Mercedes AMG F1 W03

[kooleracer]

That run was consistent, but when the track got busy, you could see his times starting to be incosistent. I looks like the w03 is quick out of the box. This test day is all about checking numbers and finding good balance in the car. The car isnt fuelled to the rim, but also isnt super light.

Those long runs are also to get data on the new Pirelli, we al know the problems of the W02. I hope this year that isnt a factor anymore. First are all back to back testing, thats why the use 2011 FW. Maybe tommorrow we will see 2012 spec FW.

In the second test on 1 march i think then we will sea different exhaust layout testing. There are not chasing for quick times now, because i haven't seen them using the supersofts.

BTW: Rosberg out on the track again banging in some laps.

[Ferraripilot]

The paint burning is from the outside exhaust gases washing down the side of the bodywork. It is not from the inside out. If you can see, the exhaust path appears to be directly impeded by something which has the intent of redirecting the gases, and all we are seeing is the washing effect. We can see MB used high temp black bodywork in some of the areas they knew were going to be especially hot and the only areas effected are the areas directly attached to the black bodywork. So in other words, let's all calm down about the pain burning.


Ringo, I'm confused regarding how you're not seeing W03 as a cohesive machine and even more confused by the Honda comment as this car is without a doubt the farthest thing from what Honda could ever have been. The team is run by different world championship quality people and the car certainly has an attention to detail which only the top teams know. Especially the front wing, hands down the class of the field. The sidepods take a different approach than what RB and Macca have with a draped down look. If you compare the two, you would notice the sidepod mass and volume they are encapsulating are higher than W03 while W03 employs a very low packaging which I believe will work to their advantage. The car will do well.

[ovidiulucaci]

Some pictures from today test:

1.


2.


3.


Someone could explain what's with that diffuser and the tubes from engine cover in pictures 1 and 2?
Look at the detail in the red cercle(whats the name of that are of the car...front floor... ) in the picture number 3. I don't thing i saw that design till now!

[dren]

1. Ducting to exhaust hot gasses
2. Shadow from crush structure above
3. Tea tray/start of the floor. This looks funky cause of the angle

[NewtonMeter]

Seriously happy about the fact that Nico is getting a good amount of laps in and as far as I can tell, without any gills (*touch wood). Sure there is some burn marks, Looking at the pics though, the burn pattern seems to be "external" scorch marks - i.e. from hot exhaust gasses. Not from excessive internal heat. Just an opinion though.

Although I'm not going to pretend that I'm currently ignoring the times, I'll get bothered about them next week.

My assessment at present: "So far, so good"

[dren]

The sidepod attachment to the floor is smoother unlike the 2nd class effort from last year's W02 that X and munundes pointed out so many times.

The gurney flap on top of the diffuser isn't slotted. Didn't the W02 have a slotted flap in the middle at the end of the year? Just about all of the teams this year debuted slotted gurneys also. I expect a slotted gurney to follow. I also expect rear wing slats to show up below the rear wing at some point.

[ovidiulucaci]

1. Ducting to exhaust hot gasses
2. Shadow from crush structure above
3. Tea tray/start of the floor. This looks funky cause of the angle

Thanks, but there is a space between the diffuser and the crush structure. whats that for? I don't see anybody with that design.

[Byron R]

Most of the pics put up so far have shown some rear tire graining, of course we don't know fuel level, how many laps etc. regardless of all the aero bits they gotta get the tires to work right, the tire compounds are the one thing none of the teams get to change. Some of the pics of other top teams showed no signs of graining. Of course we don't know how many laps they had run either. Let's hope for no tire issues.

[dren]

My thoughts on what the exhaust might be doing. It's either doing this or blowing the beam wing. It looks like the exhaust would get a pretty good downwash coming over the sidepods. Note the two vanes on top of the diffuser (circled in red).

[Eruuh]

According to an article in the AMuS:
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 19073.html


Bob Bell tells: Bereits am Prüfstand zeigte sich, dass die Probleme mit der Kühlung der Vergangenheit angehören.

And for all who are not german/ cant undestand german: On the test (i mean in Brackley/Brixworth) showed that problems concerning the cooling are a thing of the past

[dren]

1. Ducting to exhaust hot gasses
2. Shadow from crush structure above
3. Tea tray/start of the floor. This looks funky cause of the angle

Thanks, but there is a space between the diffuser and the crush structure. whats that for? I don't see anybody with that design.

That is part of the gurney flap. It extends up to the crash structure. There is a shadow on it from the crash structure that makes it look like the diffuser has a cut out.

[Eruuh]

1. Ducting to exhaust hot gasses
2. Shadow from crush structure above
3. Tea tray/start of the floor. This looks funky cause of the angle

Thanks, but there is a space between the diffuser and the crush structure. whats that for? I don't see anybody with that design.

That is part of the gurney flap. It extends up to the crash structure. There is a shadow on it from the crash structure that makes it look like the diffuser has a cut out.

There might be a shadow but i dont think it is just an optical illusion.

[kilcoo316]

I'm pretty sure there is a cut-out there.

There are three distinct tones in the picture. A shadow would only result in 2 tones. There is a change of lay-up and/or a change in surface angle of incidence to the light.


I would expect it is in a similar mould to the Williams diffuser - namely trying to use the crash structure to increase the effective diffuser exit area.

[dren]

Hmmm hard to say. I'll have to go check out the Williams now. It would only expand the under the floor gas if it has a passage way to it. Maybe a trick with the starter hole?

[ovidiulucaci]

1. Ducting to exhaust hot gasses
2. Shadow from crush structure above
3. Tea tray/start of the floor. This looks funky cause of the angle

Thanks, but there is a space between the diffuser and the crush structure. whats that for? I don't see anybody with that design.

That is part of the gurney flap. It extends up to the crash structure. There is a shadow on it from the crash structure that makes it look like the diffuser has a cut out.

look!

there is a shadow, but there is a cut, too!