Mercedes AMG F1 W04

[Kiril Varbanov]

Why everybody is talking about the hydraulically cross-linked suspension as something new?

It's just a renewal ahead of the new season - in whatever form it exists, it has been tested and developed in the last two or three years.

[astracrazy]

and didnt ted say coasta has now been working on it?

[PlatinumZealot]

Ted learned that from the forums..
anyway.. I heard Aldo has simplified it to a more tune-able level. Looks like its working well because i could see the car making some unusual movements as it corners. The system needs a little more tuning though for the turn where both Nico and Lewis went off.

[GrizzleBoy]

Has anybody else noticed the distinct lack of vanes on the floor where basically every other team has them, ahead of the rear wheels?

They had really long, uniquely shaped ones during the test, and now they've disappeared altogether.

I'm pretty sure we all assumed that those vanes assisted in not allowing exterior flows to mess with the McLaren style coanda exhaust system once the gases reach the floor.

So why the total removal?

*strokes beard*

BEFORE:


AFTER:

[Cocles]

Lewis Hamilton tweeted me that they have made a big step forward with tyre deg.

You're MercedesAMGSpy? LoL! That's awesome.

[bonjon1979]

Has anybody else noticed the distinct lack of vanes on the floor where basically every other team has them, ahead of the rear wheels?

They had really long, uniquely shaped ones during the test, and now they've disappeared altogether.

I'm pretty sure we all assumed that those vanes assisted in not allowing exterior flows to mess with the McLaren style coanda exhaust system once the gases reach the floor.

So why the total removal?

*strokes beard*

BEFORE:
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1010 ... stbarc.jpg

AFTER:
http://img4.auto-motor-und-sport.de/Mer ... 669616.jpg

They must be satisfied that they're getting the exhaust flow where they want without them.

[gary123]

http://img1.auto-motor-und-sport.de/Mer ... 669617.jpg take a look to the floor.it looks like a hole

[Huntresa]

http://img1.auto-motor-und-sport.de/Mer ... 669617.jpg take a look to the floor.it looks like a hole

Where ?

[otbsti]

http://img1.auto-motor-und-sport.de/Mer ... 669617.jpg take a look to the floor.it looks like a hole

Which part? If you're talking about the slit right before the tire, it's not a hole. Scarbs tweeted a high res pic yesterday to show the detail of it. Neat piece though, it's titanium and not carbon.

[gray41]

http://img1.auto-motor-und-sport.de/Mer ... 669617.jpg take a look to the floor.it looks like a hole

What are the 3 "dots" just right of the wheel?

[myurr]

http://img1.auto-motor-und-sport.de/Mer ... 669617.jpg take a look to the floor.it looks like a hole

What are the 3 "dots" just right of the wheel?

Do you mean the red dots to the left of the wheel in the picture? Looks like gravel. Or do you mean the strakes / mini fences?

[gary123]

i mean the hole in the middle!near to the red dots or it cuold be just a reflection

[Nando]

Car looks amazing relatively speaking.

on one lap it´s probably the second or third quickest car of the field.

[Ferraripilot]

Ted learned that from the forums..
anyway.. I heard Aldo has simplified it to a more tune-able level. Looks like its working well because i could see the car making some unusual movements as it corners. The system needs a little more tuning though for the turn where both Nico and Lewis went off.

http://i.imgur.com/0FmtCHT.jpg

I see nothing in the way of anti roll bars, dampers etc. This system indeed appears to be 100% hydraulic. This naturally means it's going to move very differently compared to anything else on the field and it also seems to be largely responsible for providing what we see is more of a ground effect/lower ride height in heavy compression turns as the car seems very soft in turns but like granite under braking.

Sector 2 at i believe turn 9 in Australia seems to be an issue with the nature of this suspension though. This possibly alludes to a situation where the car will have to be setup in a compromised manner for one sector where it can make gains vs another where they know the car may be unpredictable. Now it's a question of can this system be the future for not just MB but F1 in general if it can work consistently regardless of circumstance.

[Gridlock]

The interlinked suspension was 'obvious' the numerous times the Merc locked the 'wrong' tyre into corners last year but it's nice that Scarbs has tweeted it's been confirmed to him, and is on for the third year. Less conjecture never a bad thing.

I'm not sure Lewis could have coped well with yet another sub-par McLaren. I doubt he has as many regrets as he had 2 days ago... I was interested that he said the team have exposed either setup options or in-car adjustments to him that McLaren apparently never even told him were possible (recent interview, can't find link) - wonder what they'd be.