Mercedes GP W02

[Byron R]

Just pure speculation when looking at redbull. We all talk about better EBD and flexiwings, maybe the key they've found is more along the lines of being able to alter the weight distribution regulations? There was always speculation at the start of the year about altered qualy suspension. Just a thought.

[marcush.]

Innovative Linked Rear Suspension for Mercedes, great article by Scarbs

http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/10/1 ... uspension/



picture of gearbox and rocker arrangement

[Gaara]

Mercedes invents front wing F-duct for 2012
http://www.f1zone.net/news/mercedes-inv ... 2012/9705/

Mercedes has reinvented an F-duct style innovation and intends to debut it in 2012, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports.

The magazine on Tuesday published diagrams of the innovation, which was apparently tested for the first time during free practice at Suzuka recently.

The new F-duct is confined to the front wing, not the rear wing as per the systems that were banned at the end of last season.

Air enters through the oval-shaped vent at the very tip of the 2012 Mercedes nose, is redirected via and inside the front wing supports and exits at the rear of the wing.

Unlike the 2010-style F-ducts, the system is not manually triggered by the drivers, making it legal.

Mercedes’ new idea is to redirect more undisturbed air through the floor of the car.

Auto Motor und Sport said McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh is aware of the innovation and the head-start now enjoyed by Mercedes.

“If you make a start now, it’s already too late,” he said, predicting that other teams will nonetheless also experiment with the idea.

[imightbewrong]

picture of gearbox and rocker arrangement

High res:
http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2011/d11kor948.jpg

[Owen.C93]

Mercedes had a passive F-duct rear wing last year before the could make it active.


Perhaps this extra intake on top of the W02's nose has something to do with this??

I guess that's just for cooling after they lost the whole on the nose.

[Mr.S]

Nice. New rear suspension,talk of the bagpipe exhaust being tested in Hungary & now this F-duct. All might help for next year.


Impressed with Bob Bell,debuted new wing & rear-ward exhaust & minor positive changes without much fuss. Earlier Ross Brawn used to advertise every small update as something historical. Now Bob does his job without any noise.

Very impressed by Bob,slow steady improvements. Mercedes have made a fantastic acquisition in Bob Bell.

[aral]

Why on earth would Merc test a bagpipe exhaust? They have to use single exit periscope exhausts in 2012.
And there is no F-duct on the front wing. An F-duct is to stall a wing and reduce drag. This is just ducting of a small amount of air to under the car. Hardly earth shattering.

[Mr.S]

Well it was reported from several sources that Mercedes have found a simpler solution to Mclaren's octupus exhaust & they have tested it in Germany & have found that it gives better downforce than the current exhaust system.

So is the report.

As for the rumoured F-duct stuff Martin Whitemarsh confirmed it,that the device gives a speed of 5/8 km/h a handy stuff. Every bit counts,if Mercedes are to challenge for podiums,then have to be around 0.5s off pole & every tenth is VERY VERY important.

[NewtonMeter]

Nice. New rear suspension,talk of the bagpipe exhaust being tested in Hungary & now this F-duct. All might help for next year.


Impressed with Bob Bell,debuted new wing & rear-ward exhaust & minor positive changes without much fuss. Earlier Ross Brawn used to advertise every small update as something historical. Now Bob does his job without any noise.

Very impressed by Bob,slow steady improvements. Mercedes have made a fantastic acquisition in Bob Bell.

I'm unaware of this, could you elaborate a little or give a link or two? Sorry, I've been out of it of late.

[scarlet]

Which would be perfect while going through fast corners

Haha, touché

The great thing with McLaren's f-duct was that there were no moving mechanical parts yet the reasoning was done by a human being,ie a driver plugging a hole (pardon the pun ) whenever he wanted to.

But you could still configure it(Mercedes' front wing) to stall only in very high speeds -say- above 300-310 km/h, there aren't many corners in F1 taken above those speeds (if any), so it would still give some kind of an advantage. So all is not lost.

Furthermore because it is an interchangable part of the car, you could use custom designed wings on a track-by-track basis to only stall above the v-max of the fastest corner on that given track.

[aral]

Well it was reported from several sources that Mercedes have found a simpler solution to Mclaren's octupus exhaust & they have tested it in Germany & have found that it gives better downforce than the current exhaust system.

.

But that does not get over the fact that it cannot be used in 2012. And they are hardly developing it for the last two races of 2011, are they?
By the way, can you proide links to the so called reports?

[ringo]

picture of gearbox and rocker arrangement

High res:
http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2011/d11kor948.jpg

forget the f duct!

That's some crazy ass dampers!!

The dampers are on the same shaft as the pull rods!!

hmm, dampers are tied together hydraulically...

this car is sick !!!

for that alone, i am a fan. Some interesting thinking here.

[PhillipM]

That's one thing that has happened this year, nearly every car on the grid, fast or slow, has had some really interesting components when taken in isolation.

Next year is going to be fantastic to see how many survive the trail-by-fire and how they're combined on the cars.

[scarbs]

More on the suspension here:

http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/10/1 ... uspension/

[marcush.]

The friction and installation stiffness (hysteresis)is no else than on any pressurised damper the compensation for temperature related behavior is well understood by damper manufacturers ,interconnected dampers with third elements is nothing new at all.
What is really striking :the damper elements are in a straight line with the pullrod the rocker is just there to prevent buckling more or less .Holy sh...the damper has not much in terms of bump/rebound travel .....so any slack in bearings or installation will be a big issue....
I can´t help it but the suspension arrangement somehow reminds me of some mountainbike rear suspension