Mercedes W12

[DarthPlagueisTheVise]

Nice shot of the W12 showing the undercut of the sidepods

[hUirEYExbN]

https://hizliresim.com/d4TaK2
Nice shot of the W12 showing the undercut of the sidepods

That link doesn't work for me. Is there a better one?

[dans79]

Ok. Just looks like a different colour/lighting. They are clearly still closed.

I'm not so sure about that , here is a shot Albert Fabrega posted. While you can only see the edge of one, you get no reflection of any type. That kind of suggests an opening.

[sucof]

Just made an interesting comparison
The middle part of the floor looks like as the same image, but it is not Also the length difference is clearly visible.

[F1Krof]

Sorry but I really can't see what they're claiming. We saw this diffuser profile in testing. It just looks like the make up of the titanium inserts they use for the little vortex generators. It seems a big leap to claim it's fed by channels from the gearbox casing.

take a look at these 2 photos.

the are saying covered in Bahrain.
https://cdn-4.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... etai-1.jpg

open in Imola
https://cdn-2.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... etai-1.jpg

Ok. Just looks like a different colour/lighting. They are clearly still closed.

I agree with you. I don't see anything resembling something that is closed/open.

[DarthPlagueisTheVise]

https://hizliresim.com/d4TaK2
Nice shot of the W12 showing the undercut of the sidepods

That link doesn't work for me. Is there a better one?

Does this work ?

[cheeRS]

take a look at these 2 photos.

the are saying covered in Bahrain.
https://cdn-4.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... etai-1.jpg

open in Imola
https://cdn-2.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... etai-1.jpg

Ok. Just looks like a different colour/lighting. They are clearly still closed.

I agree with you. I don't see anything resembling something that is closed/open.

If you look really closely/zoom in, you can "see" how they might be open. But, I would not have come to that conclusion without the article saying so. It's hard to be confident that they are open without a much higher resolution photo or some lighting adjustments.

[hUirEYExbN]

https://hizliresim.com/d4TaK2
Nice shot of the W12 showing the undercut of the sidepods

That link doesn't work for me. Is there a better one?

https://klasresim.com/i/SPBOR
Does this work ?

Yes, thank you.

[Stu]

it seems clear that the Mercedes technicians have managed to open up a flow that is probably fed by channels dug into the bottom at the sides of the transmission

Sorry but I really can't see what they're claiming. We saw this diffuser profile in testing. It just looks like the make up of the titanium inserts they use for the little vortex generators. It seems a big leap to claim it's fed by channels from the gearbox casing.

(You can see the metal insert they use for the vortex generators on most cars, for example the RB from today: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzGNj2GXMAQM2pw?format=jpg and old image https://i.imgur.com/njuRi6h.jpeg)

Wouldn’t holes in that part of the floor be illegal? I’m pretty certain that I have seen somewhere on this forum that floor surfaces must be continuous and not have any holes (enclosed or otherwise). A duct from the top of the floor beside the gearbox to the bottom of the floor beside the differential would definitely deviate from that.

[_cerber1]

Tobi Grüner
Mercedes soft tyre runs not representative as engineers did some PU calibration work (less power). Gasly gained more than 5 tenths on the straights alone. Ferrari stronger than expected.

[jjn9128]

it seems clear that the Mercedes technicians have managed to open up a flow that is probably fed by channels dug into the bottom at the sides of the transmission

Sorry but I really can't see what they're claiming. We saw this diffuser profile in testing. It just looks like the make up of the titanium inserts they use for the little vortex generators. It seems a big leap to claim it's fed by channels from the gearbox casing.

(You can see the metal insert they use for the vortex generators on most cars, for example the RB from today: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzGNj2GXMAQM2pw?format=jpg and old image https://i.imgur.com/njuRi6h.jpeg)

Wouldn’t holes in that part of the floor be illegal? I’m pretty certain that I have seen somewhere on this forum that floor surfaces must be continuous and not have any holes (enclosed or otherwise). A duct from the top of the floor beside the gearbox to the bottom of the floor beside the differential would definitely deviate from that.

Yeeeeeah those aren't holes. Reminds me of the infamous "holey" footplate on last years Red Bull front wing that all the journos got all excited about.

[dans79]

Wouldn’t holes in that part of the floor be illegal? I’m pretty certain that I have seen somewhere on this forum that floor surfaces must be continuous and not have any holes (enclosed or otherwise). A duct from the top of the floor beside the gearbox to the bottom of the floor beside the differential would definitely deviate from that.

It's been a while since I dug through the technical regulation in detail, but having quickly glanced at the continuity rules it might be possible to have a loop hole. They have made changes recently highlighted in pink. (see section 3.7)
https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files ... -03-05.pdf

If there is a loophole, it will probably be some play on what's considered the floor, the plank, the gearbox, and bodywork.

[Marty_Y]

Tobi Grüner
Mercedes soft tyre runs not representative as engineers did some PU calibration work (less power). Gasly gained more than 5 tenths on the straights alone. Ferrari stronger than expected.

That's reassuring to know that the soft runs were not representative because I was concerned that maybe they were having problems getting the softs to work.

Would it be fair to say that they have made progress with the W12 (to me it seemed more planted) or do people think that it's track specific and they will struggle on other tracks?

[hollus]

This is the Mercedes W12 offical car thread.

Please discuss ONLY technical items of this car, and refrain from speculation.

General discussion about the team, its drivers and performance can be posted in the team thread.

Livery Talk also belongs in the Team Thread. viewtopic.php?f=15&t=29590

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EvdzzGZWYAU ... =4096x4096

[SiLo]

The underside central part of the floor is the same as Bahrain.