Lotus E23 Mercedes

[chuckdanny]

That was the raised eyebrows thing ?
Fastener failure...

[CBeck113]

They did that for the sponsor...if it wasn't planned it would have happened to Maldonado

[turbof1]

They did that for the sponsor...if it wasn't planned it would have happened to Maldonado

I really wish to refrain from going further off topic, but admittingly it begs for joking.

So new rule: joking allowed, but has to be followed up in the same post with something on topic. Like this:

Looks like an extremer form of the Hammertime: Mad Max Mode: blow out the hood, switch out some sort of make shift rocket launcher and inject nitrous.

It was btw a new engine cover; I didn't noticed that. Bulkier on top and slimmer on the sides.

[BlackSwan]

Here's the video of the explosion!

[Morteza]

[itix]

Damn that is a fine looking car from above...
What worries me is that this isn't the first time this happens.

They seriously need to strengthen their side pod covers

[PlatinumZealot]

Cool if the sticker said Mad Maldo...

[atlantis]

https://twitter.com/orourkeF1/status/597321072195858433 Another angle

[i70q7m7ghw]

Damn that is a fine looking car from above...
What worries me is that this isn't the first time this happens.

They seriously need to strengthen their side pod covers

It's not so much the strength of the cover, more a problem with pressure build up inside the cover. The air that enters the car through the side pods and other intakes needs go somewhere. If it can't exit the car quick enough it needs space inside the car to occupy. Engine cover failures like this are not uncommon, it's usually caused by the team tightening the body work and reducing the internal airflow without sufficiently increasing the size of the cooling exits. They almost always happen on the straights too, when the airflow in to the car would be at it's highest. If you keep squeezing a balloon without letting any air out, eventually it's going to pop.

[itix]

Yeah I got that bit... But if it is deemed aerodynamically beneficent to keep the airflow as it is, they have to strengthen the components rather than duct more of the air out from the side pods.

[turbof1]

Damn that is a fine looking car from above...
What worries me is that this isn't the first time this happens.

They seriously need to strengthen their side pod covers

It's not so much the strength of the cover, more a problem with pressure build up inside the cover. The air that enters the car through the side pods and other intakes needs go somewhere. If it can't exit the car quick enough it needs space inside the car to occupy. Engine cover failures like this are not uncommon, it's usually caused by the team tightening the body work and reducing the internal airflow without sufficiently increasing the size of the cooling exits. They almost always happen on the straights too, when the airflow in to the car would be at it's highest. If you keep squeezing a balloon without letting any air out, eventually it's going to pop.

Not to mention that when DRS activates, it has a knock-on effect on the airflow over the engine cover, which drops in pressure. Lower pressure above the cover combined with higher pressure underneath can lead to such issues.

Yeah I got that bit... But if it is deemed aerodynamically beneficent to keep the airflow as it is, they have to strengthen the components rather than duct more of the air out from the side pods.

Strengthening the deal means extra weight coming along. I personally think Lotus were searching the limit with how little strenghtening they can get away with.

Generally, these things do hold. However, it's not far fetched to think the support and fastening points of the cover are designed close to the limit. When these things pop, it's usually not one condition applying here but multiple can apply:
-bad batch of carbon layering
-wind (decreases pressure on top of the cover)
-DRS
-Some dirt clogging up inside (increases pressure below the cover)
-higher then expected track temperatures

[Ruslaw]

Hi guys, did you see the latest E23 updates for Monaco - Lotus Pastor Maldonado Edition

[j2004p]

Speaking of DRS activation, did anyone notice that it was the point at which the DRS was dis-engaged that the end plate collapsed on Maldonados car on Sunday?

Not sure whether it was weakened by a particularly violent jink to move out to overtake Sainz.

[zioture]

Test Barcellona day 2 Monkey seat.

[kwanchepan]

Test Barcellona day 2 Monkey seat.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CE4coZHXIAAWsjz.jpg:large

That is should for Monaco high downforce spec.