Mercedes W13 Speculation Thread

[Hoffman900]

In would imagine most teams have fully assembled cars by now.

They only have a little over two months, have to pass crash tests, have to develop assembly / disassembly protocols / train the mechanics, etc.

[mclaren_mircea]

This is a truly statement of intent by the team, taking into account that usually Mercedes fires up the car in Late January or even early February. That means that the crash test was made much much earlier than in previous years. I cant find in the last 10 years regardless of team or regulation to an F1 car to be fired up before Christmas. I found crash tests for everyone but not fire up the car.

[Holm86]

Would most teams not be firing up the engines earlier than usual because the engines are frozen from the start of the year

One thing is to fire up the engine on a bench, another thing is to fire it up in the car, that usually don't happen till mid/late January.
But I guess they've had so much time to design the 2022 cars, that they're in good time now

[F1Krof]

Firing up the engine does not translate to anything meaningful. More or less the PUs will stay the same. So I think it's not a big deal to be honest. It says nothing about the real track performance.

[_cerber1]

Through a translator

[Stu]

That is just the render from earlier this year, just sponsor logos on the FIA ‘template’

[mclaren_mircea]

Through a translator

I said that earlier. It is not just the engine. The whole thing with fire up ,,the car" is with at least a month ahead regaring the last years. Whatever is engine or car, that has to mean something that you are ahead with the overall project to fire it up in late December than late January or early February. Despite Mercedes beeing the fastest overall car in the second part, there were no visible or large aero bits on the car since Zaanvort. Not even tiny ones. We dont know what the others are doing, but surely Mercedes is on schedule or slightly ahead of schedule.

[_cerber1]

That is just the render from earlier this year, just sponsor logos on the FIA ‘template’

If you poke at the article on Twitter, then there is a lot of interesting information. Image W13 is nothing more than bait.

[pursue_one's]

Mercedes has not only fired up the W13's engine but have now started VTT(virtual test track) dyno on their chassis.

With the introduction of completely different regulations, many top teams are trying to anticipate engine ignition because in pre-season it will be even more important to bring the new cars as soon as possible on the Virtual Test Track benches.

As far as we know, Mercedes has carried out the ignition of its W13 precisely on one of the VVT (Virtual Test Tracks) benches it has possessed for several years now.

VTT are much more than simple simulators as they imitate the conditions that can be found on the track, since aerodynamics, mechanics, power unit and even transmission can be tested as a whole. These dynamic benches have become the teams' solution to the testing bans imposed by the FIA in an attempt to reduce costs.

https://www.formu1a.uno/la-mercedes-w13 ... -dinamici/

[jjn9128]

I think most teams will have a rolling chassis by now for 7 post rig etc final bodywork is lower priority. I also think a lot of teams will go to pre-season with a basic bodywork kit to do correlation studies and hide performance until race 1.

[Hoffman900]

I think most teams will have a rolling chassis by now for 7 post rig etc final bodywork is lower priority. I also think a lot of teams will go to pre-season with a basic bodywork kit to do correlation studies and hide performance until race 1.

Agreed. I feel if any team doesn’t have a rolling chassis by now, they could be in trouble.

[peewon]

W13 already on the dynamic benches

https://www.formu1a.uno/la-mercedes-w13 ... -dinamici/

Mercedes W13 (2022): switched on on a dynamic Virtual Test Track bench

Why so much earlier the ignition of the W13? With the introduction of completely different regulations, many top teams are trying to anticipate this moment because in this pre-season it will be even more important to bring the new cars as soon as possible on the dynamic benches (Virtual Test Track); it means being able to simulate in advance how the new aeromechanical platform works dynamically, and how the engine unit reacts to stress, in order to compare everything with what is detected statically in the wind tunnel and CFD.

Reportedly, Mercedes performed the ignition of its W13 right on one of the VVT (Virtual Test Tracks) benches it has possessed for several years now.

Benches that have often been seen as part of the initial advantage Mercedes has been able to enjoy since 2014. Only later did other teams get there. Red Bull and Ferrari, two top teams, only a few years later.

Mercedes understood early on that, due to the complexity of the current power units, it was not possible to make the engine and chassis work, or rather simulate, separately.

VTTs are much more than simple simulators as they imitate the conditions that can be found on the track, since aerodynamics, mechanics, power unit and even transmission can be tested as a whole. These dynamic benches have become the teams' solution to the test bans imposed by the FIA in an attempt to reduce costs.

The functioning of the dynamic dyno is based on the ability to simulate the roughness of the asphalt, on what happens during a curve and in all those situations that, generated in motion, can disprove the data obtained with the more classic static tests of the single-seater. In addition to this, the dynamic benches allow to detect fundamental data in the operation of the power unit, such as, for example, the torque at the crankshaft or at the transmission, as well as helping in the understanding and calibration of the suspension and also in the validation of aerodynamic developments.

Not to mention that the VTT benches can then be connected to the real simulator, with the driver at the wheel, so that the output parameters of the latter can be sent to the dynamic bench, which simulates, at the same time, the 'dynamic' part.

Does anybody know which teams have these VTT benches which apparently cost between 15-30m euros to setup?

[LM10]

Through a translator

I said that earlier. It is not just the engine. The whole thing with fire up ,,the car" is with at least a month ahead regaring the last years. Whatever is engine or car, that has to mean something that you are ahead with the overall project to fire it up in late December than late January or early February. Despite Mercedes beeing the fastest overall car in the second part, there were no visible or large aero bits on the car since Zaanvort. Not even tiny ones. We dont know what the others are doing, but surely Mercedes is on schedule or slightly ahead of schedule.

For all we know some other teams could simply have chosen not to show the firing up of the engines (yet). Uploading it on social media does not necessarily mark the time point of the actual state of the car or processes around it.

[BlueCheetah66]

Through a translator

I said that earlier. It is not just the engine. The whole thing with fire up ,,the car" is with at least a month ahead regaring the last years. Whatever is engine or car, that has to mean something that you are ahead with the overall project to fire it up in late December than late January or early February. Despite Mercedes beeing the fastest overall car in the second part, there were no visible or large aero bits on the car since Zaanvort. Not even tiny ones. We dont know what the others are doing, but surely Mercedes is on schedule or slightly ahead of schedule.

This is purely speculation, but what if the 'Spicy' engine that Mercedes gave Hamilton was part of the new engine planned for 2022 and that is why they are ready with this engine much earlier

[Schifty]

Through a translator

Nah wont be that car... btw petronas is no more the main sponsor for Mercedes