Mercedes AMG F1 W04

[kooleracer]

Nobody is showing there race FW. Because the FW is the most important Aero part and other teams can figure out your aero concepts by analyzing it. Just like last year the race FW was debuted at the last winter test.

[dren]

The clearance from the coanda exhaust to the floor looks huge in that picture

The coke bottle looks a bit weird too. Doesn't seem to have the smooth amalgamation into the gearbox area the other cars have. Could just be that angle though.

I also got that impression, and from other shots too.

To me, it seem's the rear is more neat and, theoretically, should be giving more downforce there. However, Mercedes front wing remains very low downforce/drag. All other teams seems to have downforce levels not very far between, in the front wing. Mercedes is the only with such notable low df fw.

The reason for it, I guess, is there everybody have neat and tight rear end, nowadays. So Mercedes doesn't have an edge on that, they are, rather, just playing catch up with everybody.

If I had to predict a pace for this car right now(and I know how silly it is to do so just by looking at launch photos of the cars, but anyway) I would put it just ahead of Force India and behind RBR, Mclaren, Ferrari, Lotus and Sauber.

What screams low downforce on that wing?

[Just_a_fan]

EDIT: Do I see a vertical opening here?

Probably cools the KERS. McLaren have used similar openings inside the sidepod for that purpose.

[Blackout]

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/wp-c ... mercgt.jpg

EDIT: Do I see a vertical opening here?

Yes

[gray41]

Is that opening normal?

[Neno]

What screams low downforce on that wing?

complexity of wing and numbers of small vertical and horizonzal plates

[stefan_]

Is that opening normal?

Yes. It's not uncommon.








via F1 Fanatic

[ajprice]

Not car related but good luck commentators trying to work out which car is which

Rosberg car 9


Hamilton car 10


I can hear them now trying to work out which Mercedes with a yellow helmet they're looking at

[Ferraripilot]

Decent car all around though. Lots of potential. They have yet to show their 5 element front wing and I'm sure they have other addons coming especially at the back where I'm sure something is going on. Costa did Merc right with this one IMO.

Notice the Merc, Mclaren both exit their exhausts quite low compared to Ferrari who clearly are a good few CM higher. I suspect a velocity loss would be apparent from a higher exit.

[Huntresa]

Not car related but good luck commentators trying to work out which car is which

I can hear them now trying to work out which Mercedes with a yellow helmet they're looking at

Rosberg is Yellow, Hamilton is more orange, not hard.

[Coefficient]

Half shaft looks like its still exposed to me.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news ... -at-jerez/

[Artur Craft]

Looking forward to seeing the new 5 element front wing.

Definitely some F2012 influence with the sidepods. Sidepod intake is smaller. Nice looking frontal sidepod view profile, not really an undercut, they're just slanted, compact, and low. Exhaust blowing appears optimized. New rear brake ducts (they look very complex) Good evolution overall here.

the coke bottle area looks good but I fear that might be negated, by quite some extent, by the very bulky sidepods.

I don't know if this was influence of Costa, but copying F2012 in that area doesn't seem to be smart as Ferrari was very slow most of last year.(rain and latter GPs apart)

[JoeE]

Not car related but good luck commentators trying to work out which car is which

I can hear them now trying to work out which Mercedes with a yellow helmet they're looking at

Rosberg is Yellow, Hamilton is more orange, not hard.

The T-Bar above to air intake will most likely be different colors between the 2 cars

[MercAMGF1Fans]

Is it me, or does the W04 hark back to the shortwheel based W02?

[astracrazy]

Not car related but good luck commentators trying to work out which car is which

Rosberg car 9

Hamilton car 10

I can hear them now trying to work out which Mercedes with a yellow helmet they're looking at

Rosberg is Yellow, Hamilton is more orange, not hard.

yep, i'm a fan of labeling the cars anyway. like what lotus have done now and merc tried last year

yes, orange and yellow but this is quiet a close up shot. wait till you get on track tv pictures and it won't be so clear. the t bars will be different but to the general fan they might not pick up on this so easily