Mercedes GP W02

[kalinka]

Just because they started the development early, it's not necessary an advantage. Some important decisions were made later in 2010 regarding 2011. Tyre compounds were totally unknown. I think some aerodynamic issues with these cars were only highlited later in the season for other teams too. If you begin the development with wrong concepts, not focusing on really important things that became obvious only later, your advantage in fact becomes a drawback. I don't see this car yet as a poor car, but just because they are ahead in development time it doesn't has to be a revolutionary concept. Someone back in 2010 had to make a decision on designing an evolutionary or a revolutionary car. Maybe that decision was wrong, but we can't decide it for now.

[mach11]

Just because they started the development early, it's not necessary an advantage. Some important decisions were made later in 2010 regarding 2011. Tyre compounds were totally unknown. I think some aerodynamic issues with these cars were only highlited later in the season for other teams too. If you begin the development with wrong concepts, not focusing on really important things that became obvious only later, your advantage in fact becomes a drawback. I don't see this car yet as a poor car, but just because they are ahead in development time it doesn't has to be a revolutionary concept. Someone back in 2010 had to make a decision on designing an evolutionary or a revolutionary car. Maybe that decision was wrong, but we can't decide it for now.

+1

[myurr]

Indeed, look at the 2009 BMW.

[jav]

Just because they started the development early, it's not necessary an advantage. Some important decisions were made later in 2010 regarding 2011. Tyre compounds were totally unknown. I think some aerodynamic issues with these cars were only highlited later in the season for other teams too. If you begin the development with wrong concepts, not focusing on really important things that became obvious only later, your advantage in fact becomes a drawback. I don't see this car yet as a poor car, but just because they are ahead in development time it doesn't has to be a revolutionary concept. Someone back in 2010 had to make a decision on designing an evolutionary or a revolutionary car. Maybe that decision was wrong, but we can't decide it for now.

Not sure I agree with the main premise here.

Having extra development time is a clear advantage. Yes, there are portions of the design which can't be fully addressed early-due to changing regulations or unknowns such as tires but certainly, getting some things out of the way or even exploring a litany of ideas relative to current problems is beneficial. This free's up time so you can concentrate with more focus on those things impacted by variables and rule changes. Everyone else has to contemplate those same details, plus all the other little stuff you may have gotten out of the way. More time is almost always an advantage to the industrius.

Now- if you happened to develop early in the wrong direction, sure that can hurt you but that's a result of poor judgement - not one of having too much time. i don't think any team ever complained about having too much time. If that were the case, then I'd have to question the decision last year of abandoning development to focus on 2011 if not to gain an advantage.

Once again- I'm not judging the car as poor either. It may prove to be a winner. I'm suggesting disappointment at this point that the extra development time appears to have been less fruitful than what some teams appear to have brought with less time, I feel given what we see today- that's a fair assessment. It may prove wrong by Bahrain...and i certainly hope so.

[dren]

The long runs Schumacher put in on the W02 looked ok. Not the best, but there is a ways to go yet. The best time he put in was earlier on, the top times were put in late on short stints. I expect the W02 isn't the best car at the moment, but I think Mercedes is in a much better position at this time than they were last year. Everyone so far seems pretty happy with the car minus the teething issues.

[ringo]

All i know is that Mercedes = Honda, and a tiger can't change his stripes.
They're going to have some bad habbits carrying over even though there is a name change to the team.
I wish them the best though, because the car looks like it has potential. There's nothing wrong on it, only that the rear is a little bulky, but the rest looks good.

I also think they can implement a mclaren style sidepod since their crash structures are in the middle of the radiator ducts. So there is definitely more to come.



slight correction. It is against regulations to have the crash structure exposed to the free air stream. Therefore i don't know what the heck those black things are. Mercedes may not be able to follow mclaren then.

[Owen.C93]

Yeah you can be sure they are going to do something with the sidepods, remember the last time they had an odd crash structure placement

[Giblet]

All i know is that Mercedes = Honda, and a tiger can't change his stripes.

Since Brawn got there, they won a Championship. I would endeavor to keep those particular stripes.

Brawn and winning.

[King Six]

All i know is that Mercedes = Honda, and a tiger can't change his stripes.

Since Brawn got there, they won a Championship. I would endeavor to keep those particular stripes.

Brawn and winning.

So many things went crazy in 2009, we even saw during 2009 itself the imposion of this team given the massive advantage it had. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for 2011 though (Mercedes, not Brackley). 2010 was a transitional year for the team, Mercedes couldn't really get their hands into the 2010 car as Brawn GP probably did most of it.

