FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Cai]

Apparently Mercedes have developed a new type of double diffuser that abides by the new FIA regulations, quote taken from http://totalf1.com/..

Mechanics working for the Brackley based team are making more efforts than usual to hide the front and rear of the car, and erecting huge screens in front of the pits between test runs in Barcelona.

But a big secret is now out of the bag, and it’s located beneath the rear rain light and being described by insiders as “like a double diffuser”.

Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport said the feature is believed to produce an effect similar to the one pioneered by Mercedes’ predecessor Brawn GP in 2009, which resulted in the championship for Jenson Button.

And according to Auto Motor und Sport, the concept differs to the banned double diffuser because the air is channelled through holes at the rear of the engine cover.

The concept, despite complying with the FIA’s blown diffuser clampdown, also reportedly involves the clever redirection of exhaust gases.

And yet another innovation on the Mercedes could be a passive ‘F-duct’-style addition to the car’s new rear wing, working alongside the ‘DRS’ system.

When asked about the ‘ducts’, Rosberg and Schumacher played it coy: “What’s that?” Rosberg answered, while Schumacher joked that it sounds like something that should go “quack!”

What do you guys and girls think of this? I think this can potentially be the innovation of the season, Melbourne will tell us I guess!

[Hammer278]

Oh man I really hope we don't get another 2009 fake F1 season...with Brawn pulling another rabbit out of the bag.

[Cai]

I hope we don't get another 2011 season where one team and one driver dominate resulting in a boring season all because of Newey's clever use of exhaust gases

I thought 2009 was pretty exiting to be honest, Brawn didn't dominate all year, they had to really fight it out in the second half of the season. 2010 was epic though - I want another year like that!

[geetface9]

2010 was epic though - I want another year like that!

Yes indeed!! I don't think I was right in the head for a week after mark webber wrecked in korea in the rain............... I was gutted

[geetface9]

I kinda do hope merc hit the jackpot with this and run away with the championship...it's about time for nico rosberg to get one under his belt!! And I'd enjoy watching schuey get beat, purely because it would make a lot of people cry. ^_^

[LewEngBridewell]

Domination is nothing new to F1. It happened fright from the word go, with Alfa Romeo thrashing everyone back in the early days. I didn't think 2009 or 2011 were boring at all.

But 2010 did have the edge, yes. It's always nice to have more than one team capable of victory. Three is amazing.

[Big Azza]

Domination is nothing new to F1. It happened fright from the word go, with Alfa Romeo thrashing everyone back in the early days. I didn't think 2009 or 2011 were boring at all.

But 2010 did have the edge, yes. It's always nice to have more than one team capable of victory. Three is amazing.

I'm sorry but I don't want another 2010 again!

Far too unbearable for the (21 year) old ticker. Formula One is a much easier sport for me to follow when one guy is clearly better than the rest.

[geetface9]

Domination is nothing new to F1. It happened fright from the word go, with Alfa Romeo thrashing everyone back in the early days. I didn't think 2009 or 2011 were boring at all.

But 2010 did have the edge, yes. It's always nice to have more than one team capable of victory. Three is amazing.

I'm sorry but I don't want another 2010 again!

Far too unbearable for the (21 year) old ticker. Formula One is a much easier sport for me to follow when one guy is clearly better than the rest.

You do have a good point. I think the 2010 season gave me heart palpatations and I'm only 24!!

LMFAO!!

[vlad]

On the last race of 2010, when Vettel won the title, I was working in a DVD club, it was full of people on the end of the race and everybody was wondering why I'm yelling and laughing like crazy, with tears in my eyes...

[geetface9]

Nice I like......legitimately feel bad for people that don't watch F1. I guess not everybody has the capacity to operate on a higher level like us

[Big Azza]

On the last race of 2010, when Vettel won the title, I was working in a DVD club, it was full of people on the end of the race and everybody was wondering why I'm yelling and laughing like crazy, with tears in my eyes...

[LewEngBridewell]

On the last race of 2010, when Vettel won the title, I was working in a DVD club, it was full of people on the end of the race and everybody was wondering why I'm yelling and laughing like crazy, with tears in my eyes...

I was also over the moon... that Alonso didn't win it.

[scotty]

Anyway, back on topic... word is that Merc have really sorted their long run pace. I don't think they can jump to the front pack just like that though, it's too competitive, the gap is (was) too big and Red Bull still seem ridiculously strong. I would guess that they can be in a similar position to 2010, just amassing several podiums.

[Hammer278]

On the last race of 2010, when Vettel won the title, I was working in a DVD club, it was full of people on the end of the race and everybody was wondering why I'm yelling and laughing like crazy, with tears in my eyes...

I was also over the moon... that Alonso didn't win it.

Exact sentiments here.

[Hammer278]

Rosberg 'among the best in F1' - Brawn

Ross Brawn says Nico Rosberg is "definitely among the best drivers in Formula One" as a result of his ability to outperform his car in qualifying.

Mercedes launched the W03 ahead of the second test, and appears encouraged by the performance shown by its new car. The team has yet to win a race since taking over 2009 champions Brawn, and the team principal has insisted that in Rosberg and Michael Schumacher it has the drivers to deliver if given the car.

While speculation in Barcelona was on Schumacher's future, Brawn said that Rosberg had proven his worth for Mercedes by getting more out of the car in qualifying and allowing the team to start races further up the grid.

"In qualifying, [Rosberg] really can get the most out of the car. Nico comes closer to its limits," Brawn is quoted by Sport Bild. "I think we've often seen him in a better qualifying position than where I would expect the car to be. Nico might think this is normal, but it's not. For me, he is definitely among the best drivers in Formula One."

Rosberg finished ahead of Schumacher in the standings in both 2010 and 2011, but Brawn added that Schumacher may provide a more stern challenge this season.

"It could be that the new Pirelli tyres help him because you don't have to be quite as gentle with them as you did with the 2011 generation."

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Really!? So drivers are able to actually 'race' with these tyres again?