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28 Feb 2015
Bite Size Tech: Mercedes W06 sidepod cooling outlet amendments

Mercedes have made a change to the rear end of the sidepod, with the latter section of the bodywork detached from the rest of the sidepod cooling outlet (yellow).  This means the airflow passing around the sidepod (blue) is drawn in under the cooling outlet, which too has been raised. This helps to pull on the heat/airflow being rejected by the PU106B, speeding up the flow, over the central section of the diffuser, which as we know has also seen changes over the last few days.
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2015 final pre-season test in Barcelona technical image gallery - Day Three

A selection of the best technical images from herein Barcelona courtesy of Sutton Images


 VJM08 - Flo-viz applied to the diffuser
 E23 - Kiel probe array mounted behind the front wheel, measuring its wake


RB11 - The rear wings leading edge slot has been elongated, meeting with the upper louvres (yellow)



















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27 Feb 2015
Bite Size Tech: Mercedes W06 crash structure upwash fins

Mercedes have added some small winglets either side of the crash structure, these were added in unison with the changes to the diffuser and Y100 gurney extensions to further condition the flow in the region, maximising the central portion of the diffuser below and exhaust plume above.  These are nothing new as we have seen Force India use them on the VJM07 in 2014.
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Bite Size Tech: Mercedes W06 Front brake scoop (final pre-season test)

Mercedes have added small inlet scoops to the face of their brake ducts today.  The scoop is much smaller than the one used on the W05 but puts the team at a juncture in terms of their quest to utilise a scoop-less design.  The presence of wire mesh is owing to the scoops locality, with a real chance of tyre debris (marbles) being collected by it, potentially causing damage to internal components or nullifying its aerodynamic/cooling intent.

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Bite Size Tech: Mercedes W06 new diffuser and Y100 Gurneys





Mercedes have introduced a new diffuser for the last test here in Barcelona, with changes made to the central boat tail.  I've highlighted the contour changes on the diffuser in the inset above, which provide a different angle of attack to their previous, flatter configuration (below), likely in an effort to give better balance.  You'll also note that the team have made changes to the Y100 region around the crash structure, changing both the ladder winglets and removing the longitudinal triangular strakes.  Like the diffuser below the winglet and gurney are contoured to match the diffusers surface changes, whilst you'll note the upper of the ladder winglets also extends back over the floor section to further capture and use the airflow migrating under the crash structure.

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2015 final pre-season test in Barcelona technical image gallery - Day Two

A selection of the best technical images from here in Barcelona courtesy of Sutton Images







SF15-T - New camera stalks




W06 - 'Cricket Bat' lower wishbone (green) and sidepod cooling bodywork detachment (yellow)





W06 - scoop added to the front brake duct (circled)













E23 Y100 Winglet debut (inset)
VJM08 - Conjoined lower wishbone (highlighted in yellow)
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