IF Mercedes has done enough to change this team, then maybe they'll have a chance in a proper fight against the big guns.

IMO it's all about how much Mercedes has actually committed to this team. And whether it really is any more than what they have committed to McLaren and Force India.

[Ganxxta]

Schumacher:

Code: Select all

67 	1:20.698 	
68 	1:15.756 	-4.942
69 	1:15.840 	+0.084
70 	1:16.113 	+0.273
71 	1:15.914 	-0.199
72 	1:16.101 	+0.187
73 	1:16.168 	+0.067
74 	1:16.156 	-0.012
75 	1:16.398 	+0.242
76 	1:16.085 	-0.313
77 	1:16.231 	+0.146
78 	1:16.669 	+0.438
79 	1:16.573 	-0.096
80 	1:16.930 	+0.357
81 	1:16.725 	-0.205
82 	1:17.680 	+0.955
83 	1:16.728 	-0.952
84 	1:16.700 	-0.028
85 	1:17.461 	+0.761
86 	1:17.903 	+0.442
87 	1:18.197 	+0.294

Kubica:

Code: Select all

63 	1:16.247 	
64 	1:17.068 	+0.821
65 	1:16.880 	-0.188
66 	1:16.525 	-0.355
67 	1:16.758 	+0.233
68 	1:16.836 	+0.078
69 	1:16.832 	-0.004
70 	1:16.600 	-0.232
71 	1:16.640 	+0.04
72 	1:16.823 	+0.183
73 	1:16.693 	-0.13
74 	1:16.854 	+0.161
75 	1:16.721 	-0.133
76 	1:16.820 	+0.099
77 	1:17.162 	+0.342
78 	1:16.608 	-0.554
79 	1:16.650 	+0.042
80 	1:17.150 	+0.5
81 	1:17.196 	+0.046
82 	1:19.225 	+2.029
83 	1:19.332 	+0.107
84 	1:18.196 	-1.136
85 	1:17.849 	-0.347
86 	1:18.179 	+0.33
87 	1:18.124 	-0.055

http://www.msfree.gr/includes/livelaps. ... SCHUMACHER

Interesting longruns, I know you can't compare them, but it seems that the W02 isn't a dog.
Waiting for the next tests and maybe new parts on the car Brawn mentioned.

[Afterburner]

If they start using flow viz like last year this car is a dog!

[Ferraripilot]

Thanks for posting the lap times. Very interesting indeed. Now I have to wonder what sort of load each were carrying.

[Shafto]

Not sure I agree with the main premise here.

Having extra development time is a clear advantage. Yes, there are portions of the design which can't be fully addressed early-due to changing regulations or unknowns such as tires but certainly, getting some things out of the way or even exploring a litany of ideas relative to current problems is beneficial. This free's up time so you can concentrate with more focus on those things impacted by variables and rule changes. Everyone else has to contemplate those same details, plus all the other little stuff you may have gotten out of the way. More time is almost always an advantage to the industrius.

Now- if you happened to develop early in the wrong direction, sure that can hurt you but that's a result of poor judgement - not one of having too much time. i don't think any team ever complained about having too much time. If that were the case, then I'd have to question the decision last year of abandoning development to focus on 2011 if not to gain an advantage.

Once again- I'm not judging the car as poor either. It may prove to be a winner. I'm suggesting disappointment at this point that the extra development time appears to have been less fruitful than what some teams appear to have brought with less time, I feel given what we see today- that's a fair assessment. It may prove wrong by Bahrain...and i certainly hope so.

+1

I had quoted your previous post as well but it screwed me over and deleted it. all in all I was just saying how I personally do not have the confidence formulate a public opinion on a cars development level based on how it looks. If you are knowledgeable person on aero then i understand. anyways, i may have came off a bit offensive and i do apologize if I did, not intended. But going back to it look at last years ferrari, it was basic, nothing extravagant and t was a generally fast car! not saying this car is but just saying. But it is obvious that the wings have to be changed.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

To express dissapointment at this stage is pretty frivolous.

After 3 days testing, Ferrari Red Bull etc dont have a clue where they are in relation to the other. Mercedes pointedly said they werent after headline times. Systems integration is what they needed to do and they accomplished it.
Schumacher got decent laps in on the final day after all the systems where patched up.

"Patched up" is a word Brawn used. Now they can go away knowing what to do next.

They have last years rear wing on too, in case anyone noticed...

[tomazy]

Didn't know last years rear wing could do this