Mercedes AMG F1 W04

[tranquility2k4]

Interesting article on AMUS: http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... 30.html%0A

Effectively saying Merc were very good in Barcelona sector 2 due to their interlinked hydraulic suspension that they've now finally got working. Supposedly works well on corners that have a gradient slope and undulation to them.

[tranquility2k4]

Also interesting that Button has said McLaren couldn't match some of the times set in testing, that must mean Mercedes. So that time was fast after all.

[FoxHound]

It's pretty moot to speculate at this point.

As I have written before, and as the AMuS article suggests, Mercedes had the benefit of 8 days full testing to tune their suspension to the track and track conditions.
They will have 3 practice sessions at every GP to get it right. Miss that window, or rain affects some of the practices and the team will be left on the back foot.

What is important here, is that it must be able to do so quickly without the previous hassles we have seen with Mercedes set up problems. If Bell or Costa have simplified it, then bravo.
But we will not be any the wiser until we see their race pace relative to the competition.

[andrewf1]

Interesting article on AMUS: http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... 30.html%0A

Effectively saying Merc were very good in Barcelona sector 2 due to their interlinked hydraulic suspension that they've now finally got working. Supposedly works well on corners that have a gradient slope and undulation to them.

However Sauber Chief Designer, Matt Morris, also states that Mercedes had plenty of time at their disposal during testing to set-up that system for Barcelona. It might not be the same case on GP weekends and that doesn't bode well for a system which needs time to fine-tune.

[The_Truth]

Mercedes has spend almost three years to know how to properly set up this kind of suspension for a gp weekend. Also I think Matt Morris is talking about his own experience with his system.

[kooleracer]

Interesting article on AMUS: http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... 30.html%0A

Effectively saying Merc were very good in Barcelona sector 2 due to their interlinked hydraulic suspension that they've now finally got working. Supposedly works well on corners that have a gradient slope and undulation to them.

However Sauber Chief Designer, Matt Morris, also states that Mercedes had plenty of time at their disposal during testing to set-up that system for Barcelona. It might not be the same case on GP weekends and that doesn't bode well for a system which needs time to fine-tune.

True but i think a Aldo Costa an his guys wouldn't devolp a system that takes ages to configure. The last 2 or 3 years that the system has also been used. I think they should have enough data or make the system more simpler so its easier to adapt. I thought Lauda said the suspension that Merc used was to complicated with Aldo Costa working on the W04 i think that the Fric-system is redesigned in away that is more suitable for more circuits. I don't Merc can afford to make the same errors for 4 years. Also its should be noted that Matt Morris is commenting from the outside on this system he doesn't know the full scale of it. Also its a interlinked system that works on hydraulics i don't think the setup should be that much different on different circuits, because there is no computer or something involved. I think it's more like an instrument ones you have the right tone you should be good.

[Ferraripilot]

I see a small Helmholz chamber on the exhaust.

[Ferraripilot]

Fascinating article from AmuS. The 'Fric' system as it will now be known as will strike fear in the paddock for years to come (until they figure it out anyway).

Someone mentioned earlier that this system operates well under gradient slope, I suspect this is due to the suspension system keeping the car more level than others who may be under great compression and heave in such turns? I cannot seem to make sense of it because W04 appears to be so softly sprung, but perhaps this is their advantage as it creates more of a ground effect in such turns? 4 tenths quicker in one sector is a massive amount of time.......

[Ferraripilot]

I see a carbon fiber ramp at the exhaust exit which nearly touches the floor. I certainly don't recall the exhaust dipping down quite this low to the floor.

[tranquility2k4]

I agree, that does look much closer to the floor. Exciting stuff.

[Unc1e_M0nty]

That just looks like a supprt which follows the profile of the sidepod undercut to me, looks like its to the side of the exhaust rather than behind, it's hard to tell though - we need to see it from the rear.

[Owen.C93]

You can follow the sidepod line where it joins the floor and there's no way that part can fit. I don't think it's been fixed properly yet.

[FrukostScones]

there is a Red Bull tunnel funnel... ?!

[raymondu999]

It looks to me like a refined version of the F2012's exhaust tongue last year.

[BorisTheBlade]

Well, after taking a look at some of the testing shots my guess is that it's still the same solution. IMHO it just looks a bit out of proportion without the sidepod surrounding it.