me either, they didn't do so well at it last year did they, personally I think they're worse of than last year, the same cars + Lotus are faster than them, but the cars behind are also closer.
Is it me, or is Armageddon arriving for Mercedes this weekend, they are either going to fall way down or turn the ship around and fight for the podium. With it raining and all, they may have a chance with Michael Schumacher behind the wheel. Other than that, my hopes this 3rd year are ebbing away again.
manny - I'm no Schuey fan, as you know. However the Merc and wet track gives him a pretty good chance.
I'm surprised tbh, as i would've said the movement to activate the DRS was driver controlled. I wonder if it would've been ruled legal if Mercedes had won by a country mile. How long before the rest have it?
He (Rosberg) has explained a bit more. Controlling tyre degradation better will be achieved by compromising qualifying setup. This might mean that the DRS F-duct solution wasn't as big a contributory factor to their qualifying performance in Australia as we thought. Schumacher reckons it's not massive: "There is no doubt that we have an innovation that gives us some performance but I don't think it's a huge performance. We will find out." I accept the decision because the driver presses the button primarily to activate DRS. What additional features are exposed as a result of that are secondary (e.g. the sculpting of the end plate behind the closed flap). The McLaren solution in 2010 depended on driver input primarily to increase the airflow through the duct. I also understand Red Bull's response, however, since the FIA tried to ban the EBD mid-season last year on the grounds that the driver lifting the throttle was a moveable aero device because the primary function was to reduce throttle and blowing the diffuser was secondary but hey-ho.
I don't see on what grounds, having declared the system legal, the FIA could change their minds. It's a couple of holes underneath the DRS flap, which in turn is operated by a button that all competitive cars have. Whether the concept is legal or not, surely it's a simple enough one for the rulemakers to comprehend and make a decision on pretty quickly?
Sorry to keep harping on about this but then, Christian Horner is. He wants further focus upon the Mercedes DRS-duct because the FIA ruling it legal twice isn't sufficient for him. He concedes that the FIA position is unlikely to change so his motives are... ?
The wing helps Mercedes qualify in front of the Red Bulls and then it holds them up in the race. Must be why he seems one of the few managers obsessed with the idea.
Scarbs summed it up quite well on his twitter: We're hearing a lot from Christian Horner complaining about Mercedes 'moveable' F-Duct wing set up? #OhTheIrony Horner needs to shut up, accept that it's OK and just get on with copying it.
I never saw any reason why it would be illegal, I did however always think it was somewhat pointless given the Mclaren's still able to keep up with the Merc in a straight line and you can't even use DRS that much in the race! Wonder if Mclaren will even bother trying to copy it, I think we know Red Bull will though.
Aren't they all? let's face it, if FI had come up with it someone would have moaned, nature of the beast, how many times have RBR been complained about, despite being cleared? The trouble is where do you draw the line in rule interpretation? what's allowed and what isn't? I thought it would be banned for the reasons I've given, I'm not saying it should be banned, but banning it would've stopped people trying to tag extra aero functions on driver controlled equipment, now it's open season.
I think any successful team boss would do the same in his position. If you feel someone has an advantage over you through an unfair means, you would pipe up. C H was very vocal about the double decked diffuser in 09, and Mclarens F-duct, mclaren about RB's flexi wing + EBD etc.
That's the point. Yes he should contest it, but having been told twice it's now time to copy it. The ducts are fairly hefty things. Just to the left of the yellow nut and the right of the red one. ID'd by bhallg2k on F1Technical. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Interesting what Brawn said. He says Red Bull are complaining to Charlie Whiting just so he can tell them why it's legal and so Red Bull can try and copy. But if they did this for that reason then their package may have to be compromised to suit the DRS.
