Mercedes AMG F1 W03

[zyphro]

Given we were all baulking at Merc removing their upper cascades, it appears that Ferrari have a new front wing to test which has upper cascades removed too. Maybe Merc are heading in the right direction?

I think it's more to do with reduction of drag, specifically due to the nature of this circuit.

[Huntresa]

That monkeyseat is a 100% copy of the lotus one with holds the tube from their ddrs device.

[Ferraripilot]

The slimmer rear wing is undoubtedly a Monza-spec looking wing, running it in spa as well could make sense though. It seems Mercedes as a team are weighing whether or not the slower medium corner speed is worth the additional acceleration and top end they will gain from the loss of DF from the thing rear wing.

[PhillipM]

Could they have copied Lotus that quickly? or is this a case of the the new aero head having a very "lotus"-like way of thinking and being independently developed?

It's probably not that difficult to integrate when they already have packaging for tubes in the car.

[Vasconia]

Could they have copied Lotus that quickly? or is this a case of the the new aero head having a very "lotus"-like way of thinking and being independently developed?

It's probably not that difficult to integrate when they already have packaging for tubes in the car.

I don’t think so, Lotus system seems to be quite different and no one knows if it works, in my opinion Mercedes has copied this monkey seat only to increase the rear downforce of the car, which is quite logic taking into account the enormous lack of rear downforce that this car has.

Unsurprisingly Mercedes has not introduced any new exhaust system which annoys me a lot, a team which is so fearful about introducing new elements can’t win anything. Ahhh Ross, you used to be more courageous in the past.

[Lastonedown]

Via ScarbsF1 from Twitter:

[PhillipM]

I don’t think so, Lotus system seems to be quite different and no one knows if it works, in my opinion Mercedes has copied this monkey seat only to increase the rear downforce of the car, which is quite logic taking into account the enormous lack of rear downforce that this car has.

That monkey seat is less effiecent than a standard one, it's only purpose is as a diffuser for the Lotus system, you wouldn't use it without the tube there.

[dren]

Via ScarbsF1 from Twitter:

Excellent picture. Looks like Mercedes will trial both systems and compare. Or perhaps Mercedes is running both systems? A boost with DRS and a boost without it! Any pictures of additional inlets around the engine intake?

[turbof1]

Is there a clear shot of the rear wing endplates? I'm curious if they intend to use both systems.

[zyphro]

Scarbs calls it the TRIPLE DRS =D> .

[elf341]

Pleasing development. Merc have been very hesitant in the past, for some reason, to just copy features directly from other cars. The main exceptions to this are the the mini-wing below the mirror (ferrari copy), and the flow conditioner on top of the sidepod (mclaren copy). Remember how long it took them to finally call it a day and install an RB7-style EBD on the W02?
I don't know if it's pride at running their own ideas - but we have seen time and again from other teams that taking a concept from another car and just running with it can be a very quick way to augment performance - and why not?

[f1316]

Looks to me like Rosberg's trialing a Lotus type device with a conventional rear wing, whereas Michael's car has the normal Mercedes DDRS but with a skinnier rear wing. I think the idea was that Merc could try two different kinds of setup - bit like Button and Hamilton did at Monza in 2010 - to see which is best compromise between straight line speed and downforce through the corners.

[swanracing]

So what is this new pipe and monkey seat? is it a different version of the existing DDRS or something else?

[turbof1]

Looks to me like Rosberg's trialing a Lotus type device with a conventional rear wing, whereas Michael's car has the normal Mercedes DDRS but with a skinnier rear wing. I think the idea was that Merc could try two different kinds of setup - bit like Button and Hamilton did at Monza in 2010 - to see which is best compromise between straight line speed and downforce through the corners.

Why not test both the DDRS and the lotus device at the same time? Surely Mercedes has more data about the car with DDRS then without, and I don't see how the Lotus system and the Mercedes system would be in eachothers way. Just think how much drag you are shedding with the rear wing flap open, the rear wing main plane stalled and the front wing also being stalled.

So what is this new pipe and monkey seat? is it a different version of the existing DDRS or something else?

It's the Lotus system. Almost exactly copied actually.

[f1316]

So what is this new pipe and monkey seat? is it a different version of the existing DDRS or something else?

I think it looks like Rosberg's car has the new system without the old tubes, but it's difficult to see and the old system could still be routed underneath the new one.

edit: pic = http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/bild ... how_item=5

Michael's car definitely doesn't have it, so he's only got the old Merc DDRS.

edit: pic = http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/bild ... how_item=6