please log in to view this image random website link https://www.insidesport.in/f1-frenc...ahead-of-french-gp-in-le-castellet-check-out/ There should be a lot more coming out today. Is there an engine improvement of some sort coming????
Hey mate thanks for the pic share- looks like a few cooling-related changes for a few teams this week to cope with the heat wave! A few power units could need some careful management! So reading across the web, it looks like there is talk of a Mercedes reliability upgrade that might allow them to run the engine at “full power” - however one might define that. I think the inference is that the Merc PU may have been run in some more conservative modes to avoid DNFs. I’m just not sure exactly what it might be though. The guess might be that it’s been E-10 fuel related in terms of cooling (this stuff burns up more if you don’t cool sufficiently?) and when you think that Merc used space engineering research to design their cooling this year, it might further hint that this is the case. I’ve seen that McLaren has a very different cooling set up as a customer and I wonder if one of the reasons for their poor straight line speed might be that they are even more conservative with the PU because they can’t sufficiently cool? I don’t doubt that their car is draggy in concept but further issues with the PU modes would explain the marked difference IMO. There seems to be some talk of it happening (run at full power) this weekend - and perhaps this is why we are seeing the likes of Ant Davidson suddenly suggesting that Mercedes could be in the hunt this weekend. Yet others seem to suggest it’s something we will see after the summer break. Wish I understood the technical side more!
maybe so. thats a very interesting point cos they can't have "slowed down" hugely in engine since last years new engine lapping the field at brazil. Maybe it is engine modes with the fuel.
Just guessing here but it could be something to do with the temps that the pistons, rings, valves and combustion chamber could tolerate within certain timeframes. It might be that for reliability they had reduced running limits i.e. injection timing, duration etc. Maybe now they have modified the cooling system to have a bit more safety margin which allows more engine heat and therefore more power? All guess work but sounds like the E10 fuel is burning hotter than they predicted and they had to 'turn it down' somehow to protect the PU. I would expect any PU changes to just be shown in Q3 maybe Q2 and then maybe as a Push to Pass button in race trim. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Merc have gained a bit on their PU as Ferrari seem to keep dropping the ball and giving points to Red Bull.
I'm assuming they would be running an older engine today anyway? I thought teams typically run an old engine on a Friday and stick the fresh one in for Saturday.
Yep quite right. Remember as well that Merc have chosen this weekend to complete their mandatory test driver session with Nick De Vries replacing Hamilton in FP1. FP2 long runs will be the thing to watch with them, one lap pace we will see tomorrow but they are stronger in race this year than quali.
Wonder if there’s some stuff hidden or held back here? I don’t think the all black look is as innocent as just weight saving either- some detail hiding too! Just seen an intriguing idea on the tech forums- air flow channel that looks almost like an extension of the halo- perhaps they are maki use if it for performance as well as it’s safety function?
Are they doing two air flows looking at those channels? One traditionally sucking the air back to rear of car and diffuser etc, but then I noticed something that I hadn’t clicked on other cars which is an additional channel seemingly pushing air around the rear tyres? managing wake/drag? any tech heads on here who can help? (Or is it just completely normal and my CFD eyes are rubbish? Haha)
it's radically different to last years car. Those are not micro pods. they retain the wings not full out pod design but we are seeing a much more classic side pod design. Its vertical opening not horizontal that's all. however.... look at the floor! please log in to view this image Is it me or is that floor curling up at the outside. this looks like something NEW, the upper pod struts are directing air down and out. the pod body is out washing. this must be helping the floor. the top of the body work looks to me to be passing that air out between the upper and lower rear wing look at the front suspension. look at the air vanes under there as well. What i see is a departure form the Merc zero pod, ultra low drag approach (that didn't work). I am seeing a still narrow car, tasking that fundamental from the cooling system but the upper body is wide and the pods do flare out more after these narrow intakes. the front nose is hinting at this air flow. the nose is not directing air under the car as much as say ferrari is trying to. it starts probabaly "mid" height, flares up and then drops right down on the outer area. this seems to be focusing on those pods and airflows. It does have a hint of the under cut but only a hint at it. the body work over the top of those struts is going down and out.as it travels over the pods. please log in to view this image this shot hints more at the area on top. its a baby babybel but really it sees to be cleaning air that is flowing over the bodywork the air off the stop of the pod struts is more interesting for me. that air is going to the rear of the car for me. The air off the front wing might follow the green swoosh and be directed round the floor. they are heavily relying on that to power the shut off of the floor. This is looking far less worked than the red bull solution.
please log in to view this image this one shows the lower rear of car and floor at the rear tyre. not much visible in this shot. I absolutely hate this black car black car black car season. This is getting ridiculous now.
please log in to view this image top view to top view. please log in to view this image the front of the floor and vanes is not looking radically different to before. Its hard to tell if they've moved the starting points. the body shape is different after the nano pods. last year is went inward severely. it looks to be very different intent now.
one other thing. (sorry) there is no vanes on show. There's there great big vertical sidepod openings but not one signal visible slot of vane for that air to come back out of. Merc might be trying to delay showing where these will be until the tests or they might be using that air internally? however where is the engine cooling slots they needed on the top cowling last year?
Well... It certainly looks interesting so far. But the car that hit the track in testing was drastically different to the one revealed last season, so who knows what differences we may yet see. Whatever hits the track, hope it works better than last season. Need Merc and Ferrari challenging RBR who are still mostly likely to come out of the gates first.
