2023 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[zakhassan44]

there are talks of Mercedes potentially having a "b-spec" car ready to go if the main design for the w14 doesn't work as planned. is anyone else worried about designing 2 cars hampering merc in terms of finances and wasting precious time on a 2nd design?

It's very strange if it's true. It would imply dual windtunnel programs and expenses. This is very unlikely to be true imo.

thats what i thought lol, how could they possibly finance the fully scale design of 2 two cars which go in 2 different aerodynamic directions

[Andi76]

If this is true, this does not bode well for this car. Seems like the chassis weight saving isnt panning out the way they want, and same with their rear suspension.

https://formula1news.co.uk/mercedes-suf ... g-testing/

TLDR: Mercedes suffer a rear suspension failure at the shakedown, and the chassis is apparently flexing more than anticipated.

They are just repeating the "Judge 13"
Just bin it as garbage.


"However, not everything is reportedly going Mercedes’ way, with thejudge13.com having revealed that their sources have told them that the Germans discovered faults with their suspension."

I don't know if it's really garbage, because the German media also report that the chassis is flexing and also that the aerodynamics are probably not so great. Of course it could be garbage, but 2022 also started with similar rumors in the German media.

[AR3-GP]

I would be shocked if the rumor of "chassis flex" is true.

[AR3-GP]

If this is true, this does not bode well for this car. Seems like the chassis weight saving isnt panning out the way they want, and same with their rear suspension.

https://formula1news.co.uk/mercedes-suf ... g-testing/

TLDR: Mercedes suffer a rear suspension failure at the shakedown, and the chassis is apparently flexing more than anticipated.

They are just repeating the "Judge 13"
Just bin it as garbage.


"However, not everything is reportedly going Mercedes’ way, with thejudge13.com having revealed that their sources have told them that the Germans discovered faults with their suspension."

I don't know if it's really garbage, because the German media also report that the chassis is flexing and also that the aerodynamics are probably not so great. Of course it could be garbage, but 2022 also started with similar rumors in the German media.

Who is the german media? Is it AMUS?

[f1jcw]

They are just repeating the "Judge 13"
Just bin it as garbage.


"However, not everything is reportedly going Mercedes’ way, with thejudge13.com having revealed that their sources have told them that the Germans discovered faults with their suspension."

I don't know if it's really garbage, because the German media also report that the chassis is flexing and also that the aerodynamics are probably not so great. Of course it could be garbage, but 2022 also started with similar rumors in the German media.

Who is the german media? Is it AMUS?

I’m sure if "German media" had reported it, then we would be seeing links from them and not from such a disreputable sites as the Judge

[Spoutnik]

Merc improved a lot at the end of last season : Austin, Mexico, Brazil... I do think they understand a bit more how to improve the car, they erased a bit their correlation issues.
The real question mark for me is the drag/the engine. It's impossible to get meaningful result with such a drag, such a low speed trap, it was ridiculous on many occasions (Hamilton vs Verstappen at Austin or Zandvoort, Hamilton passed back instantely after overtaking both Leclerc and Perez at Silverstone without DRS...).

[AR3-GP]

Merc improved a lot at the end of last season : Austin, Mexico, Brazil... I do think they understand a bit more how to improve the car, they erased a bit their correlation issues.
The real question mark for me is the drag/the engine. It's impossible to get meaningful result with such a drag, such a low speed trap, it was ridiculous on many occasions (Hamilton vs Verstappen at Austin or Zandvoort, Hamilton passed back instantely after overtaking both Leclerc and Perez at Silverstone without DRS...).

Vanja has done some CFD simulations which heavily imply the new design is much less draggy. The problem is whether they lost downforce with this evolution.

The two things that both Hamilton and Russell have mentioned in clear terms in passing is that they shaved weight and they reduced drag.

Reading between the lines, no one is talking about the downforce. George went on to ramble about "wondering if the downforce will be there when you get on the brakes". It was a curious remark to me.

The team seem confident about the drag reduction and the weight reduction. The whispers in this supposed German Media and the other notes suggest that the downforce numbers may be coming up short. this could mean a lot of things....After all, Williams is always confident about their drag levels

[Andi76]

They are just repeating the "Judge 13"
Just bin it as garbage.


"However, not everything is reportedly going Mercedes’ way, with thejudge13.com having revealed that their sources have told them that the Germans discovered faults with their suspension."

I don't know if it's really garbage, because the German media also report that the chassis is flexing and also that the aerodynamics are probably not so great. Of course it could be garbage, but 2022 also started with similar rumors in the German media.

Who is the german media? Is it AMUS?

Fortunately not. At least I think so. What AMUS said I have not yet seen (was until now in the work). What I have heard was from motorsport-total. They are usually not bad informed, just what Mercedes concerns. Nevertheless, I would give little at the moment on such rumors, because finally it can now be already deceive and camouflage on the part of the teams.

[organic]

Speculation surrounded suspension and chassis flex.

I was going to reply in w14 thread but I think we should move chassis flex discussions out of the car thread so I will quote you here

Scarbs was asked about the chassis flex etc rumour and his reply was somewhat cryptic

[jumpingfish]

What does he mean? I can't say because I know nothing or I know but I will not tell you about it?

[AR3-GP]

Speculation surrounded suspension and chassis flex.

I was going to reply in w14 thread but I think we should move chassis flex discussions out of the car thread so I will quote you here

Scarbs was asked about the chassis flex etc rumour and his reply was somewhat cryptic

His response all but confirmed it.

[organic]

[organic]

Speculation surrounded suspension and chassis flex.

I was going to reply in w14 thread but I think we should move chassis flex discussions out of the car thread so I will quote you here

Scarbs was asked about the chassis flex etc rumour and his reply was somewhat cryptic

His response all but confirmed it.

Especially with his reply to this



If it is true which still seems somewhat unlikely overall, then chassis flex can cause suspension issues

[AR3-GP]

I was going to reply in w14 thread but I think we should move chassis flex discussions out of the car thread so I will quote you here

Scarbs was asked about the chassis flex etc rumour and his reply was somewhat cryptic

His response all but confirmed it.

Especially with his reply to this



If it is true which still seems somewhat unlikely overall, then chassis flex can cause suspension issues

Well this isn't hinting at anything at all....

[organic]

Indeed.. doesn't bode well. The "keep this in mind" particularly