What changes? What surprises?
I think it would be suicidal to go the Long wheelbase way for Ferrari. The very reason (as much as I have read and understood) why Mercedes wanted to go the Long wheelbase for W08 is, that architecture offers more downforce. They seems to have been struggling, because after successfully delivering beasts for 3 years, they changed their philosophy and somewhere, some correlation is missing between the older spec of wheel base and newer one. The way their rear is dancing, coming out of faster corner, I feel they haven't managed to get what they wanted from longer wheel base.
No, I agree - I don't see it happening at all.GPR-A wrote: ↑04 May 2017, 12:59I think it would be suicidal to go the Long wheelbase way for Ferrari. The very reason (as much as I have ready and understood) why Mercedes wanted to go the Long wheelbase for W08 is, that architecture offers more downforce. They seems to have been struggling, because after successfully delivering beasts for 3 years, they changed their philosophy and somewhere, some correlation is missing between the older spec of wheel base and newer one. The way their rear is dancing, coming out of faster corner, I feel they haven't managed to get what they wanted from longer wheel base.
Whereas Ferrari, seems to be having great handle on their downforce levels and the mechanical grip. So far, Ferrari seems be the better balanced car than W08. Mercedes is still depending upon PU power to propel them and recover whatever time they are losing with the relative bad balance. Changing to Longer wheelbase means, changing the Wind Tunnel and CFD models and go through the same exercise that Mercedes has gone through in terms of changing the correlation between two different models and exactly extrapolate the overall car's performance metrics from older to newer model. If they miss a few things, the way Mercedes seems to have missed, they go backwards as they do not have the same PU power advantage, while Mercedes might move forward with bringing solutions to their problems. There might build up a gulf between the two.
May be because Ferrari were not confident until last year that they can either match or surpass the Mercedes with the regulation changes, they most likely have taken two different approaches of short and long wheelbases. Now that they are on the right track, it should be wise to move in the right direction, than to go in a direction of which they have no idea, except for virtual numbers from their simulations.
Won't be as fast as winter testing since no SS, so I'm guessing low 19's for pole.
They were forced to run a long wheelbase because they couldn't get a steep rake design to work. Their aero philosophy in previous years doesn't translate well to a high rake design. Thus to gain the downforce increase required they had to increase the length. This was confirmed in an interview with a team member earlier in the year.GPR-A wrote: ↑04 May 2017, 12:59The very reason (as much as I have read and understood) why Mercedes wanted to go the Long wheelbase for W08 is, that architecture offers more downforce. They seems to have been struggling, because after successfully delivering beasts for 3 years, they changed their philosophy and somewhere, some correlation is missing between the older spec of wheel base and newer one.
Casey mentioned in a interview on ch4 making the GP week more than just the race. He wants to get more involved with the country for the whole week trying to showcase the sport. Maybe that's what he's got planned, a special event in Barcelona or something along those lines.
Well, what I read in that regard was that, they were unable to put as much rake on the current car, that is longer wheel base. When they tried on this car, they lost as much as over a second and hence, had to keep the rake down. Even lower than the predecessors. Can you please point me out to the source you read?Just_a_fan wrote: ↑04 May 2017, 15:12They were forced to run a long wheelbase because they couldn't get a steep rake design to work. Their aero philosophy in previous years doesn't translate well to a high rake design. Thus to gain the downforce increase required they had to increase the length. This was confirmed in an interview with a team member earlier in the year.GPR-A wrote: ↑04 May 2017, 12:59The very reason (as much as I have read and understood) why Mercedes wanted to go the Long wheelbase for W08 is, that architecture offers more downforce. They seems to have been struggling, because after successfully delivering beasts for 3 years, they changed their philosophy and somewhere, some correlation is missing between the older spec of wheel base and newer one.
I agree with this. And it´s god damn beautiful to see..godlameroso wrote: ↑04 May 2017, 14:22I think the cars performance is so close that the balance of power shifts with small variables. The driver, the nature of the circuit, the weather, team strategy, car setup, all can swing the tide back and forth. Too close to call in other words.
From http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... isch%29%29GPR-A wrote: ↑04 May 2017, 16:43Well, what I read in that regard was that, they were unable to put as much rake on the current car, that is longer wheel base. When they tried on this car, they lost as much as over a second and hence, had to keep the rake down. Even lower than the predecessors. Can you please point me out to the source you read?
Mercedes has tried it in the early phase of the concept, but has fallen on the nose during the first wind tunnel tests and CFD simulations. "We immediately lost up to 60 points downforce," says an engineer. This made it clear: the risk of pursuing this path is too great. So a substitute solution had to come. And that is the long wheelbase.
The Mercedes grew between the wheels from 3,500 to 3,760 millimeters. In comparison, the Red Bull is shorter by 20 centimeters at 3,557 millimeters. Because at the Mercedes the side boxes relative to the sternVideo BMW M4 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S early in , this creates a lot of free space on the undersurface as far as the diffuser. That brings downforce. And extra space to capture and reorientate the entanglement of the front wing and front wheels.
That is why the baffles on the silver arrow are so complex. An engineer tells us: "The risk with the long wheelbase was lower for us than with the big angle of attack. We will have to accept a few disadvantages on narrow routes, but have a much better aerodynamic platform. "