wrath of the secret voters!

[Vanja #66]

Air coming to Mercedes intake is likely coming through front suspension.

Yeah, I said that and got a downvote. Careful or you'll be feeling the wrath of the secret voters!

Looks like colourful pictures make them compliant

[Just_a_fan]

[mkay]

I meant to say this:

Look how much cleaner the airflow would be on the Ferrari compared to Mercedes.

https://cdn-9.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... arison.jpg

https://snag.gy/Qdoe1T.jpg

I'm not sure we can draw conclusions without a more orthographic view. Plus, there's also how the air flow will behave slightly differently the faster it goes. Bottas commented how much more stable the car is and we could see it in Austria, so clearly they've made a huge step otherwise the car was always lighting its rear up and sliding around like it was in the wet or something!

I agree on the sliding part. The car looked planted out of the corner in Austria.

Of course it cannot be conclusive, just an illustration how much higher the Ferrari's sidepod inlet are.

Certainly not in the race. Mercedes kept lighting up the rears in the race and was very slow out of T3 and T4.

[Sierra117]

I'm not sure we can draw conclusions without a more orthographic view. Plus, there's also how the air flow will behave slightly differently the faster it goes. Bottas commented how much more stable the car is and we could see it in Austria, so clearly they've made a huge step otherwise the car was always lighting its rear up and sliding around like it was in the wet or something!

I agree on the sliding part. The car looked planted out of the corner in Austria.

Of course it cannot be conclusive, just an illustration how much higher the Ferrari's sidepod inlet are.

Certainly not in the race. Mercedes kept lighting up the rears in the race and was very slow out of T3 and T4.

Race temps were WAYYY hotter than anything they had experienced before. 48*C is boiling hot.