Mercedes 'DAS' system - how long until we see it copied?
Discussion
So, Mercedes went testing at the start of the year with the DAS system, in which the drivers pull on the steering wheel to get the front wheels to reduce their toe out on the straights.
At the time, everyone said it would take 6 months to catch up with this trick.
In theory, the teams have not been working on developing their cars, but I am sure Adrian Newey et al will have been thinking of a way of copying it, so how long will it be before the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari have something similar?
And if everyone has it, will it then be banned?
At the time, everyone said it would take 6 months to catch up with this trick.
In theory, the teams have not been working on developing their cars, but I am sure Adrian Newey et al will have been thinking of a way of copying it, so how long will it be before the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari have something similar?
And if everyone has it, will it then be banned?
Seeing as it's already banned for next season I don't see the point in putting resources into it. As other teams have said the gain is so minimal it's only something you do when the car is at it's peak of development and Mercedes is probably the only team in the high percentile of what the car can ultimately do IMO.
In Austria they’ve only been using it as a tyre preparation device for qualifying. No use this past weekend.
Contrary to earlier posts, by the way, RB could adopt such a system, and are part way there, which is why they ‘protested’, to seek clarification.
It’s turning out to make very little difference though, so it’s questionable whether even Mercedes will persevere with it for long.
Contrary to earlier posts, by the way, RB could adopt such a system, and are part way there, which is why they ‘protested’, to seek clarification.
It’s turning out to make very little difference though, so it’s questionable whether even Mercedes will persevere with it for long.
ajprice said:
Ardennes92 said:
You can see LH using it on some of the in car footage
Hamilton used it on the formation lap yesterday.Apart from Croft’s crap attempt at German “ DAS ist gut”, have SKY provided any technical analysis of just how Mercedes are using DAS in qualifying and the race?
They could not shut up talking about what they thought they knew before the season started, but now they are deathly quiet.
They could not shut up talking about what they thought they knew before the season started, but now they are deathly quiet.
rdjohn said:
Apart from Croft’s crap attempt at German “ DAS ist gut”, have SKY provided any technical analysis of just how Mercedes are using DAS in qualifying and the race?
They could not shut up talking about what they thought they knew before the season started, but now they are deathly quiet.
Its pretty obvious I thought? It adds some toe to the front axle, effectively making the tyre 'scrub' across the surface of the tread, which is used to heat the tyre up. They could not shut up talking about what they thought they knew before the season started, but now they are deathly quiet.
They were using it before a fast qually lap, on the formation lap, and also if behind the safety car mid race.
You've always been able to load up the rears (boot full of throttle) this system allows you to do the same to the front, and thus have tyres up to temp even if your crawling round behind the safety car. Gets you the hole shot on that first corner or two.
Theoratically they could also use it during normal racing on a cool (damp or drying maybe?) track if the data showed the front tyres were below optimal temp.
snotrag said:
rdjohn said:
Apart from Croft’s crap attempt at German “ DAS ist gut”, have SKY provided any technical analysis of just how Mercedes are using DAS in qualifying and the race?
They could not shut up talking about what they thought they knew before the season started, but now they are deathly quiet.
Its pretty obvious I thought? It adds some toe to the front axle, effectively making the tyre 'scrub' across the surface of the tread, which is used to heat the tyre up. They could not shut up talking about what they thought they knew before the season started, but now they are deathly quiet.
They were using it before a fast qually lap, on the formation lap, and also if behind the safety car mid race.
You've always been able to load up the rears (boot full of throttle) this system allows you to do the same to the front, and thus have tyres up to temp even if your crawling round behind the safety car. Gets you the hole shot on that first corner or two.
Theoratically they could also use it during normal racing on a cool (damp or drying maybe?) track if the data showed the front tyres were below optimal temp.
It adjusts the toe, that is the extent of what it 'does'.
Obviously toe on the straights will cause scrub. Equally the correct amount of toe will help in the corners. Neutral toe will help top speed and improve tyre life on the straights by reducing rolling resistance and scrub...
Normally the toe angle of a racecar is setup to achieve the best comprise of all the above. The Mercedes system gives direct control to the driver, so there is no compromise required.. they can have the perfect toe for each part of the circuit and can also adapt to cope better with warming the tyres.
All DAS does is alter toe angle, the end. The effects of altering toe angle aren't a secret or up for debate...
Obviously toe on the straights will cause scrub. Equally the correct amount of toe will help in the corners. Neutral toe will help top speed and improve tyre life on the straights by reducing rolling resistance and scrub...
Normally the toe angle of a racecar is setup to achieve the best comprise of all the above. The Mercedes system gives direct control to the driver, so there is no compromise required.. they can have the perfect toe for each part of the circuit and can also adapt to cope better with warming the tyres.
All DAS does is alter toe angle, the end. The effects of altering toe angle aren't a secret or up for debate...
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