Mercedes GP MGP W01

[NewtonMeter]

Interesting read:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87761

I must say it corresponds to what I was thinking. Just this morning I was having a conversation with some F1 enthusiast colleagues about the slightly odd season Merc is having.

They started not all too badly. Then as soon as the development push really kicked in and they had many things to test, their form went backwards (remember our mantra of the Merc updates never working). Now that they're seemingly just trying to get the best out of the car things are looking up a bit more.

Something similar happened to McLaren last year (I was a fun until Merc got their own team - don't judge, no one's perfect). I recall them developing the ever loving --- out of the MP4-24 with little to no effect. Then for a few races they just tried to understand the car and from then on things were going considerably better again.

So really, I think we're seeing the same happening to merc. Hindsight is 20/20, but I daresay if they had done this a bit earlier in the year things wouldn't have looked so desperate compared to the evil triumvirate up front. I'm not saying they would have been contenders. But Renault would likely not have been such a threat.

As an aside, I'm really feeling very optimistic for next season. The momentum seems to have swung in their favour and experience tells me that counts for a lot. MercGP are seemingly looking to strengthen their technical department with new recruits (the williams guy and michelin guy comes to mind) as well as drawing knowledge from the mothership, Daimler (they have had daimler tyre experts assisting them as well, I read somewhere). At least they look like they're trying to do something about their situation. Go MercGP W02. Achtung Baby...

Edit:
They even appeared to get their WTF-duct working now. Touch wood...

[vealio]

Yes, interesting. After 12 races and 6 months the F-Duct finally works (is a passive system also banned next year btw?)

This development effect was also seen at Ferrari last year. Once they stopped the development last year after Hungary, Raikkonen came alive and they had some really good results

[forty-two]

Yes, interesting. After 12 races and 6 months the F-Duct finally works (is a passive system also banned next year btw?)

This development effect was also seen at Ferrari last year. Once they stopped the development last year after Hungary, Raikkonen came alive and they had some really good results

This is a very interesting question. I don't think the rule which bans the F-Duct per-se is actually published as yet (please correct me if I am wrong!).

If however a passive F-Duct, or indeed an automatically switched one is not specifically outlawed next season, then Merc's perseverance with this could very well be hugely beneficial to them.

Equally though, we have no way of knowing if the McLaren F-Duct system is actually driver controlled or automatic so they might be able to get away with theirs next season also. That could be interesting!

[NewtonMeter]

Yes, interesting. After 12 races and 6 months the F-Duct finally works (is a passive system also banned next year btw?)

This development effect was also seen at Ferrari last year. Once they stopped the development last year after Hungary, Raikkonen came alive and they had some really good results

This is a very interesting question. I don't think the rule which bans the F-Duct per-se is actually published as yet (please correct me if I am wrong!).

If however a passive F-Duct, or indeed an automatically switched one is not specifically outlawed next season, then Merc's perseverance with this could very well be hugely beneficial to them.

Equally though, we have no way of knowing if the McLaren F-Duct system is actually driver controlled or automatic so they might be able to get away with theirs next season also. That could be interesting!

This is just hearesay, but I understand that stalling the rear wing is banned in principle next year. Though I could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong, in fact.

[dren]

An automatically controlled stalling of the rear wing would be illegal assuming it is mechanical in actuation. That is why the f-duct was invented, to circumvent the rules. I think the f-duct is banned next year. Not quite sure what the wording is on the subject. Would have to read it to see if a passive system would fall within the rules.

[dren]

Looking at the pace of the car and how it has improved over the last few races with little to no updates, we're seeing Mercedes hurting from the testing ban. Perhaps the updates weren't all that bad, it just took long to understand how to set them up properly, something testing would certainly have ironed out.

[NewtonMeter]

Looking at the pace of the car and how it has improved over the last few races with little to no updates, we're seeing Mercedes hurting from the testing ban. Perhaps the updates weren't all that bad, it just took long to understand how to set them up properly, something testing would certainly have ironed out.

Yes! My point exactly! =D>

[vealio]

The question is how will this work out next year? Maybe with a better base at the beginning of 2011 they can make the upgrade work better/earlier hopefully.

[The FOZ]

My understanding was that there will be a ban on driver-operated aero devices such as this in 2011. Mercedes' system is allegedly a completely passive one - no actuation, no driver input, nothing. Purely an interaction between moving air and the car's body. I believe this sort of device will still be legal in 2011. Were that not the case, wouldn't Mercedes have switched over to the conventional design?

Lasly, one must ask the question - what is being banned here? Stalling the rear wing? Pretty tough to prove something like that when it only is happening at a couple hundred kph. Ducts called F? There's plenty of other letters left in the alphabet. Contraptions that the driver has to put his hand on, requiring him to let go of the wheel? DING DING DING!

[Timstr]

The Mercedes F-Duct is NOT passive.

The ducts run through the rear wing end plate. Theres has been as least one race where Jock Clear tells Rosberg over the radio not to forget to use his F-Duct. Martin Brundle has confirmed during a grid walk how the tubing runs from the cockpit through the floor to the end plate. Ross Brawn and drivers refer to the system as F-duct, not merely a blown wing. What more evidence do you guys need to accept that they DO have an active system?

[The FOZ]

I'll believe evidence when I'm presented with it - make no mistake, what you've said to me is hearsay. Show me the pictures. As for Jock's message, there exists the possibility that it was a coded message - an otherwise plausible phrase to indicate something else.

But to be fair, I could be completely wrong, and it could be a repackaged driver operated f-duct.

Show me something solid, you've piqued my interest, I'd like to see how the ducting is routed through the endplates.

[Mandrake]

If indeed that MGP system was an F-Duct that could be legal next year, I would do all to convince the competition that the system is active as well. I have no clue about how far other teams have looked into this kind of F-Duct, but it could be an advantage for next season to keep pretending it is an active F-Duct.

[Timstr]

So only when you see dramtic looking piping attached to the anvil wing do you believe it's active? A bit shallow.
By the same token you could say that if the driver operated duct inside the cockpit is not visible, you cannot conclude that it is driver operated. Don't believe we have seen McLaren's, Redbull's or Ferrari's cockpit duct. Have we?

[aral]

The Mercedes F-Duct is NOT passive.

The ducts run through the rear wing end plate. Theres has been as least one race where Jock Clear tells Rosberg over the radio not to forget to use his F-Duct. Martin Brundle has confirmed during a grid walk how the tubing runs from the cockpit through the floor to the end plate. Ross Brawn and drivers refer to the system as F-duct, not merely a blown wing. What more evidence do you guys need to accept that they DO have an active system?

You are correct. And what about the request from Schumacher, to have the actuation move to beside his hand, from a position where it was activated by his leg (foot or knee)

There are now strong rumours that Brawn is either stepping back, or is in fact being moved back, to a lesser role in the team. Does this mean that Daimler will be calling the shots in future?

[LotusF1]

I tend to think it is passive as well....and it is not hard to implement....just control suspension travel. I think it will give them quite an edge for next year as they will have it already implemented. I couldnt see MS or NR using an active F-Duct.