Mercedes AMG F1 W03

[NewtonMeter]

Seriously happy about the fact that Nico is getting a good amount of laps in...

Why did I say that...

[snoop1050]

82 laps is basically what you do on a test day, maybe they completed the programme?

i'd have thought they would be making up for lost time since the hydraulic failure yesterday ended their program early.

[NewtonMeter]

82 laps is basically what you do on a test day, maybe they completed the programme?

But can one ever test enough?

[yace]

does someone know where i could find a 100% side view of the w03?

thanx

[diego1960]

JET, I got that and was confused although to be honest I wasn't watching the test, just saw the times/laps from a link. I still can't judge the car though, it definately seems more refined but at the same time I am not sure it is where it is supposed to be performance-wise after all the extra development. I would love to read more of what you and X think. Btw where is X?

PS: Does anyone know if the presentation-FW was used today? I am asking because I only saw shots of the Grandaddy FW, and I must say i would be rather happier if it was the last time I saw it.

[yener]

Nice overview of todays test

http://f1tests.co.cc/2012.php

[retpog55]

http://f1tests.co.cc/2012.php?rev=on

Vettel and Hamilton doing long runs now and Nico's long runs in the W03 now look quite competitive. No way to determine fuel loads etc but one thing we can be sure of is that Nico has not done any 1 or 2 lap qualifying style speed runs today and Red Bull, Force India etc look like they have. No need to panic about the current "standings" as everyone looks like they are doing different things. Hamilton's times seem to be slightly better by a tenth or two in a race simulation than Vettel's this afternoon.....interesting, but again no way to directly compare tyres / fuel.

*EDIT - autosport confirm Hamilton is on Mediums, Vettel on hards, that would explain that one then and also makes the Red Bull look very strong at this stage.


To put things into perspective - Rosberg's best time of today so far, a 1:24.555 was achieved on a 13 lap run. Vettel's best time of the day so far, a 1:22.891 was achieved on a 1-2 lap run. Quite worrying how the Mercedes has yet to show itself for nearly 2 hours though now, another issue with the W03 perhaps?

[kooleracer]

Rosberg now 1 hour and 25mins in the pitbox, not a good sign. Hopefully not the same hydrolic faillure.

[VT-Doo]

I'm not worried, Vettel wasn't out all morning. Plus Rosberg has another day in the car this week whereas some of the others don't.

[Pierce89]

Wow that's some burnt body work!And look how the heatproofing covers more area evry time they come out of the pits. It's impressive though, that this doesn't seem to be affecting performance.

@mods, sorry for quoting a pic but its from a different page

[tok-tokkie]

Where does the radiator air escape?

This picture shows that the central round exit has two small ducts taking most of the space. There is some space alongside the exhausts & the exhaust flow would pull air through that gap but there is not much space there.

This picture seems to show that the bodywork has an opening around the gearbox. Is that where the radiator airflow escapes?

'--------
The bodywork is burned by hot exhaust pipes inside. Minor problem I would think.

[bhall]

[Oops. Wrong thread.]

[dren]

Radiator exhaust is where the sidepod meets the rear. The exhaust for the inlet above the airbox is at the back in the middle.

[dren]

Enhance...click...enhance...click...enhance...

Better view of the diffuser. I wonder where the inlet is for the top area? Hard to see the starter hole in this picture with the dust/lens dirt.

[kilcoo316]

@Horse

By ground plane I mean at the lowest point on the car. The old DDD took its air from a slot running along a 'virtual' extension of the plank sides.

This I think will siphon off air much further up (vertically); probably through a hole ostentatiously used for starting the engine. However, since it is still increasing the effective exit area of the diffuser it will result in more air drawn under the car floor - which is the sole objective of the diffuser after the initial ramp.