The detachable panel surely has a weight penalty. So it's no wonder the car is largely unpainted.
The detachable panel surely has a weight penalty. So it's no wonder the car is largely unpainted.
Maybe. But I fail to see the utility of testing these sidepods and then bringing something radically different to the first race. The difference is one week so surely it would be much much better to just test with your real solution. Which makes me think this is their real solution for now (provided they use it in the test), and whatever upgrades they have lined up will come later in the season.Henk_v wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 13:05Well, as far as I have understood, you only tally the cost of parts raced for the cost cap. The RB lightweight tub was not brought in '22 to avoid taking the cost penalty. If they deemed it necessary to bring the new tub they could have and just eat less lobster for lunch.
So getting a second set of panels for the MB car will obviously cost them windtunnel and CFD time, but the parts themselves can be shelved if not necessary, limiting the impact of of a two-horse strategy somewhat.
I actually hope they succeed with the confusedpods design. The world does not need any more RB clones.
I wouldn't want that either, but I also don't think Merc would use RB solution. They use inwash in cocke bottle zone, neither of RB clones has coke bottle zone any more, only Ferrari and Haas have.
That's exactly what Mercedes has long since confirmed. Testing from start with race ready configuration, sidepods new after first races.Cs98 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 13:33Maybe. But I fail to see the utility of testing these sidepods and then bringing something radically different to the first race. The difference is one week so surely it would be much much better to just test with your real solution. Which makes me think this is their real solution for now (provided they use it in the test), and whatever upgrades they have lined up will come later in the season.Henk_v wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 13:05Well, as far as I have understood, you only tally the cost of parts raced for the cost cap. The RB lightweight tub was not brought in '22 to avoid taking the cost penalty. If they deemed it necessary to bring the new tub they could have and just eat less lobster for lunch.
So getting a second set of panels for the MB car will obviously cost them windtunnel and CFD time, but the parts themselves can be shelved if not necessary, limiting the impact of of a two-horse strategy somewhat.
I actually hope they succeed with the confusedpods design. The world does not need any more RB clones.
It could be that the exact same actual panels are used wit 'things' added or removed from them. No knowing what is behind the panel that could be reviled or connected with slots or a ductCs98 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 13:33Maybe. But I fail to see the utility of testing these sidepods and then bringing something radically different to the first race. The difference is one week so surely it would be much much better to just test with your real solution. Which makes me think this is their real solution for now (provided they use it in the test), and whatever upgrades they have lined up will come later in the season.Henk_v wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 13:05Well, as far as I have understood, you only tally the cost of parts raced for the cost cap. The RB lightweight tub was not brought in '22 to avoid taking the cost penalty. If they deemed it necessary to bring the new tub they could have and just eat less lobster for lunch.
So getting a second set of panels for the MB car will obviously cost them windtunnel and CFD time, but the parts themselves can be shelved if not necessary, limiting the impact of of a two-horse strategy somewhat.
I actually hope they succeed with the confusedpods design. The world does not need any more RB clones.
The side pods evolved and that's normal. You say fourth revision but it's really the second proper one. The first testing ones for 2022 were just bluff body place holders and during the season we only saw some changes near the floor but sidepods ultimately the same.Vanja #66 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 07:37So why are we talking about them talking about 4th sidepod design revision in just over a year if it's unimportant?
If you miss the basic aero features (wings and floor) no sidepod will save you, exhibits A to whatever - 2022 McLaren, AMR, ATR, Williams... But if two teams pinpoint basic aero features, make a good integration of aero and suspension then the smallest of details will make or break. Exhibit A - 2022 Ferrari.
The fact is Merc is not sure anymore if they will be able to achieve desired flow conditioning even with W14 sides, seeing how they mentioned redesign even before preseason test. There are other interesting solutions out there other than RB and Ferrari and surely more untapped interpretations. I am very interested in whatever Merc does, comebacks are always interesting.
Actually I think they can. There must be a reason why they made that side panel which sits over the SIS removable.PlatinumZealot wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 21:54The side pods evolved and that's normal. You say fourth revision but it's really the second proper one. The first testing ones for 2022 were just bluff body place holders and during the season we only saw some changes near the floor but sidepods ultimately the same.Vanja #66 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 07:37So why are we talking about them talking about 4th sidepod design revision in just over a year if it's unimportant?
If you miss the basic aero features (wings and floor) no sidepod will save you, exhibits A to whatever - 2022 McLaren, AMR, ATR, Williams... But if two teams pinpoint basic aero features, make a good integration of aero and suspension then the smallest of details will make or break. Exhibit A - 2022 Ferrari.
The fact is Merc is not sure anymore if they will be able to achieve desired flow conditioning even with W14 sides, seeing how they mentioned redesign even before preseason test. There are other interesting solutions out there other than RB and Ferrari and surely more untapped interpretations. I am very interested in whatever Merc does, comebacks are always interesting.
I reckon if it werent for the budget cap we'd have seen this new shape last year too.
The new shape looks to be the natural evolution of the zero pod concept. Unlike last year's testing one we know it's going to be raced.
And the only postulation by Toto is that if it doesn't perform well... They will modify it a little bit. With Toto's words whatever that little bit is, it could be some slight reprofilings... Or something radical. But very likely it will be an even tighter package because They can't change the side pod wings that easily can't they?
It has already been implied that Mercedes has had something in the works due to a late design change over the winter.