Mercedes F1 W05 Pre-launch Speculation

[Mika1]

Fear mongering from the Ferrari rumor mill. Pretty much rubbish.

It wouldn't be the first time indeed. I think Mercedes will be fine, the media want to find the ''silver bullet'', but it's just speculation.

[MustGoFaster]

And really would the true impact of only being able to inject fuel at 450 or 480 bar compared to 500?

My bit of searching would indicate that even at something like a measly 400 bar injection pressure, it would be possible to inject fuel at ANY point in the engine's cycle, including peak cylinder pressure. Lower pressures may affect atomization of the fuel, but if you started with a design more focused on atomization, than peak pressure capability, maybe you can achieve adequate results at lower pressures.

Hitting some limit in a rule book is not the goal. Beating the other guy, while not getting disqualified, is.

[humble sabot]

And really would the true impact of only being able to inject fuel at 450 or 480 bar compared to 500?

My bit of searching would indicate that even at something like a measly 400 bar injection pressure, it would be possible to inject fuel at ANY point in the engine's cycle, including peak cylinder pressure. Lower pressures may affect atomization of the fuel, but if you started with a design more focused on atomization, than peak pressure capability, maybe you can achieve adequate results at lower pressures.

Hitting some limit in a rule book is not the goal. Beating the other guy, while not getting disqualified, is.

Especially since the revs are down this year. Cosworth was saying they needed the full 500 to fill the cylinders with a sufficiently good mix at >20,000rpm, but i'm sure it'll just be nice to have the finer atomisation at 15k, and no big deal one way or the other really.

[diego.liv]

For what is worth, same website on 14th November

http://www.omnicorse.it/magazine/32576/ ... etta-bosch

Last 2 paragraphs:
-technology from Le Mans' Audi
-the will of Mercedes to have the V6 omologation with both Magneti's & Bosch's solutions

[Sonic]

What do you think about Jonathan Noble's point of view :
"The F1 gossip machine is already hinting that Mercedes will be the team to beat, with the paddock grapevine suggesting it is pretty upbeat about its 2014 design performance compared to rival outfits."

[Helios]

I'll remain sceptical until I see their performance in Melbourne 2014. Firstly because I'm not an optimist in general (more like a realist with experience) and secondly because it's Mercedes AMG Petronas we're talking about. It wouldn't be the first time they have high hopes before winter testing just to disappoint their fans once the season gets underway.

[Holm86]

What do you think about Jonathan Noble's point of view :
"The F1 gossip machine is already hinting that Mercedes will be the team to beat, with the paddock grapevine suggesting it is pretty upbeat about its 2014 design performance compared to rival outfits."

I didnt know that the teams exchanged simulator data to compare before the season.

[markn93]

But there is rather a large turnover of staff year to year. Which may or may not have something to do with it.

[Sonic]

@ Helios,
This is Jonathan Noble speaking, not MGP !

[Rikhart]

What do you think about Jonathan Noble's point of view :
"The F1 gossip machine is already hinting that Mercedes will be the team to beat, with the paddock grapevine suggesting it is pretty upbeat about its 2014 design performance compared to rival outfits."

What I think: There has NEVER, in the history of F1, been an instance of someone knowing the comparative form of the teams before any testing.

[Maynard G. Krebs]

I think one thing you can say (and has been said before) is that Mercedes and Ferrari have a CHANCE to have an advantage since they have been able to develop the car and engine in parallel, whereas the others have to wait until the engine is pretty much done before they can integrate it. Having said that, I suspect all the engines have been substantially done for quite some time now, including Renault. (By the way, is Cosworth gone? No customers?)
Doesn't mean it will turn into an actual advantage though, since it is such a complicated process.

[henra]

I think one thing you can say (and has been said before) is that Mercedes and Ferrari have a CHANCE to have an advantage since they have been able to develop the car and engine in parallel, whereas the others have to wait until the engine is pretty much done before they can integrate it.

You forgot RB.
You can be sure they will have aligned the packaging/geometry with Renault in pretty much the same way and also from very early on in the engine design process.
You can safely assume the packaging in the previous RBR cars was not by accident and RBR is effectively Renault's 'Works' Team.

[the EDGE]

I think the advantage of being a works team comes more from being able to dictate requirements to the engine department as oppose to building the car to suite the engine

To enable team to swop engine supplier easily the fia have laid down some pretty specific legislation for things such as mounting points and. Believe size and position of things such as the turbo so I am sure all teams would have known these specs well in advance of designing the car

[Helios]

@ Helios,
This is Jonathan Noble speaking, not MGP !

True, but it's not like Mercedes haven't been quite optimistic about the prospects for 2014 aswell.

[MacX]

Tobias Grüner F1 ‏@tgruener
Red Bull at least has a pitlane unveiling. Heard the new Mercedes just rolls out of the garage on the track without any photo opportunity.