Mercedes fin airbox

[ajprice]

So, how long before other teams use a similar thing? Brawn was saying the car was designed to have it from the start, as it gives more airflow to the rear wing (so more downforce), but the car wasn't finalised in time to use it at the 'flyaway' races.

[Oily Nails]

Clearly Michael Schumacher is an inspiration, even to the designers in Mercedes....


..look they even based the air intake on his nostrils

[Jasandjules]

I think they are going to be more interested in the "little" changes made by the Red Bulls........

[LocoBlade]

Other teams won't be able to copy it this season even if there's significant gains to be made (which I dont think there is), because the driver survival cell and roll hoop etc is all homologated for the season. Merc have got away with modifying it because the central pillar that forms the roll hoop hasnt changed, the air scoops for the engine weren't structural unlike every other team who use the air inlet itself to form the actual rollover bar, with no central pillar like the Merc has.

TBH though I can't see it being quite as safe as the traditional rollhoop, being the shape it is means its much more likely to bury itself into a sand trap if the car landed / skidded upside down, which could slightly compromise the amount of protection if offers.

[egomeister]

LocoBlade said:

Other teams won't be able to copy it this season even if there's significant gains to be made (which I dont think there is), because the driver survival cell and roll hoop etc is all homologated for the season. Merc have got away with modifying it because the central pillar that forms the roll hoop hasnt changed, the air scoops for the engine weren't structural unlike every other team who use the air inlet itself to form the actual rollover bar, with no central pillar like the Merc has.

Wot he said.

I was very surprised at Mercedes claim that the introduction was delayed as the parts weren't ready though - I would have expected them to have determined that such a system was a clear gain before committing to a homologated design such as this.

[Merry]

Wasnt the fin style roll protection used by Brabham in the 80s?

hmm sort of, to answer my own question. I'm sure i've seen it before though

[zac510]

It's not like the car suddenly picked up 0.5sec at Barcelona is it?

The shape looks not unlike the fin/spike rollover bars on some current LM24 prototype cars, although they have pairs of them.

[Eric Mc]

Turbo cars didn't need air boxes so they tended to have fairly straightforward roll over bars.

I wonder what type of roll over bar was fitted to Elio de Angelis' Brabham?