Mercedes AMG F1 W06

[Writinglife]

Rosberg is a good driver, but my viewpoint is that if things don't go perfectly for him on a weekend, he struggles. I'd love to see stats on their overtaking of each other, because I have a feeling Lewis will be ahead of Nico. It''s not that Rosberg is a bad driver, or couldn't be World CHampion, but I think Hamilton has him figured out and can beat him. Even in Hamilton's first season with Mercedes, where Rosberg had more time with the team, he came out on top. With 3 races left, Hamilton has a 80 point advantage, which is more than the 60 point (or thereabouts) advantage last year.

Rosberg's only chance to beat Hamilton to a title might be to switch teams, but he's in a great setup right now with the best team/car/engine combination.

[turbof1]

This topic is about the hardware of the car only; discussion about the drivers should go to the team thread. I have moved recent posts to there.

[Thunder]

Merc with the Roll Hoop Ears in Mexico: https://twitter.com/AlbertFabrega/statu ... 3647710208

[Hail22]

More detailed view of the bodywork thunders first posted

[OO7]

[hollus]

Why are two narrow air inlets each side of the roll hoop preferable to a single thicker inlet in one side only? They clearly are, but to me this looks like extra skin friction, extra carbon fiber, extra backpressure...
What are the upsides?

[AnthonyG]

Why are two narrow air inlets each side of the roll hoop preferable to a single thicker inlet in one side only? They clearly are, but to me this looks like extra skin friction, extra carbon fiber, extra backpressure...
What are the upsides?

I think it's just the paint giving that illusion. (a classic answer, I know)

-edit: I completely misread-

[SparkyAMG]

Why are two narrow air inlets each side of the roll hoop preferable to a single thicker inlet in one side only? They clearly are, but to me this looks like extra skin friction, extra carbon fiber, extra backpressure...
What are the upsides?

Perhaps a single intake wouldn't be effective enough in yaw? May also cause a bit of instability rearewards of that area

[dans79]

they are race specific add-ons, so they are less than optimal. if you modified the roll hoop, you would have to build an entire new chassis, and re-pass all the safety checks, and no one is going to do that for just one race.

[F1NAC]

any pics of their rear outlets?

[ismail1991]

they are race specific add-ons, so they are less than optimal. if you modified the roll hoop, you would have to build an entire new chassis, and re-pass all the safety checks, and no one is going to do that for just one race.

I think it may not be that for Mercedes. Last year, W05 used additional air inlets whole season. If they wanted to include those ears to roll hoop, they could have done it easily in my opinion. Maybe, they want to separate the air which goes into those ears.

[dans79]

they are race specific add-ons, so they are less than optimal. if you modified the roll hoop, you would have to build an entire new chassis, and re-pass all the safety checks, and no one is going to do that for just one race.

I think it may not be that for this situation. Last year, W05 used additional air inlets whole season. If they wanted to include those ears to roll hoop, they could have done it.

As you can see from this shot of the W05 from Australia last year (gotten from the W05 thread), they where molded into the roll hope structure. You can't just change the role hoop area without re taking the safety tests.

[hollus]

I didn't mean to put anything inside the roll hoop, these inlets are outside of it, aren't they?
The question is why 2 thin inlets (and 2 long thin tubes) instead of just a fat one, obviously off center.
And as a note, I am not suggesting that they are doing it wrong. They obviously know what they are doing, as does lotus, as did lotus in 2013, etc. I'd just like to understand why, because I assume that there is more than just the symmetry to it.

[Just_a_fan]

Rosberg's brake fire gives a good indication of the airflow from the rear brake "ducts" and around the rear tyre.

https://streamable.com/hm1q

[atlantis]

Flow-vis flames