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Team: Bob Bell (TD), Norbert Haug (VP of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport), Nick Fry (CEO), Ross Brawn (TP), Geoff Willis (Technology Director), Also Costa (Engineering Director)
Drivers: Michael Schumacher (7), Nico Rosberg (8)
Actually it's not hard to believe. They car was quick back then, but there hasn't been updated. All other teams brought updates to the Grand Prix. Mercedes brought 1 update after the Mugello test. Thats it. Some tweaks to the FW. If you look at red bull, McLaren, Ferrari, etc. They almost build a 2 or 3 new car's during the season. But Merc haven't done so, next reason will be same story because the rules don't change. We are now more than 1 sec a lap slower then Red Bull in race pace. You can't win 1-2 sec in the winter. Because all the updates that the other teams are now bringing will be carried over the next year and be much more refined and intergrated to the cars. Merc is looking at 2014 is my guess. The aero package is really sub-par it think merc's aero package is the worse from the all other teams expect Catherham,HRT and Marussia. If you look at our FW and Difusser and the rear package, its way to basis compared to other teams. I even the untrained eye can see that the Merc looks very simple and plain. Now Merc is trowing money away with the new Lotus DRs device. Instead of focusing on the aero improvement. Look how Ferrari and Red Bull turned there season, we just went back like 2010,2011.AnthonyG wrote:Hard to believe that this car, in China, was (almost) a second a lap faster then the rest of the field...
AnthonyG wrote:Hard to believe that this car, in China, was (almost) a second a lap faster then the rest of the field...
Is this Mercedes version of Lotus DRD?Forza wrote:
yesbucker wrote: Is this Mercedes version of Lotus DRD?
As far as I read the rules this type of device is not SPECIFICALLY outlawed for next year. The rules say that the DRS must not be used for anything other than its intended role but the Lotus-style DRD's do not use the conventional DRS system in any way, shape or form. If it weren't for Merc's original DDRS we wouldn't have even made the link between them!Joie de vivre wrote:why are they even testing this? they never use it on race day and also ddrs is banned from next year on
Not to worry. For next year, Merc has thrown truckloads of money in HAM's pockets to redress the team's deficiencies. The plan is for HAM to do for Merc next year what ALO has been doing for Ferrari this season. The team won't even need to worry about in-season developments, as they'll be putting the burden on HAM to upgrade his pace, skills & racecraft in order to counteract rival teams' car updates throughout next year. Another brilliant masterstroke from Brawn & Haug, inspired by Lauda.kooleracer wrote:...Now Merc is trowing money away with the new Lotus DRs device. Instead of focusing on the aero improvement. Look how Ferrari and Red Bull turned there season, we just went back like 2010,2011.
[/end sarcasm]Joie de vivre wrote:why are they even testing this? they never use it on race day and also ddrs is banned from next year on
It is not banned, but is it going to bring them any noticeable advantage? Is it even worth it to put resources on such a thing? Mercedes has been looking for magic bullets these past seasons. Come on! Build a proper race car with a reasonable development plan. Going a different route never guarantees success.Huntresa wrote:Joie de vivre wrote:why are they even testing this? they never use it on race day and also ddrs is banned from next year on
Its not banned for next year, the real DDRS is banned which Mercedes and Red Bull are running atm, which has holes in the endplate. This device that is more of an F-duct isnt banned cause it has nothing to do with DRS and is totally passive.
I can only imagine that the trick front wing caused them to ignore the obvious gains from properly blowing the diffuser.Lotus said that DRD can give them 5 km/h on straights and better balance in corners if its properly adjusted.Morteza wrote:It is not banned, but is it going to bring them any noticeable advantage? Is it even worth it to put resources on such a thing? Mercedes has been looking for magic bullets these past seasons. Come on! Build a proper race car with a reasonable development plan. Going a different route never guarantees success.Huntresa wrote:Joie de vivre wrote:why are they even testing this? they never use it on race day and also ddrs is banned from next year on
Its not banned for next year, the real DDRS is banned which Mercedes and Red Bull are running atm, which has holes in the endplate. This device that is more of an F-duct isnt banned cause it has nothing to do with DRS and is totally passive.
