Mercedes AMG F1 W03 (pre-launch speculation)

[Pup]

The Ferrari F2012 and Mercedes W03 side pods are similar in that they are all present, mounted either side of the engine and allegedly hold radiators

They also look a lot alike. As do the front wings and the airbox. So what? I don't know why you guys are so touchy about that. Different doesn't imply better.

[FrukostScones]

beam wing is better in view here, but still hard to see how it is mounted and whether it is split etc...

[hardingfv32]

Well Ferrari built a exhaust system that cost as much two compact street cars had to take a hacksaw to it

Keep your eyes opening on Ebay, etc. and you can actually buy a set of these exhaust systems for the price of a set of street tires. I have two sets mounted as art work in the living room. You never see Ferrari stuff though.

Brian

[hardingfv32]

Guess it depends on the area you're aiming to blow. If you're blowing some sculpted break ducts then that's a small window compared to blowing the wings or suspension elements. And those rear suspension elements look very broad and heat resistant

We have been discussing the interaction with control arms on the RB thread. Are you implicating that the control arms could be directing the exhaust flow?

I am up for challenging that position.

Brian

[RichardF1]

Mercedes gone down the Red Bull style front wing fashion? Also, has it got a similar r-cascade like Mclaren or Red Bull, or is it the step change that changes the light? My eyes aren't the best...

[pocketmoon]

Guess it depends on the area you're aiming to blow. If you're blowing some sculpted break ducts then that's a small window compared to blowing the wings or suspension elements. And those rear suspension elements look very broad and heat resistant

We have been discussing the interaction with control arms on the RB thread. Are you implicating that the control arms could be directing the exhaust flow?

I am up for challenging that position.

Brian

If they're in the way they must be having an effect on the flow. I'll pop over to RB forum for a look...

[Gridlock]

I am up for challenging that position.

Brian

You want arguments, second door on the left.

I think the most intriguing part of the suspension arm/exhaust flow interaction, one that I alluded to in the RB thread, is that suspension arms move with speed relative to the exhaust.

[Goran2812]

nose doesn't seem to be as wide as the rest of the field...

[n smikle]

no free floating beam wing if I see correctly....
why cant they build a gearbox and crash box what makes it possible...
Damn, that is a drawback!

http://i.imgur.com/E9Son.jpg

The beam wing seems to be mounted quite low, in the middle of the crashbox. Below the upper arm mounting points at least, which is quite unusual.

Gearbox exits are way ahead wheel center line. Driveshafts have a big angle. Was it the same on W02?


This car has a lot of tricks: sidepods, beam wing, front wing & its endplates.. I really like it.

Good Point. The Gearbox is actually very similar to Williams I think. The coverings hide it a bit, but the the drive shaft angle is steep and the Rear a-arms are higher than the beam wing to less disturb the flow under the beam wing. very smart solutions.

[hardingfv32]

[I think the most intriguing part of the suspension arm/exhaust flow interaction, one that I alluded to in the RB thread, is that suspension arms move with speed relative to the exhaust.

Please expand on the significance.

Brian

[Ferraripilot]

This car and Mclaren's are the only two to meet my expectations for 2012. RB did nothing very different, didn't have to. And the Ferrari appears to be an exercise in what's possible in F1 design rather than what appears to make sense anyway. I could be wrong but I believe Ferrari just yielded their third place position to Mercedes. The W03 back end combined with the incredibly low sidepods are the class of the field IMO. Red Bull and Macca have sort of a high-ish sidepod that drapes down very quickly but I would suspect that design would have more flow attachment issues.

[FrukostScones]

no free floating beam wing if I see correctly....
why cant they build a gearbox and crash box what makes it possible...
Damn, that is a drawback!

http://i.imgur.com/E9Son.jpg

The beam wing seems to be mounted quite low, in the middle of the crashbox. Below the upper arm mounting points at least, which is quite unusual.

Gearbox exits are way ahead wheel center line. Driveshafts have a big angle. Was it the same on W02?


This car has a lot of tricks: sidepods, beam wing, front wing & its endplates.. I really like it.

Good Point. The Gearbox is actually very similar to Williams I think. The coverings hide it a bit, but the the drive shaft angle is steep and the Rear a-arms are higher than the beam wing to less disturb the flow under the beam wing. very smart solutions.

to me it looks more like the halfshaft is tilted backwards than upwards....
we will see... and compare. In 7hours we will hopefully have hi-res pictures...

[DCren]

Half shafts seem to be angled up from this pic.

[Gridlock]

[I think the most intriguing part of the suspension arm/exhaust flow interaction, one that I alluded to in the RB thread, is that suspension arms move with speed relative to the exhaust.

Please expand on the significance.

Brian

I said it was intriguing, not significant. Generally I think exhaust treatment this year has been given way too much focus; it's not an EBD, it can't be used as an EBD curtain, and most damningly the clear intent (and therefore enforcement) of the rules is to make the exhaust plume as aerodynamically neutral as possible.

[Ganxxta]

I do not have the big technical knowledge some others here do, so excuse me if its a silly question, but if the exhaust stay in the position this far forward, is it good for the power of the engine?

I mean I read that the EBD forced long exhaust pipes that lead to less power, so is a short pipe like this good for merc in terms of pure engine power?