Mercedes launch thread

[Duke]

Launches today just ahead of the testing. Absolutely no idea what it may look like

 

[Guerrilla]

The tip of the nose looks really narrow. Don't hate it all that much, guess the shock of the ugly noses is beginning to fade

They all seem happy with it though

 

[Skeeter]

Different side pods to the images we saw from yesterday.

 

[arknor]

only the rear bit of the sidepod is different , they have a few different versions of the last section for different exhaust configurations

 

[GravyMonster]

Different side pods to the images we saw from yesterday.

Thats what I was thinking. They were far more undercut on the Silverstone test day.

 

[arknor]

 

[tummelv]

Ross Brawn always looks so awkward in photos!

 

[arknor]

merc already changed the exhaust config since the launch photos though.

on the floor to the left

 

[englishpremier]

I like the look of that.

The uprights that support the wing are huge.

 

[~Mike~]

Ross Brawn...

"Notwithstanding the distinctive nose design, which is certainly an acquired taste, the F1 W03 is an elegant interpretation of the current regulations, and a clear step forward over its predecessor in terms of detail design and sophistication," he said.

The car does look good (apart from the nose) lets hope Merc have moved in the right direction this year.

More from Ross http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97602

Interesting what he says about the engineering team & testing.

 

[Damien.]

MSC, ready to fight again.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7535215/Schumi-I-m-eager-to-fight-again

 

[Duke]

His last chance to really. It would be good if Merc were challenging the top 3 teams a bit more this year.

 

[arknor]

His last chance to really. It would be good if Merc were challenging the top 3 teams a bit more this year.

i get the impression they went for a car that will win a few races.

circuits like monza , spa , suzuka etc that require a lot of speed and acceleration

remember the force india a few years ago that was silly fast in a straightline ? i suspect thats what merc are going for

if they arent a top 3 team they should be close enough that they can atleast harass one of them a lot

 

[arknor]

exhaust sounds pretty nice when hes driving down the pitlane :O

 

[Matt-Page]

The front of the Mercedes certainly looks different. The nose beak/step doesn't look quite to direct/straight and the fron of the nose is more curved than flat like other teams.

We are all looking at the front end of the cars but I think the buiggest advantages/differences are to do with the backend of the cars and how they are going to make up with losing the EBD.

 

[niroe]

Car looks great except for the 'I need a nose job nose'

 

[schumi84]

The front of the Mercedes certainly looks different. The nose beak/step doesn't look quite to direct/straight and the fron of the nose is more curved than flat like other teams.

This is exactly what I was thinking, from the side view the 'step' is sort of hidden by the bulges either side so definitely makes it look a bit less offensive than some of the cars' that have been released.

Front view still looks a bit strange but let's hope that aspect fades into the background this season

 

[Type_R]

Is it me or have Merc been running the same front wing since (they) won the WC in Brawn guise?

 

[Damien.]

Is it me or have Merc been running the same front wing since (they) won the WC in Brawn guise?

This years wing is nothing like last years?

What do you mean?

 

[arknor]

Is it me or have Merc been running the same front wing since (they) won the WC in Brawn guise?

they finally got a new front wing

seems like ferrari copied the style of the w02 wing and adapted it to a 2-3 tier wing so i guss merc are going in the right direction, the longer runs so far look promising aswell
http://f1tests.co.cc/2012.php?rev=on