Mercedes AMG F1 W04

[GrizzleBoy]

Note how the Marussia also seems to have this unconventional (and seemingly, airflow disturbing) body line underneath the exhaust exit undercut that we're all noticing on the W04?

The undercut on the side pod sucks in towards the centre of the car, then bulges outward slightly directly beneath the exit of the exhaust, then sucks back in towards the centre of the car.

This seems to happen further back on the W04 though.

[mantikos]

Note how the Marussia also seems to have this unconventional (and seemingly, airflow disturbing) body line underneath the exhaust exit undercut that we're all noticing on the W04?

The undercut on the side pod sucks in towards the centre of the car, then bulges outward slightly directly beneath the exit of the exhaust, then sucks back in towards the centre of the car.

This seems to happen further back on the W04 though.

Except on the W04 it happens a mile after the exhaust rather than directly under it - so unrelated

I have no idea what that dip is supposed to do - if I HAD to guess I'd guess it creates a low pressure that helps pull the exhaust plume further in so the flow isn't heating the tires.

[kooleracer]

Jerez update... after identifying the cause of the problem, we will not be running again today whilst parts are modified ready for tomorrow
1:40 PM - 05 Feb 13

The part which requires modification is the wiring loom where the electrical fault originated this morning

Fail...

Rosberg was the lab rat, lewis chose wisely.

[Sevach]

http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 1949.3.jpg

Hi res of the rear of the car, nice to see the body work outlet better, considering it is raised and the floor as a dip the centre of the diffuser isn't staved of airflow. It looks like they are trying to do something with the outlet almost "blowing" the shrouded lower wishbone?

Internal airflow will always be slower (by a lot) than the external, you can't use the hot air exits in the same way as an exhaust.

This might be a temporary cooling arrangement.

[medeni73]

Fail...

Rosberg was the lab rat, lewis chose wisely.

I dont think Lewis is happy though, he must now do the basic works...

[diego1960]

Jerez update... after identifying the cause of the problem, we will not be running again today whilst parts are modified ready for tomorrow
1:40 PM - 05 Feb 13

The part which requires modification is the wiring loom where the electrical fault originated this morning

Fail...

Rosberg was the lab rat, lewis chose wisely.

Τhis is unbelievable. And it's exactly the reason why some of us are so disappointed with this team. I know problems arise often in testing, it could happen to anyone etc. but in the case of Merc there is always fear (and knowledge) that something, somehow will fail. From a car part to a fundamental flaw or a driver's error, something is going to make their lives difficult.

It's like the "Mercedes DNA" is limited to the silver livery and the 3-pointed star. Everything other than that doesn't have the quality or the reliability someone would expect from the historic brand. Or even the attention to detail if we are going to be honest about it.

[GrizzleBoy]

Rome wasn't built in a day.

If you're going to have these problems, its best for them to happen now than any other time.

[munudeges]

Attention to detail. It just isn't there and it never has been there.

[diego1960]

Although to be absolutely fair, W03 was much better compared to W02 with the squashed Volvo exhaust.

GrizzleBoy, I know, but it is now the 4rth year of this team and exvuses are running low. Even if we accept their failure and give them more time, it is not certain that the suits in Stuttgart would do the same.

Regarding the car, the program must have gone backwards because of the problem in Nico's car. Were we supposed to see the new 5-element FW in the coming days or not? If yes, will we still see it or not? To be honest though, I expect nothing revolutionary there and in fact I am quite sure that it will look like McLaren's wing with the split r-element "counting" as two.

[Ferraripilot]

W04 has no odd gimicky devices and the dip in the floor has everyone on the grid scratching their heads as I now believe I understand what they're getting at with such a design, and that is to aid diffuser efficiency and exhaust travel, it's quite clever. The rear suspension is a brilliant design and takes up less area in flow-important areas than other teams, and if Costa is behind it (he is) then doubt him at your own risk. This is a decent car to begin with and I believe it will develop well as it appears to have a solid base unlike F138 which has numerous aero trickery already in place, we'll see how they go. Bell has changed the way things are being done this year, so I have faith. They aren't sitting on their hands.

Once again I expect this suspension system with all the mechanical grip it offers to be very competitive in Monaco and other venues. If they really get the suspension system working as it should then I believe they will be unstoppable, no one has this capable a system on their cars.

Lastly, take us back to first viewing W03 a year ago and recalling the quantum leap in build quality by comparison, and then look at W04 through that set of lenses. It's there, we're just not seeing it yet.

[Adamski]

The rear suspension is a brilliant design and takes up less area in flow-important areas than other teams, and if Costa is behind it (he is) then doubt him at your own risk.

I share it with you. After some better pictures that reveals the back of the car I much more delighted with the new Mercedes. This new rear suspension is really a compact one and we can't even see the drive shaft from a flattened viewpoint. Never seen before in any other Mercedes W0x such aerodynamically well designed system. Hopefully it will delivers good results from the mechanical side too. Also the whole back of the car is nicely redesigned and repackaged so it looks like they worked very hard on their weakest point.

I think it should give enough hope for the Mercedes fans for a good year. Lets see how it develops after today's terrible day. On that matter: it's better now than on any other race day!

[Ferraripilot]

Thank you JAV. I call Mercedes suspension design brilliant in-general as it was the sole reason W03 was the quickest car at Monaco, it clearly out-ran cars with double-digit points more downforce. That is indeed brilliant. W04s rear suspension revision I conjecture is a further play on W03s design but taking up less area with clever lower a-arm placements and employing more adjustability. Costa was Byrne's right-hand mechanical genius and I simply cannot take such talent lightly.

Brawn stated 'innovations' which to me is a broad term. That could mean innovative revisions to whatever existing aero part which I suspect is the case. I don't believe we're going to see an gimmicky devices this season from anyone really. Flow conditioners in clever places here and there and more involved diffuser gurneys appear to be it.

This is why we watch.

Red Bull took some 5-6 years to get it right, and get it right they did.

[user001]

further i'm a bit disappointed that the w04 apparently needs cooling slits at the rear. fewest they are on the inner side and not the outside of the exhaust as i claimed last rear in the w03 thread.

why are they not able to abdicate those vents as mclaren is able to? and obviously force india too?

[Ferraripilot]

RB9 and W04 are running a very similar rear suspension arrangement in that their lower a-arms are behind the pullrod and are overall quite small.

[Mika1]