Mercedes AMG F1 W04

[Shakeman]

Do they have a thread to dump their woes in?

This thread is intended to focus on the actual features of the car. We have the team thread thread for talking about the team, and the race thread for talking about the laptimes and tyres in the race.

Richard where should we discuss car performance?

The discussion crosses over very quickly from new bits on the car to performance implications but there doesn't seem a suitable place to discuss this aspect of the car.

Where should the more broader discussion relating to the car go please?

[MercAMGF1Fans]

From OmniCours..

tranlated to english - New rear suspension for the next race
http://mercamgf1-fans.com/2013/05/17/ne ... or-monaco/

[kilcoo316]

From OmniCours..

tranlated to english - New rear suspension for the next race
http://mercamgf1-fans.com/2013/05/17/ne ... or-monaco/

All the teams will probably be looking at revised suspension from Canada onward. Unfortunately Merc may only get one weekend out of their hardwork!

[beelsebob]

The question is, does the revised suspension require revised mounting points? If so, Lewis may be out of luck, as he had a gearbox change too early.

[MercAMGF1Fans]

From OmniCours..

tranlated to english - New rear suspension for the next race
http://mercamgf1-fans.com/2013/05/17/ne ... or-monaco/

All the teams will probably be looking at revised suspension from Canada onward. Unfortunately Merc may only get one weekend out of their hardwork!

you say that, but if they're going back to the 2012 spec of tyres in Canada, then surely they have the data available from last year's race and so on, so they'll be optimizing the new suspension for the 2012 spec? mind you last year the problem was that they didn't have Coanda exhaust in Canada

[Richard]

The discussion crosses over very quickly from new bits on the car to performance implications but there doesn't seem a suitable place to discuss this aspect of the car.

Where should the more broader discussion relating to the car go please?

I agree, discussing a feature is bound to include discussion about drag, downforce, mechanical grip etc. That's fine.

Recent moderation has been to remove laments about about race strategies, team management, "this car is rubbish" and so on.

To be honest, go with the flow.

[kilcoo316]

you say that, but if they're going back to the 2012 spec of tyres in Canada, then surely they have the data available from last year's race and so on, so they'll be optimizing the new suspension for the 2012 spec? mind you last year the problem was that they didn't have Coanda exhaust in Canada

The front tyres are still different... so the exact same rear suspension geometry (which need I add, didn't work too well last year), will not work this year. Some changes will be necessary.

[Dreameagl]

The question is, does the revised suspension require revised mounting points? If so, Lewis may be out of luck, as he had a gearbox change too early.

Doesn't the new design with a mounting frame around the gearbox allow for just that? Namely a change of suspension geometry without changing the gearbox.

[beelsebob]

The question is, does the revised suspension require revised mounting points? If so, Lewis may be out of luck, as he had a gearbox change too early.

Doesn't the new design with a mounting frame around the gearbox allow for just that? Namely a change of suspension geometry without changing the gearbox.

Oh really? I hadn't realised that that was what mercedes were doing. I had heard early on that they had "more flexible" suspension this year in testing, but hadn't seen anything about exactly how it worked.

Do we have any pics of this mounting frame?

[turbof1]

If that is the case, I do not think mercedes had to change lewis' gearbox at bahrain; the frame would have taken the hit.

I do know Ferrari is using a frame.

[otbsti]

If that is the case, I do not think mercedes had to change lewis' gearbox at bahrain; the frame would have taken the hit.

I do know Ferrari is using a frame.

Lewis' gearbox was changed at Bahrain due to the damage from the tire to the gearbox. That's why he started 9th.

[turbof1]

If that is the case, I do not think mercedes had to change lewis' gearbox at bahrain; the frame would have taken the hit.

I do know Ferrari is using a frame.

Lewis' gearbox was changed at Bahrain due to the damage from the tire to the gearbox. That's why he started 9th.

Yes, because the suspension is attached to the gearbox. Damaging the suspension could cause damage to the gearbox too.

Of course, it could also be that the driveshaft got damaged (and in turn damaged the gearbox), in which case a frame would not have mattered.

[MacX]

TYRE CHANGES WILL BE MINIMAL. Not good for mercedes
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107475

[beelsebob]

If that is the case, I do not think mercedes had to change lewis' gearbox at bahrain; the frame would have taken the hit.

I do know Ferrari is using a frame.

Lewis' gearbox was changed at Bahrain due to the damage from the tire to the gearbox. That's why he started 9th.

Yes, because the suspension is attached to the gearbox. Damaging the suspension could cause damage to the gearbox too.

Of course, it could also be that the driveshaft got damaged (and in turn damaged the gearbox), in which case a frame would not have mattered.

Indeed, my assumption was that the damage was not that the suspension flapped around and hit the gearbox causing damage, but instead that the drive shaft got wrenched out of the gearbox, and trashed a bunch of gears as it did it. A frame to build the suspension on would not solve that issue. Do we know if Merc have such a frame?

This image from earlier in the thread certainly seems to suggest that at least the upper wishbone attaches to some structure above the gearbox. The lower wishbone is a bit more ambiguous.

[ringo]

Do we have any more shots of the gearbox?