Mercedes AMG F1 W04 (pre-launch speculation)

[Cam]

Perhaps. Mercedes did employ a non-traditional solution in the DDRS. That alone pushed the rules and somehow they kept it. So I don't think it's the ides department where they struggle - it's the group working together for the same goal.

All the components on the Red Bull worked together to achieve one thing - corners. The partnership with Renault also worked towards that same goal. The other departments all kicked in with flexible this, holes in that, secret adjustments on this, rubber this, tunnel that - all for the same goal. So you had every single person developing parts to further push the one same direction.

Mercedes had a good idea - but then the entire team all went their separate ways - tyres this way, engine that way, aero this way, chassis that way - and it's this part where Mercedes have failed and will continue to fail. That's a leadership problem and I daresay an underlying work ethic problem too.

The W04 has schizophrenia in it's DNA. Solve that and you're on track to compete and win.

[marcush.]

Ross brawn talked about the performance difference of RB8 to W03 recently:(GP international mag 7december 2012 why lewis really joined Mercedes):

If so, the chances MGP build very competitive car in 2013 and 2014, is zero

I fear you are right.
Elliott is surely an excellent Aerogroup leader ,even when he has not worked in that role yet.But you have to realise that everything needs to be tied up chained up properly to make everything work to the level required to compete for the ultimate goal.
MGP admits to lag in that area so even if they had RB8 they would not have been winning the championship as they miss out in this area.
I think this is what Schumacher realised in 2012 :He said he was not in for an occasional win or podiums ,that would not be enough.I think it doomed on him that he ran out of time as he was not prepared to devote more than two additional years into this unsure if he was able to keep his speed up for that time.
Interestingly AMuS told different stories about too complicated fric-System (That´s the name for their interconnected suspension) and too many legacy parts in the cars provoking tyre wear ....
Two rear suspension upgrades and a borderline weightdistribution were not enough to cure these problems and more fuel allowance for the coanda exhaust did not help in this .Again their line of argumentation is short (as everyone else had coanda=more fuel) and and and..
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 97813.html

[dren]

Did everyone really have that much more fuel when running coanda exhausts? Red Bull have been designing their cars around a blown diffuser since the regulation change in 2009. They didn't design it for slow corners, they designed it to get the most out of the wasted exhaust energy. That just so happened to give them an advantage in slow corners. The Mercedes cars have been very late to the game with this technology. Engine mapping and overall car design direction could explain why the W03 ran with more fuel than other coanda cars. The car wasn't built for it, neither was the Lotus. That explains why Lotus didn't run it until they saw an actual advantage late in the season.

As you guys have stated, Mercedes may not be designing all of the systems together as one. But then, you can't go and argue that Mercedes just needs to slap on this wing or that exhaust to magically go faster because other teams have them. The design needs to be looked at as a whole package working together. Perhaps the new structure is meant for better integration? Lauda hinted at communication issues...this could be the main cause of problems within the team structure.

The team has had some innovative ideas in the past, let's hope they are able to turn them into a good overall package. The overall design direction is certainly different than Red Bull. It doesn't have to be the same as Red Bull to win races though.

[FoxHound]

But then, you can't go and argue that Mercedes just needs to slap on this wing or that exhaust to magically go faster because other teams have them.

=D>

[Mika1]

Specific requests to the engineers
Question: "Was the 2012er-car any driving, get rid of you would like to have your engineers as anything given along the way?" Rosberg: "Yes, that balance is close - less oversteer on corner entry and less understeer in the middle. "

Question: "Have you ever seen designs from the car?" Rosberg: "Yes, of course I was two days ago in the wind tunnel and I've even looked at the course you make great progress, it looks good..."

Question: "Does it look too different?" Rosberg: "Yes, it is a different story, although probably for the layman still looks very similar.."

Google translated a interview with Nico Rosberg (Motorsport-total.com/formel1).

[Timstr]

AMuS has some info about the development of the ''Mercedes AMGW04'':
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 60842.html

-Redbull type coanda. The reason why the 2012 coanda overheated the tyres is known. \it had to do with the shape of the sidepod.
-Small gearbox with rear suspension designed so it can be chnaged quickly to accomodate tyres.
-all crash tests passed

[MercAMGF1Fans]

AMuS has some info about the development of the ''Mercedes AMGW04'':
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 60842.html

-Redbull type coanda. The reason why the 2012 coanda overheated the tyres is known. \it had to do with the shape of the sidepod.
-Small gearbox with rear suspension designed so it can be chnaged quickly to accomodate tyres.
-all crash tests passed

Thanks

[Mika1]

AMuS has some info about the development of the ''Mercedes AMGW04'':
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 60842.html

-Redbull type coanda. The reason why the 2012 coanda overheated the tyres is known. \it had to do with the shape of the sidepod.
-Small gearbox with rear suspension designed so it can be chnaged quickly to accomodate tyres.
-all crash tests passed

Very interesting to read. I think this is the right direction to go.

[MercAMGF1Fans]

we've got it fully translated with our german speaking colleague
http://mercamgf1-fans.com/2012/12/27/th ... mpetitive/

Interesting what Michael says

The car that we had this year was indeed an evolution of the previous cars, and why development stagnated,

meaning they're moving away from the BGP001 bloodline! YES

[MacX]

according to this article they found 1.5 seconds and they will find another 1.5 seconds to Australia or to the tests?

[MercAMGF1Fans]

according to this article they found 1.5 seconds and they will find another 1.5 seconds to Australia or to the tests?

well it's 1 second to get on the pace of redbull.. that should be by the "tests" they hope.. and the other 0.5 is just to keep an advantage.. basically they're looking for an overall 5-8/10th Advantage over RB.. which is a tall order..

[MacX]

according to this article they found 1.5 seconds and they will find another 1.5 seconds to Australia or to the tests?

well it's 1 second to get on the pace of redbull.. that should be by the "tests" they hope.. and the other 0.5 is just to keep an advantage.. basically they're looking for an overall 5-8/10th Advantage over RB.. which is a tall order..

Do not even know how they can make such a big step forward is simply unrealistic probably but if they succeed. Will it be just some miracle ..

[MercAMGF1Fans]

hang on.. just re-read it..
at the end of 2012 the Redbull was 1.5-2 seconds quicker than the merc.. and redbull are looking to find another second on top of that.. so Merc are saying they're doing the same.. i.e the ENTIRE 3 seconds

[MacX]

Is there any information about the new wind tunnel and a new simulator?

[MercAMGF1Fans]

Is there any information about the new wind tunnel and a new simulator?

Wind Tunnel got upgraded during the season along with the 60% model.. sim.. dunno about that