Looks like Mercedes have worked out they can keep the car cool with much smaller radiator side pods. will be interesting to see how this translates to lap times, and how quickly the other teams follow suit (or demand a change to the regs to outlaw it ).
Yep, Karen Horner has already allegedly questioned the legality of it. Which translates as we didn't think of it so it can't be allowed....
I think that's the clever bit - the side impact protection is a regulations thing, needs to be there in a certain place, specified size etc and is normally built into the side pods. What mercedes appear to have done is separated the pod and the mandatory side impact protection - made the impact bit a separate part with an aero shape, then re-think what the minimum size /shape needed for radiator ducts etc and create something small/ separate to house those. Very clever thinking - remains to be seen if this is going to give them a significant advantage or not, but i guess they wouldn't have developed it unless they thought it would. If nothing else, it'll mean that the other teams will be scrambling around frantically trying to come up with their own versions of this, so even if it is banned/ doesn't provide a benefit it will still be a massive curved ball for the other teams which will deflect them from whatever testing and development they'd previously planned for this pre season period.
Interesting... The cars seem sluggish out of slower corners and not as twitchy as previous years but do run well in close proximity so I suppose it's job done for Ross Brawn and co . Good to see some of the backmarkers from recent years getting decent points - a pleasant turn around Well done Ferrari , Red bull got their just desserts Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
Enjoyed that. BBC London dropped the result 10 mins into the spurs game which kind of spoiled matters although it kept me watching til the end of the highlights! Some talk of a lack of fuel for the red bulls. I think it’s hilarious that this has happened when they’ve just brought the engine program in house Just desserts maybe, but I doubt it will affect their whole season, unfortunately!
If you haven't seen the highlights, watch it now. I'll just say WOW to: Ferrari Haas Red Bull Mclaren If you have seen the race you'll know why, for good or bad
Well, the close racing from last week wasn’t a one off. I reckon Ross Brawn deserves a medal! Looking forward to seeing how racy these guys get on an more open circuit with a bit of run off and to see what happens when the first round of upgrades sorts out the pecking order a bit
So far the racing is closer but it was supposed to bring everyone closer together last year it was red bull and Mercedes’ leaving everyone behind now it’s Ferrari and red bull same old same old just different teams so far.
first time in ages, actually enjoyed the spanish GP.. its usually a snooze fest, pole sitter wins but not this weekend so sorry for leclerc - he clearly had it in the bag but also super to see george on the podium, and if LH can drive from 19th position to 4th (before the team told him to slow down) then there must be something pretty good about that mercedes - now they have stopped it porpoising they can start making it competitive. its going to be a good season!
I’ve been thinking that the Mercedes has probably been designed so well in the win tunnel that it is generating too much downforce furling the porpoising. This iteration is obviously much better with the new floor and they’re talking about getting other parts of the car to create the downforce now. Hopefully they can close the gap further now. They might have also been flattered by those temperatures as they had trouble turning the tyres on to date.
Just caught up with last week’s Silverstone race. Brilliant last few laps, must’ve been great watching it with the crown around you. Spot on about Ferrari.
