Mercedes AMG F1 Team 2012

[xpensive]

Martin Brundle has also already been quoted in this thread, stating that Schumacher is not the only one complaining about tires. Brundle was specifically referring to two drivers. One a world champion. The other a race winner.

The only reason to tunnel vision on Schumacher at this point is personal bias.

Let's move on.

I don't think so, this thread is about the MGP team and when MS speaks out, people pay attention, it means a little more than an anonymous "race winner", don't you agree?

[raymondu999]

Martin Brundle has also already been quoted in this thread, stating that Schumacher is not the only one complaining about tires. Brundle was specifically referring to two drivers. One a world champion. The other a race winner.

The only reason to tunnel vision on Schumacher at this point is personal bias.

Let's move on.

Just because others do it too, doesn't mean it won't give you bad press. If the other drivers' names were known, I'd think they'd come under some flak about throwing toys out of the pram too.

[Mr.S]

I find it ironical though that Rosberg had tyre problems in both Australia & Malayasia & MSC did not have problems. Then Rosberg was bitching about the car & stuff while Michael held firm.

Even in Bahrain he did not suffer too much degradation. His problem was in a 3 Stopper with Fresh tyres he was not able to race hard & charge hard. I think Michael said that for the team & now Nico who had tyre issues is taking the high line.

Anyways My problem with the Pirelli Tyres is they are rubbish in Quality. I go over to the Aero & Tyre Section but I cant find any discussion on it.

There is too many marbles despite Pirelli saying their would not be. The Tyres are way too sensitive & dont work over a wide range of temperature. This is not just Mercedes,its with everyone. Lotus's tyres work well only in extreme hot temperatures.


Mclaren's tyres were not working properly in Bahrain. And they did not work well at ALL in Malayasia falling out of the window. Even China the cold temperatures did not favour them.

The only one whose tyres seem to be working great in all ranges of temperatures is Ferrari & maybe Sauber. Even Force India & Williams are working their tyres better than Mclaren.

This should be looked into. Last year's the HARD's were just crap & had no Grip & had to be discarded.

[elf341]

I've been impressed with the amount of running Mercedes are doing in the Mugello test. They seem to have a very well planned out programme, and it looks like not a lot has gone unexpected for them, e.g. no unplanned 2hr gaps, etc.

[Morteza]

I've been impressed with the amount of running Mercedes are doing in the Mugello test. They seem to have a very well planned out programme, and it looks like not a lot has gone unexpected for them, e.g. no unplanned 2hr gaps, etc.

Exactly. To me the team also acts more professionally compared to the last two years.

[munudeges]

Exactly. To me the team also acts more professionally compared to the last two years.

A correlation with the new staff, and in particular, Geoff Willis perhaps?

[xpensive]

Exactly. To me the team also acts more professionally compared to the last two years.

A correlation with the new staff, and in particular, Geoff Willis perhaps?

I'm not so certain that MS would agree with that however?

[elf341]

Munudeges, I think you might be on the ball. I have huge respect for Geoff Willis.

The one thing that does cause me slight curiosity, however, is the lack of pitot-tube arrays. It seems that almost all the other teams employ such arrays to measure the airflow to, presumably, verify correlation with the windtunnel. I would think this to be a fairly standard test to perform, and one which a team should conduct regularly if nothing else for peace of mind. But what do I know?

[zyphro]

Exactly. To me the team also acts more professionally compared to the last two years.

A correlation with the new staff, and in particular, Geoff Willis perhaps?

I'm not so certain that MS would agree with that however?

And why do you say that?

There's nothing to suggest that he would disagree; he has widely said he's happy in the manner the team is conducting its work.

[mantikos]

Never seen Mercedes use any aero sensors, do they even have em?

[zyphro]

Never seen Mercedes use any aero sensors, do they even have em?

I suspect they may be the only team that has their windtunnel configured to do these test on a full size car inside the test section.

Doesn't that give them a major advantage over others? This will put them in good stead for development?

[elf341]

Never seen Mercedes use any aero sensors, do they even have em?

I suspect they may be the only team that has their windtunnel configured to do these test on a full size car inside the test section.

But isn't full-size windtunnel testing limited/against-the-rules?

Teams I think have 4 days allocation of either straight-line, constant arc, or full-size windtunnel testing, don't they?

[Timstr]

Yes it is limited. Teams can trade in straight line track testing days for full-size testing.

Not all teams have tunnels with full size capabilities.
I remember when the new Honda Racing F1 windtunnel (now Mercedes GP) was completed in 2006, they were touting the full size car capabilities. It's an Adaptive Wall tunnel which allows for moving the walls of the test section to correct for blockage when a full size model or car is used. They've had huge problems in the first years of this tunnel, big correlation problems, but it's been 6 years and I think they now understand and developed it further.

Some info about the tunnel:
http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2005/12/3874.html

[marcush.]

obviously this tunnel produced just one exceptionally good car yet ...maybe 2 if we count w03...

[marcush.]

Munudeges, I think you might be on the ball. I have huge respect for Geoff Willis.

The one thing that does cause me slight curiosity, however, is the lack of pitot-tube arrays. It seems that almost all the other teams employ such arrays to measure the airflow to, presumably, verify correlation with the windtunnel. I would think this to be a fairly standard test to perform, and one which a team should conduct regularly if nothing else for peace of mind. But what do I know?

I´m not sure if the usual approach of putting aero influencing rakes into areas of interest is useful at all..you modify the area you are trying to measure ..but you look into minute details...how can that work?

Sure in windtunnels you do different things ..technology has made big steps in flow mapping ...maybe Mercedes is really that far ahead they just don´t rely on these questionable methods?