Mercedes AMG F1 W04

[ringo]

Even Scarbs wrote somewhere that the main difference between the FRIC of Mercedes and other teams interlinked suspension is that it does not use any regular components, like dampers. But of course these are too speculation, though a good one

...and F1 website proved him wrong when they drew the internals with a damper this year...

F1 website isnt more factual accurate then Scarbs, they dont know more then Scarbs or us or anyone outside of the team.

How can you justify that? By what measure? Unless you consider yourself a higher authority than the people in question, it's not possible for you to say who is factual. I personally don't subscribe to anything automatically unless i work things out myself and it makes complete sense without a doubt. But i would much prefer work with the one that has actual numbers. word is wind my friend, numbers don't lie.

The system needs to have dampers. Anyone who can actually quantify suspension models would agree with this.
It's in the FRIC thread. And in fact im sure there were pictures of the 2010 and 2013 car with dampers.
It would be nice if we had supporting evidence for most of the claims made in the car threads. Don't want to mislead any of the readers now.

[crbassassin]

I've read that most of the teams use some form of suspension interlinking.

Anti-roll bar is a form of suspension interlinkage.

[mantikos]

Even Scarbs wrote somewhere that the main difference between the FRIC of Mercedes and other teams interlinked suspension is that it does not use any regular components, like dampers. But of course these are too speculation, though a good one

The thing is, Scarbs wrote that; then at next race, Nico had a DNF and blamed it on a cracked anti-roll bar. Either Scarbs is wrong, or Nico was making quotes with his fingers when he said that.

I remember that, and while I have no intention to prove a speculation, at that time FRIC was something Mercedes wanted to hide, so Nico most probably would have not say anything than a commonly used part went wrong.

BS, FRIC is public knowledge for years now

[sucof]

BS, FRIC is public knowledge for years now

Ha, I do not remember anyone from Mercedes talking about FRIC, so I would put it this way: FRIC is public speculation for years now.

Although it is surely existing, but there is no official word on it.

[holeindalip]

I'm pretty sure they have fric, considering nico had a fric failure earlier this year

[mantikos]

BS, FRIC is public knowledge for years now

Ha, I do not remember anyone from Mercedes talking about FRIC, so I would put it this way: FRIC is public speculation for years now.

Although it is surely existing, but there is no official word on it.

Try Ross Brawn - he mentioned it in an interview to a British channel my man

[smlbstcbr]

I think we have a hint of the problems of the tyres at Mercedes: they did put a carbon fiber cover over the gearbox to make it stiffer; then possibly, their problems originate in a "soft suspension".

Is it a valid argument?

[mantikos]

I think we have a hint of the problems of the tyres at Mercedes: they did put a carbon fiber cover over the gearbox to make it stiffer; then possibly, their problems originate in a "soft suspension".

Is it a valid argument?

except the casing wasn't to make the box stiffer it was to enable quick geometry changes

[smlbstcbr]

I think we have a hint of the problems of the tyres at Mercedes: they did put a carbon fiber cover over the gearbox to make it stiffer; then possibly, their problems originate in a "soft suspension".

Is it a valid argument?

except the casing wasn't to make the box stiffer it was to enable quick geometry changes

Ah, can they change the geometry during the weekend? Or they have to build a new one for the next race?

[mantikos]

I think we have a hint of the problems of the tyres at Mercedes: they did put a carbon fiber cover over the gearbox to make it stiffer; then possibly, their problems originate in a "soft suspension".

Is it a valid argument?

except the casing wasn't to make the box stiffer it was to enable quick geometry changes

Ah, can they change the geometry during the weekend? Or they have to build a new one for the next race?

they could before parc ferme change the casing and change the geometry. With actual box, they couldn't change it for 5 races without a grid spot penalty for changing the gear box too early.

[turbof1]

I think he was referring to the casing instead of the gearbox. So yes; they have to change the carbon fibre casing because the pickup points are different. Though like mantikos mentioned they can do that. Though I guess that takes up alot of time. Changing the suspension "bones" takes a minimum of 40-50 minutes. Replacing the casing requires even more parts to be removed before they can reach it. So that is something they can't do during sessions, but rather between them.

[PlatinumZealot]

Didn't they always have a Carbon fibre gearbox casing from the BAR days?

[mantikos]

Didn't they always have a Carbon fibre gearbox casing from the BAR days?

This ain't the same

the box was cf during BAR if I recall correctly - for Merc the box is Titanium alloy and the casing (a separate piece that shrouds the box and has pick up points) is carbon fiber like the Ferrari in 07 (or 06)

[turbof1]

Correct. You do have to make the distinction between the 2. As a matter of fact, teams are not allowed to change the original gearbox case. That counts as a full gearbox change and unless it did 5 races, it'll result in a penalty. Teams are allowed though to put bodywork over it. Which is what mercedes did, placing a "second skin" or casing on it. It obviously has some disadvantages, slightly more weight, slightly higher CoG and a bit fatter back. Nothing that has an inmediate impact on laptimes, but for engineers who work day and night to get the car as tight as possible it's a deadsin.

What is strange though is that last year at monaco, mercedes introduced a carbon fibre gearbox. I am not totally sure why they got back to titanium, though perhaps the numerous gearbox failures last year might had a hand in that.

[mantikos]

Correct. You do have to make the distinction between the 2. As a matter of fact, teams are not allowed to change the original gearbox case. That counts as a full gearbox change and unless it did 5 races, it'll result in a penalty. Teams are allowed though to put bodywork over it. Which is what mercedes did, placing a "second skin" or casing on it. It obviously has some disadvantages, slightly more weight, slightly higher CoG and a bit fatter back. Nothing that has an inmediate impact on laptimes, but for engineers who work day and night to get the car as tight as possible it's a deadsin.

What is strange though is that last year at monaco, mercedes introduced a carbon fibre gearbox. I am not totally sure why they got back to titanium, though perhaps the numerous gearbox failures last year might had a hand in that.

They had a newer lower gearbox (Williams style) this year that's why they went back to Ti

Also, for the marginal increase in weight the carbon fiber shroud can be designed (as it was on the Ferrari) to help clean up airflow within the car...it has been suggested Mercedes are also using it to improve internal aero in addition to the pick up points.