Mercedes AMG F1 W05

[Ferraripilot]

That video shows a much more positive front end on W05 than in Jerez. Schumacher would approve. Gobs of rake too.

[PhillipM]

Vroom vroom....

I once went to watch a local single-cylinder lawnmower race - that sounds just the same...

[bonjon1979]

Vroom vroom....

I once went to watch a local single-cylinder lawnmower race - that sounds just the same...

You need to make some better choices about what to do with your time. Seriously, a lawnmower race?

[Shakeman]

Horner also piling on praise/pressure for Merc and helping deflect attention on their performance to date.

Seems the rear downforce of the Merc has caught the attention of the other teams.

[kooleracer]

Horner also piling on praise/pressure for Merc and helping deflect attention on their performance to date.

Seems the rear downforce of the Merc has caught the attention of the other teams.

It seems the have found away to seal the diffuser and still keep the rake. Opinions form drivers are so much more valuable then the lap times. Yesterday Photographers also said that the Mercedes looked the best on track. Lets hope that in Melbourne this is still the case and that this car doesnt have the same tyre issues as the last four W0's.

[Rikhart]

Jenson Button talking about the W05:
http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/24180 ... -are-ahead

This is offtopic, but I think thats a silly thing to say (about the relative pace of the teams). They are all running with launch specc cars, and even at the last day in bahrain, we wont know fully who will be in front, because melbourne is another story all together...

[Pup]

This is offtopic, but I think thats a silly thing to say (about the relative pace of the teams). They are all running with launch specc cars, and even at the last day in bahrain, we wont know fully who will be in front, because melbourne is another story all together...

Yes, but the drivers can definitely tell if the car in front of them is sliding around - or as is often the case, not sliding around when they are. In past seasons, driver reports of how quickly the other drivers are able to get on throttle out of the corners or how quickly they're able to take sweeping turns have been a decent indicator of the pecking order.

[Rikhart]

This is offtopic, but I think thats a silly thing to say (about the relative pace of the teams). They are all running with launch specc cars, and even at the last day in bahrain, we wont know fully who will be in front, because melbourne is another story all together...

Yes, but the drivers can definitely tell if the car in front of them is sliding around - or as is often the case, not sliding around when they are. In past seasons, driver reports of how quickly the other drivers are able to get on throttle out of the corners or how quickly they're able to take sweeping turns have been a decent indicator of the pecking order.

Of course, but they can also change their behavior characteristics from night to day in the last test, with the full package installed.

[Pup]

True - as I said in the McLaren thread, there are many more updates to come, and some cars will respond better to those than others.

But at the moment, I do think its fair to say that Merc are the favorites.

[atanatizante]

Two things:
1. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L side-pod ellipse shape
2. It`s the picture angle or they just tried a single exhaust side-pod configuration?



1. This year they have a longer T-tray floor or it`s just me? (not in this picture)
2. For the above reason they reinforced the front corners of the T-tray floor
3. Could be another reason why they have such a high rake? or they must have a short one?

[turbof1]

...
I'm curious though how this will act at low speed, when vortices are weaker and when downforce is needed the most.

On other forum people says they could use the heat from the rear brake when the driver is underbraking ...
This heat is channeled towards the same space used last year for (part) blowing and that`s the reason they left the upright in front of the rear tyre.
This way they could energize the airflow in this area and this will end into a vortex which is generated by the squared upper diffuser edge ... btw. almost every team has a rounded diffuser edge in order to gain some advantage from the tyre wake low pressure but Merc which is apparently doing something else ...

It's an interesting theory.

I see some issues. One is that the driver will certainly have to adapt his driving style to this, practically making this apex braking.
Second is that the heat generated by the brakes is inconsistent, generating the most when braking at full speed and then gradually lowering is speed drops, though a redesign of the brakes in such a way that it stores heat and releases it linearily.

It's a possibility, albeit it looks difficult to achieve this.

[BorisTheBlade]

http://imgur.com/yoqa8W4.jpg

Two things:
1. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L side-pod ellipse shape
2. It`s the picture angle or they just tried a single exhaust side-pod configuration?

I think it's just the perspective. Yesterday I guessed the other way around.

[atanatizante]

...
I'm curious though how this will act at low speed, when vortices are weaker and when downforce is needed the most.

On other forum people says they could use the heat from the rear brake when the driver is underbraking ...
This heat is channeled towards the same space used last year for (part) blowing and that`s the reason they left the upright in front of the rear tyre.
This way they could energize the airflow in this area and this will end into a vortex which is generated by the squared upper diffuser edge ... btw. almost every team has a rounded diffuser edge in order to gain some advantage from the tyre wake low pressure but Merc which is apparently doing something else ...

It's an interesting theory.

I see some issues. One is that the driver will certainly have to adapt his driving style to this, practically making this apex braking.
Second is that the heat generated by the brakes is inconsistent, generating the most when braking at full speed and then gradually lowering is speed drops, though a redesign of the brakes in such a way that it stores heat and releases it linearily.

It's a possibility, albeit it looks difficult to achieve this.

Another theory says that the brake drum & system vanes acts like a heater which by induction generates heat in all directions hence for the airflow which travels under the brake system vanes.
This way the airflow is energized ...
1. Could this so called "heater" be a more constant heat generator?
2. And another question is why they didn`t follow the other teams route with the rounded outer diffuser edge?

[Juzh]

I prefer the v10 over it, any day.

I do get where you are coming from. But I'm actually finding it increasingly difficult to compare. They both appeal to me in a very different way.

The V10s, and to a lesser extent the V8s, sounded like pshychopath engines (in a good way, obviously). You could almost hear the horsepower, if that makes sense.

These engines, sound more familiar, like they actually belong in a car (as opposed to a some sort of crazy Nazi secret weapon experiment) - especially during the mid-corner and exit phase where the throttle is open at the revs are low. Opposed to the previous engines, it's almost like you can hear the torque. I like that too. I think a grid of those on the start line are going to sound like judgement day has arrived.

No one knows better than me how absurd that sounds - he'll I'm an engineer - but I find their subtle charachteristics quite abstract to explain.

Both appeal to me in different way, and both sound impressive.

Sorry, but nothing compares to this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvoXleaywPs[/youtube]

[NewtonMeter]

Sorry, but nothing compares to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvoXleaywPs

Thats mighty impressive and all (I remember that qually, actually), but I don't see how that contradicts anything I said though?

That is, if it was supposed to. Otherwise we agree. I guess.