no but im convinced they atleast has as much of a chance as ferrari and mclaren do.
you seem to write them off as some mid field team who will be struggling with lotus and force india
F1 Testing 2012 - Week 1, Jerez
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no but im convinced they atleast has as much of a chance as ferrari and mclaren do.
you seem to write them off as some mid field team who will be struggling with lotus and force india
Initially, I actually though that maybe Merc did have something up their sleeves. I was under the impression that they were going to release their new car in the final week of testing.
However, given that they are now bringing their new car to the next test (ie. they only missed 1 test, which isn't a huge deal), I am now beginning to think that they simply didnt have their 2011 car ready in time for the first test...I don't think there is any top secret gizmo that they are hiding.
However, in saying all of that, lets wait and see what happens in the next few days, as that will at least give us a better indication of just how good Merc are.
However, given that they are now bringing their new car to the next test (ie. they only missed 1 test, which isn't a huge deal), I am now beginning to think that they simply didnt have their 2011 car ready in time for the first test...I don't think there is any top secret gizmo that they are hiding.
However, in saying all of that, lets wait and see what happens in the next few days, as that will at least give us a better indication of just how good Merc are.
Soldato
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He's seems about as convinced of that as I am that they are putting some PR spin on the fact the new car simply wasn't ready for the first test.
There is no other reason, ever, to miss a test.
im sure they could have been ready they started making the w03 not long into the 2011 season, i suspect they wanted to wait and see other peoples cars before going through all the crash tests just incase they made a fatal flaw like they did the last 2 seasons.
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What difference would the two/three weeks it's been since everyone revealed their cars have made to Mercedes? It takes far longer than that for all the aero testing of a new device to happen, let alone for it to be built.
and besides that Mercedes went through the crash tests in January like everyone else didn't they? I can't find a source now, but I'm pretty sure they did.
and besides that Mercedes went through the crash tests in January like everyone else didn't they? I can't find a source now, but I'm pretty sure they did.
Didn't McLaren do something similar last year? Perform tyre tests with the old car to gather useful tyre data, and then test with the new car in later tests. It makes a kinda sense, although - clearly - McLaren don't feel it was worth repeating this year.
maybe they had a few different revisions already and wanted to see what others were doing before deciding on one?
people have already said at silverstone there were 2 different engine covers and 2 different sidepods (i guess for exhaust configurations)
Yes but usually because the car just wasn't ready, not because they were waiting to see what everyone else did
This did indeed happen.
However, had the 2011 McLaren been ready for the first test, they would've brought it to the first test.
RBR also did the same thing in 2010 and BrawnGP did the same in 2009.
Once again, had RBR and BrawnGP had their cars ready for the first test, they would've brought them along.
Unless there is a VERY good reason, it is highly unlikely that any team would be so bold as to miss a test session or use an older car during that test. In general, the more testing miles you put on your car, the more likely it is that they will start the season with a better understanding of their car and how best to get the fastest lap time out of it. The same also goes for the drivers who are piloting their new vehicle - the more practise they have, the better (quite often, race car simulators will not be very accurate, especially at the start of the season, so actual track time is like gold-dust).
So you claimed, without evidence, at the time. It's certainly a reasonable hypothesis, but I do wish you'd distinguish between your speculation and actual facts.
Mind you, I think it makes sense as an explanation for why Mercedes didn't bring their car to the first test this year. The question is not what funky feature Mercedes are hiding from view but what put their development back so much they missed the first test.
To be fair to sunama (and I have to be, occasionally), why should he when no other bugger does?
I really doubt any manufacturer didn't bring their new car to the first test 'as it wasn't ready', it would be planned months ago to do that. They are building the cars for what over six months? So not being ready for the first test but to suddenly have a car ready the following the week isn't what is happening.
the black indent looking bit near the exhaust is aparently an illusion caused by the crappy camera quality of someones mobile phone and its really just heat tape
a nice gif though that clearly shows how much the car has changed from last year.
looks like it should have a mssively lower COG than lasts year
Interesting Spanish article on the possible W03 "W duct".
Can use Google translate, but the video at the bottom gives a good illustration.
http://www.caranddriverthef1.com/fo...-w-duct-un-triple-f-duct-delantero-automatico
Amusing how they used a Ferrari and Alonso to demonstrate it though.
Can use Google translate, but the video at the bottom gives a good illustration.
http://www.caranddriverthef1.com/fo...-w-duct-un-triple-f-duct-delantero-automatico
Amusing how they used a Ferrari and Alonso to demonstrate it though.