Mercedes AMG F1 W03

[diego1960]

Is the sidepod discolouration at the back due to a gearbox oil leak or are they not connected? I am getting increasingly worried with that, at the end they will either have to replace half of the sidepod with black heat-resistant material and/or cut holes everywhere. Maybe the problem was bigger than anticipated. I guess we will have to wait until the second Barcelona test to find out. It is a shame because apart from that the car looks well designed...

[Ferraripilot]

Is the sidepod discolouration at the back due to a gearbox oil leak or are they not connected? I am getting increasingly worried with that, at the end they will either have to replace half of the sidepod with black heat-resistant material and/or cut holes everywhere. Maybe the problem was bigger than anticipated. I guess we will have to wait until the second Barcelona test to find out. It is a shame because apart from that the car looks well designed...

Sidepod burning is from the outside exhaust gases which are being diverted to the sidepods. The gas is simply draping over the bodywork in areas causing burn marks. The car is not overheating at all.

[diego1960]

I hope you are right Ferraripilot. If that's the case then most probably the problem is only aesthetic and nothing to worry about. I will certainly feel much better if I see MSC tomorrow completing 90+ laps without issues, as the car needs track time to optimize set-ups for any conditions/fuel loads. It's just that this brought memories from the previous year, memories I would rather keep repressed

[dren]

I hope you are right Ferraripilot. If that's the case then most probably the problem is only aesthetic and nothing to worry about. I will certainly feel much better if I see MSC tomorrow completing 90+ laps without issues, as the car needs track time to optimize set-ups for any conditions/fuel loads. It's just that this brought memories from the previous year, memories I would rather keep repressed

The paint changing color last year was from exhaust heat as well. They were also taking off body panels to cope with the overheating issues. They don't have those this year. Nothing to worry about.

Hondabond is the $hit Ferraripilot

[MadMatt]

Damn how F1 has gone the ugly route.

- Stupidly large front wings
- Ridiculously small rear wings (in width) but very high
- Awful step on the nose
- My car is sitting lower than these F1 cars
- Diffusor is smaller than those of the std hatchback those days

What did happen to F1 ?

[Mestrades]

Damn how F1 has gone the ugly route.

- Stupidly large front wings
- Ridiculously small rear wings (in width) but very high
- Awful step on the nose
- My car is sitting lower than these F1 cars
- Diffusor is smaller than those of the std hatchback those days

What did happen to F1 ?

FIA REGULATIONS

[strad]

Concern with safety over racing

[beelsebob]

The need to maintain lap times within a reasonable bracket.

[Ferraripilot]

I hope you are right Ferraripilot. If that's the case then most probably the problem is only aesthetic and nothing to worry about. I will certainly feel much better if I see MSC tomorrow completing 90+ laps without issues, as the car needs track time to optimize set-ups for any conditions/fuel loads. It's just that this brought memories from the previous year, memories I would rather keep repressed

The paint changing color last year was from exhaust heat as well. They were also taking off body panels to cope with the overheating issues. They don't have those this year. Nothing to worry about.

Hondabond is the $hit Ferraripilot

At Barcelona I'm sure we are not seeing any finalized panels in the exhaust area. Mercedes are trying 3 different configurations so I am sure everything they have at these track days are strictly prototypes until they decide which configuration is best. I suspect they will have it nailed down by the final test and at Australia we will see the non-prototype final pieces in place.


And yes on Hondabond. I buy is as Threebond labeling (they make it for Honda) as it's cheaper! Some like threebond 1121 for mating gearboxes and engine halves though. Not me though (too much rtv in 1121 but it doesn't set up as quick which I guess is nice).

[Eruuh]

I have read so often about those 3 variations of the exhaust but i cant find a link. Do you have one for me?

[pocketmoon]

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/b ... trackside/


"Meanwhile the Mercedes appears at first sight to be a good car with some interesting solutions in the diffuser, the exhausts and other areas, but it does not contain the silver bullet that some were expecting. It is a step forward for the Silver Arrows and should certainly bag some podiums this year, but whether it’s enough to challenge for the odd race win, it’s too early to say."

[marcush.]

Well for what it's worth the BGP001 lineage until last year has seemed to always be very compliant to setup - if you changed setup it was reflected in the handling. That much was said in 2009; and in 2010/2011 when they stopped car development their car was basically just "developed" by furthering the team's understanding of the car's setup sweet spots.

I do not agree there completely.Brawn had difficulty to find the setup window for BGP001 quite often ,so maybe their sims at home did not correlate very well .
w01 certainly had a uncurable design flaw and did not respond at all to setup changes and it did not respond to development as well..
w02 took a fair time to understand but come race 3 or 4 the team had cracked the nut and maxed out the potential as it looks ..

as with the hydraulic issues...what may cause these? a leak has a reason and heat is one of the enemies you will face.

[diego1960]

Eruuh, I don't have a link but I've read it also, Ferraripilot is right. From what I remember one of the three solutions is borderline legal according to rumors, although the article might have been written before the W03's launch. In any case, I hope that they do turn their attention on the exhaust as it still may be an important area for evolution. I expect the Merc to blow the suspension but in a different way than now. It seems their current exhaust exits way up high to achieve good results and looks like the W01 solution (if I remember correctly).

[dren]

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/b ... trackside/


"Meanwhile the Mercedes appears at first sight to be a good car with some interesting solutions in the diffuser, the exhausts and other areas, but it does not contain the silver bullet that some were expecting. It is a step forward for the Silver Arrows and should certainly bag some podiums this year, but whether it’s enough to challenge for the odd race win, it’s too early to say."

James Allen is usually on point with predictions/insight. Sounds promising, and what we were expecting.

[msc-n01]

I dont know if u guys have seen this video of the W03. for those of u that have not seen it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBiKYiZq ... re=related