Williams FW37 Mercedes

[triptube]

Formula 1 technology: the new developments of the last week of the test

by Craig Scarborough (Haymarket),
01 March 2015 - 12:15 CET

For the last week before the test Formula 1 season opener, all teams have new parts in the luggage - technology expert Craig Scarborough has seen them in more detail

(Motorsport-Total.com)

Williams

The Williams FW37 was brought to Melbourne specification, especially in the rear.

Apart from three or four parts this week in his final specification for the Williams FW37 Melbourne occurs. This is particularly evident in the form of the new mount for the rear wing. In the 2015 season hold thanks to creative solutions in the area of ​​the diffuser the risks of failure of the rear wing is limited. Thus, one also at Williams now detects the Y-shaped support structure for the rear wing, which is known as "Y-lon" in driving stock.

This construction is mounted on the gearbox and first surrounds the exhaust to pass in the form of an inverted Wye in a narrow support for the rear wing. This support is sitting Like most teams just before the rear wing and winds up in the form of a swan neck down.

Other details that stand out in this week at Williams, include the revised wing elements in the rear of the side boxes. This solution is reminiscent thanks to the vertical wing now to those of Red Bull. It is only a change in detail, but to one that improves airflow at the rear of the engine cover.
     
In an effort to obtain Mercedes, Williams is also in the drive unit. While you drive the same specification as the works team, so there are differences. Using different gasoline and the turbocharger is cooled to different manner.

Williams uses a specially adapted to the team spirit of Petrobras since mid-2014. Technical director Pat Symonds believes absolutely that you can brew a more powerful compared to the Mercedes factory team mix.

In addition, power can win by more chilled feeds coming from the turbocharger air to the engine. The Mercedes team is the F1 W06 to a water-air cooler. This is in terms of aerodynamics, the better solution, because it takes away less space in the side boxes. However, the cooling effect is not the same as for a conventional air-to-air cooler. At Williams is still relies on an air-to-air cooler, but has managed to pack these into very small side boxes.

[SRK]

[Manoah2u]

oh my those are some great shots

[roadie]

Finally some clear shots of the slightly revised front wing.

[LookBackTime]

From Autosport:

...

Williams

Williams is nearly in its Melbourne specification, and this week the FW37 gained its final upgrades (bar three or four parts), most notably a new rear wing mount.

For 2015 the opportunities of diffuser design outweigh the risks of rear wing disturbance from a mounting pillar. Thus the Williams now has the on-trend 'Y' mounting pillar, known in the paddock as a Y-lon.

This mounts to the gearbox and wraps around the exhaust, before the inverted Y-shape forms a slim, light pillar to support the rear wing. As with most teams adopting this design, the pillar sits just ahead of the rear wing and then curls down to mount on the wing's top surface, in a swan neck shape.

Other details on the Williams for this week included revised sidepod vanes, now following a Red Bull like shape where the vertical vane folds over to mount on the shoulder of the sidepod. A small detail change, but one that will divert airflow over the engine cover towards the rear of the car.

In a bid to catch Mercedes, Williams has also considered potential gains from the power unit. Although it runs the same specification as Mercedes, it uses a different fuel and also cools the turbocharger's air in a different way.

Since mid-2014 Williams has run Petrobras fuel blended specifically for the team. Its technical director Pat Symonds believes there is no reason that it cannot find a more powerful fuel mix than the Mercedes factory team.

Furthermore, power can be released by running the air from the turbo into the engine at lower temperature. Mercedes runs a water-to-air intercooler on the W06, which is a better solution for aero packaging because it requires less sidepod space. But it does not have the same cooling effect as a conventional air-to-air intercooler.

Williams still uses an air-to-air cooler and has managed to package it into very small side pods.

...

[LookBackTime]

Formula1.com ‏@F1
On the #F1 App - puzzling smoke from the @WilliamsRacing FW37. Any ideas of possible causes? http://f1.com/1D5Ykcl

[hollus]

And a few meters before or after, it was gone (it might be from a different lap, of course):

That looks like the braking area, so it is likely related to the engine changing from accelerating to not accelerating or with the MGUH switching on or off of generator mode, which would change the airflow around the airbox.
Anyone knows the specifics?

[LookBackTime]

Craig Scarborough ‏@ScarbsF1
"@F1: On the #F1 App http://f1.com/1D5Ykcl " see the pressure wave in the airbox create a cloud of vapour reverse out the inlet

[Gridlock]

Sorry, had to see what she'd look like without a compliant engine cover (i.e. I spent 3 minutes deleting the fin in GIMP);



Thanks to the original photographer for making this almost within my capabilities

[LookBackTime]

[roadie]

Nice high res shot of the FW37's ass here. So much neater overall than the FW36's and a far greater number of winglets on the brake ducts

[boyracer94]

Diffuser flow doesn't look too bad.

[bill shoe]

I like the way the Williams sidepods kind of terminate in a semi-circle opening around the entire gearbox area of the car. All the other cars have rear suspension wishbones stuck awkwardly close to (and in parallel with) sidepod bodywork, and they have wishbone legs protruding thru awkward holes in the sidepod that can't be good for the aero intent. The Williams doesn't have those little bits of inefficiency. I'm surprised no other team has copied it, because it seems to consistently work well for Williams (except for the 2013 coanda fiasco, not fault of sidepod outlet). I suspect the Williams layout helps suck air out of the sidepod which reduces drag and plays a major role in the consistent Williams top-speed advantage.

[roadie]

Here is the rear of the FW36 for comparison

[rjsa]

Formula1.com ‏@F1
On the #F1 App - puzzling smoke from the @WilliamsRacing FW37. Any ideas of possible causes? http://f1.com/1D5Ykcl

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_BTNOhWwAEbdK6.jpg

That's due to sudden pressure drop and the resulting cooling of the air - causing condensation. It's similar as what happens within an atomic mushroom or a supersonic shock wave:



Contrails from jets go one step ahead, with water freezing after condensing.