Magny Cours Test: Analysing Mercedes upgrades

Mercedes AMG Petronas, Ferrari and Force India are taking part in the three day young driver test at Magny Cours, France. Mclaren and Red-Bull will be testing at the end of this season in Abu Dhabi.

Mercedes team have brought a major upgrade package to test at Magny Cours. The upgrade package will be on the car in Singapore so the team have got a great chance to see how the upgrades perform.

Sam Bird (Mercedes Third Driver) was at the wheel of the Mercedes W03 on the first day of Magny Cours test.

Here is what he had to say:

We’ve had a very productive first day of the test today and were able to complete everything that we had planned on our programme. It felt great to be back in the car again and I enjoyed every minute of it. I’ve driven at Magny Cours previously in a Formula 3 car and it was good to experience it today in a Formula One car. The layout here is nice and smooth whilst also being quite challenging. We’ve collected a lot of data today which will take some time to sift through this evening and I’m looking forward to another good day tomorrow.

Upgrades Summary:

1. The Coanda Exhaust layout2. Revised Sidepods and suspension3. Revised Rear wing and DDRS

Coanda Exhaust:

The Coanda exhaust layout is being used by Mclaren and Sauber team this year. Ferrari also switched to this layout at the Mugello test. Now, Mercedes team have also followed them suit and have deviced their own version of the exhaust which is part Mclaren and part Ferrari exhaust.

This new layout will generate much more downforce, thus giving more traction out of slower corners and handling stability in long fast bends.

Suspension:

The new suspension is mainly aimed at solving the tyre problems Mercedes has endured this year. The Mercedes W03 either overheats its tyres or doesn’t get them to optimum working temperature. So, the new suspension is aimed at solving these problems.

Revised Double DRS:

The new double DRS or a triple DRS is somewhat similar to the f-duct system Lotus tried with their rear wing.

The new DRS system will stall the front wing when the flap is open, which will lift the car on the straights reducing unnecessary downforce/drag, and will also stall the main plain of the rear wing. This will lead to more straight line speed on the straights and an option to run with a higher angle of attack on the rear wing. A higher angle will generate more downforce but with the new DRS system, the drag created due to this higher angle will be reduced on the straights.