F1Krof wrote: ↑08 Apr 2022, 12:01
zubster wrote: ↑08 Apr 2022, 11:33
Just been comparing the redbull side by side and it is crazy the difference. Clearly need a lot of development work to be done here. You think that new floor coming in Imola, will make a big difference?
I highly doubt it. To me it looks like they have a bundle of problems, it's not just the porposing. I think the porpoising is just the end effect, it is not in itself causing other problems. As somebody mentioned here, look at Ferrari, they do seem to have porposing but they still manage to go fast. Same with Red Bull but to lesser extent.
Ralf Schumacher just said that the Mercedes engine is about 0.5 secs a lap slower. The ICE seems to be the problem. But thats only a small part of all their problems, as this car has so many problems...i still think the "Zero/Micro"-Sidepod Concept was just the totally wrong way to go with this set of rules. In my opinion the front-wheel-wake is not managed properly. Also, with this concept, Mercedes is lacking the pressurisation zone under the sidepod-inlet. Ferrari is the perfect example here,
and this seems to have an influence
on underfloor performance. Its not a coincident that almost all the teams with a different concept than "micro/zero-sidepods" are doing well, while the teams with "micro-zero"-sidepod concepts are doing bad. So the sidepod/aero-concept certainly has something to do with the good/bad performance of the teams. Also i think its a better solution to let the rear/beamwing assembly drive the floor than leading more air over the top of the diffusor and drive the diffusor that way. In my opinion their whole concept is wrong and they cannot change it this season. Also their suspension geometry is very different to Ferrari and Red Bull i think, so they probably missed something here, too. So its engine, aero, suspension - just to many problems and i think all the problems interact with each other. And they will need a lot of time to even improve just a little. If your whole concept is wrong, its hard to improve. But thats only my assumptions and opinions. But one thing is for sure :
At the end of the day the design of a F1 Car is about trade-offs and compromises. And Mercedes, i think its fair to say this now, has done a horrible job in that regard. But anyway - its easy to make mistakes with your concept. You just need to make a mistake with your downforce/drag ratio and you go down the wrong road with your concept. Ferrari made the same mistake after years of domination. In 2005. And i think, as Ferrari did in 2006, Mercedes will be competitive next year. And we will see three teams fighting for the Championship.