Mercedes GP W02

[Metalrulz]

I Am not very sure but at the Singapore Gp there were other teams faster in a straight .. even on the monza straights the sauber & and renaults were the fastest cars.. the 1 and only good thing that the W02 was good at was its top speeds and nick fry had stated after the final test session at barcelona that top speeds with drs was the W02'S strongest among all the other cars and it could be the deciding factor during races....

its obvious to everyone that the W02 lacks rear end grip so would it have been better if mercedes had opted for a slightly bigger main chord?? or may be introduce a bigger main chord at races like monaco and use the smaller rear wing at monza...

[Byron R]

It's not quite that simple, you can't just slap a big wing on the rear and expect an improvement. What they use currently probably provides the best balance. Last year the car suffered understeer, at least by Schumacher's account. Just putting a big wing on the back would unload the front and make it plow like a tractor.
They lack overall downforce when compared to the top three. IMO their rear end grip problem is a mechanical issue, most noticed out of slow corners. Think back to Montreal with Webber on Schumacher's ass. Schumacher had to wait till he was pretty much straight before he could accelerate down the straight, while Webber was all over him in the corner . Pretty plain to see when watching the race.

[MIKEY_!]

EBD will come into that as well. MGP were still running the less powerful system back then too. BTW schumacher is know to like a VERY sharp front end on his car, boarding on real over-steer. Might have been (partly) why Nico had the advantage then too. Don't be too worried if he says a car under-steers a bit, it's just not to his preference.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Its watermarked, but you can still see the vent on the nose.

Courtesy Sutton images

[Metalrulz]

Last year the car suffered understeer, at least by Schumacher's account. Just putting a big wing on the back would unload the front and make it plow like a tractor.

I belive that the W01 suffered understeer because of a light front end due to incorrect weight distribution.

Although mercedes came up with a smaller main chord i believe they were more focused on qualifying pace than race pace. Drs is used more often in qualifying than in a race and a bigger main chord would not only help produce more downforce but also reduce the rear tire wear.

[Metalrulz]

If one compares the ferrari , mclaren , red bull , renault front wing to the mercedes w02 wing the mercedes wing will win the best award for being the most conservative in the entire field. no visible upgrades since the final test at barcelona except for a few cooling upgrades here and there.. Has Loic Bigois fallen asleep.. Okay they have a car that is fundamentally incorrect but they should at least try to bring a few upgrades like running a single deck radiator to compromise for the high COG. last years car was fundamentally incorrect. they abandoned the w01 for the w02 and came up with a car that is fundamentally wrong again. again they abandoned this years car choosing to focus on next years car and i would not be surprised to see the w03 fighting with the likes of Renault , Force india , Sauber etc. and the team then stating that since they came up with a car that is too long they find it hard to find the right set up..

[raymondu999]

Last year the car suffered understeer, at least by Schumacher's account. Just putting a big wing on the back would unload the front and make it plow like a tractor.

I belive that the W01 suffered understeer because of a light front end due to incorrect weight distribution.

Although mercedes came up with a smaller main chord i believe they were more focused on qualifying pace than race pace. Drs is used more often in qualifying than in a race and a bigger main chord would not only help produce more downforce but also reduce the rear tire wear.

It would reduce graining, yes. But with the Pirellis, I think more downforce is causing more degradation. With the W01 the problem was a heavy, not light nose, actually

[Metalrulz]

Last year the car suffered understeer, at least by Schumacher's account. Just putting a big wing on the back would unload the front and make it plow like a tractor.

I belive that the W01 suffered understeer because of a light front end due to incorrect weight distribution.

Although mercedes came up with a smaller main chord i believe they were more focused on qualifying pace than race pace. Drs is used more often in qualifying than in a race and a bigger main chord would not only help produce more downforce but also reduce the rear tire wear.

It would reduce graining, yes. But with the Pirellis, I think more downforce is causing more degradation. With the W01 the problem was a heavy, not light nose, actually

I am preety sure that the w01 had a lighter front as they wanted to move more weight to the front of the car by increasing its wheelbase and also last year at monza i remember that the team was placing alot of ballast at the front end of schumi's car as he felt that the front end was not so resopnsive

[raymondu999]

more front weight would make a lazier turn in as the front grip has to turn more mass. f=ma and for a same "f" grip; you're moving more mass.

Also the longer wheelbase moved the front wheels forward so that there was less mass in front of the front wheels. Brawn also went on record saying the weight distribution was too much to the front.

[Mr.S]

EBD will come into that as well. MGP were still running the less powerful system back then too. BTW schumacher is know to like a VERY sharp front end on his car, boarding on real over-steer. Might have been (partly) why Nico had the advantage then too. Don't be too worried if he says a car under-steers a bit, it's just not to his preference.

It was probably THE most under-steering car of the grid. Jenson himself said that he tailor made the car to suit his driving preferences & it had big understeer which he himself prefers.

[Intego]

Eehm, as far as I know weight distribution is fixed this year ...

[LionKing]

Eehm, as far as I know weight distribution is fixed this year ...

The standardised distribution is 45.5-46.7 percent front, 53.3-54.5 rear. So there is a range to design the cars.

[raymondu999]

The regs are written in terms of minimum weight above each axle rather than percentage though

[LionKing]

The regs are written in terms of minimum weight above each axle rather than percentage though

You are right.

Actually thinking about it, since the minimum weight is 640kg but no maximum weight (as far as I know), the team can achieve any percentage distribution they want All they need a significantly heavier car!

[raymondu999]

I'll take my chances with the lighter car