Mercedes AMG F1 W03 (pre-launch speculation)

[atanatizante]

Several scenarios pointed out:

1. Mercedes has an innovation they don't want to leak out early
2. Willis showed up and caused a redesign
3. Brawn really thinks there is more to ultimately gain through development by giving up some testing time.

All of these are plausible ideas. On the bright side, the reliability issues shouldn't show up again. Especially if the systems are similar to last year's car. Also, the upgrades introduced through the season for the W02 all worked as designed. So, we can say that we expect the car to hit the second test running with few if any reliability issues while delivering the designed/expected performance.

Let's just hope the expected performance is good enough to compete.

Dren,

1.About the first point, indeed some people on other forums are speaking about this innovation. It`s about a radiator which has a tear drop shape. Sam Bird already insinuate something about this radiator after the Abu Dhabi test ...
2. & 3. Willis came up with some interesting ideas, which in turn they now need much more time to run them in the wind tunnel. That`s why they delay the new car arrival after the 2-nd test.

I agree with you that next year rules are not changing very much and therefore their systems for W03 are pretty much the same.
In addition, in the last couple of races all teams tested some of the 2012 tyre... and not to mention the Abu Dhabi test with the young guns.
So they already have plenty of data and in this regard the track time lost is not so crucial.
Their new state-of-the-art simulator (which btw. is rated to be even better than McLaren`s) is helping them a lot with this shortage of track time, as Fry stated.
This year track time on winter tests was so crucial because everybody need to run (besides the new car chassis) new systems, which some of them was unknown like KERS, DRS and not to mention the new Pirelli tyres ...
Nowadays a F1 car performance is more and more relying on the aero stuff which has on it, therefore is more important to have time to run lots of ideas in the wind tunnel, as Ross Brawn told us and RBR did successfully last year ...

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

+1 to the sentiments of dren, wunderkind and Newton.


People calling the delay a catastrophe are ignoring the fact that both the W01 and W02 were on time at the first tests.
Didn't help any then did it?

Also, this rubbish of Torro Rosso and force India being faster is silly. Using that measure the W02 was faster than the McLaren and Ferrari. Of course we know it wasn't, but it was consistently the 4th fastest car... A FACT backed up by the teams position in the final standings of the championship.

Let's see what mercedes do, the W03 will have the benefit of a new simulator, and bob bell at the helm. Willis input maybe limited but it could be apparent. As for costa, his knowledge if Ferrari's F150th and it's very kind nature to tyres will be invaluable to mercedes. We haven't even touched on this point, something that was a massive Achilles heal of the 02...

[Hemsy]

Fry was once the Technical Director of the team & now looks after the marketing activities of the team. So while he may no more have any input on the technical side of things, a lot can still be picked up from him about what is going on behind the scenes at Merc. As regard to testing, yes, while nothing can substitute real world testing, today's testing restrictions make a good simulator paramount in order to be competitive. This is one of the reasons why every top team which include Ferrari, Merc & now even Renault is investing in a state of the art simulator.

[NewtonMeter]

You all know what will be explosively hilarious? If the first test rains out. Let's all hope (except xpensive, marcush and munundeges ofcourse), if for nothing else than the comedy factor.

[wunderkind]

You all know what will be explosively hilarious? If the first test rains out. Let's all hope (except xpensive, marcush and munundeges ofcourse), if for nothing else than the comedy factor.

Still, let's hedge our bets and hope the 2nd and 3rd tests won't rain out.

[raymondu999]

You all know what will be explosively hilarious? If the first test rains out. Let's all hope (except xpensive, marcush and munundeges ofcourse), if for nothing else than the comedy factor.

Still, let's hedge our bets and hope the 2nd and 3rd tests won't rain out.

I agree with wunderkind. What if test 1 was the only dry test?

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Then all the teams are screwed, not just mercedes.

[NewtonMeter]

You all know what will be explosively hilarious? If the first test rains out. Let's all hope (except xpensive, marcush and munundeges ofcourse), if for nothing else than the comedy factor.

Still, let's hedge our bets and hope the 2nd and 3rd tests won't rain out.

I agree with wunderkind. What if test 1 was the only dry test?

Then Karma surely is a bitch.

[xpensive]

As suggested on another thread on this here forum, I think testing is somewhat overrated, a decent engineer, such as Bell, Willis or Costa, should be able to trust his calculations?

[Richard]

To my mind marcush, things can go either way here, while my newly found positive aproach tells me that a basic structure with Bob Bell, coupled with an aerodynamic inpjection from Willis could work wonders and we will see the team metamorphosing.

But on the other hand, my hard-earnend and somewhat negativistic nature tells me otherwise.

Well done, hold that thought!

[Mr.S]

Fry was once the Technical Director of the team & now looks after the marketing activities of the team. So while he may no more have any input on the technical side of things, a lot can still be picked up from him about what is going on behind the scenes at Merc. As regard to testing, yes, while nothing can substitute real world testing, today's testing restrictions make a good simulator paramount in order to be competitive. This is one of the reasons why every top team which include Ferrari, Merc & now even Renault is investing in a state of the art simulator.

Can you differentiate between Pat & Nick Fry??? Nick Fry & technical direction dont go hand in hand. Besides it will be an even bigger disaster then.

Bob with Costa & Willis under him is fine. Bigois is already too much of an extra & Brawn as Team Prinicipal is also former Technical Director as well.

Now even Fry will give technical direction.

Simulation is a virtual & idealistic world & nothing can simulation marbles,tyres over-heating or reliability issues which happen on the ground. For me simulation will remain a joke compared to pure real testing lap after lap in a race track. I will keep it these. Only time will tell. I will wait & see if Willis has a killer idea.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Nick Fry isn't involved in car design.

His input in the team is limited to marketing and sponsorship. He may have an insiders view of what's happening with the W03 but it is nothing to do with him.

[xpensive]

Nick Fry isn't involved in car design.

But sponsorship, hell yeah!

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7747&start=0

[Hemsy]

Fry was once the Technical Director of the team & now looks after the marketing activities of the team. So while he may no more have any input on the technical side of things, a lot can still be picked up from him about what is going on behind the scenes at Merc. As regard to testing, yes, while nothing can substitute real world testing, today's testing restrictions make a good simulator paramount in order to be competitive. This is one of the reasons why every top team which include Ferrari, Merc & now even Renault is investing in a state of the art simulator.

Can you differentiate between Pat & Nick Fry??? Nick Fry & technical direction dont go hand in hand. Besides it will be an even bigger disaster then.

Bob with Costa & Willis under him is fine. Bigois is already too much of an extra & Brawn as Team Prinicipal is also former Technical Director as well.

Now even Fry will give technical direction.

Simulation is a virtual & idealistic world & nothing can simulation marbles,tyres over-heating or reliability issues which happen on the ground. For me simulation will remain a joke compared to pure real testing lap after lap in a race track. I will keep it these. Only time will tell. I will wait & see if Willis has a killer idea.

Nick Fry & not Pat was TD when Honda owned the team. His disastrous spell was put to an end however when the team hired Brawn. He was later moved to a more business (marketing) oriented role.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

This is what happens when has been technicians get shifted sideways doing things they shouldn't!

Although in fairness, the w03 will have some pretty heavy sponsorship on it....seems like any old clot can do this job!
Out of sheer loyalty to the brand, mercedes ought to gimme a call....