Mercedes experimenting with F-duct front wing..

[Zico]

"Mercedes is experimenting with an innovative front wing that uses the F-duct concept to boost downforce.

The airflow entering the slot on the front of the nose is, under certain air pressure conditions, diverted through channels in the front wing assembly and then redirected out of slots in the bottom of the main plane.

This airflow is fed to the diffuser, boosting the downforce generated at the rear of the car. This has also improved the way that the Mercedes uses its rear tyres.

While the F-duct, which required the driver to cover a hole in the cockpit with his hand, arm or leg, has been outlawed, the Mercedes design is legal as it does not depend on any such direct influence."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95526


Why release such information (if it works..) at this stage for other teams to copy? A game of cat and mouse? Or have Autosport just supplied a fancy name for what is essentially common sense airflow routing?

[AndyL]

Apparently the info came to the media via another team, who had observed what Mercedes have been experimenting with over the last few races and inferred the function.

[SGWilko]

So, is this doing something similar to the hole in the Ferrari front wing a couple of seasons back only in that case the air being diverted from the underside to the top?

[Mark]

If it's anything like the previous F-duct it's not about grip but drag reduction on the straights by causing the wing to stall.

Of course, more speed on the straights means they can run more wing so indirectly does lead to more cornering grip.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I thought the front wing was relatively drag free anyway?

[call_me_andrew]

The front wing isn't drag free; it's just less "important" (for lack of a better term) than the rear wing.

[SGWilko]

The front wing isn't drag free; it's just less "important" (for lack of a better term) than the rear wing.

The front wing is everything isn't it? Front downforce, air channeling for both cooling, around front wheels and to the diffuser. The idea behind the Brawn air channeling is, at certain speeds/pressure, the air is chanelled through the nose, down to exit at the rear of the wing to force more air through the diffuser. I guess they are experimenting with ways to pick up where the EBD will leave when they are banned next year.

[Mia 01]

That´s right, Mercedes need a superior car if they ever should get some decent results. Will they get one, not think so.
Their drivers, can they take a not top notch car to the top regulary, not think so.

[wedge]

http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/mercedes-f-duct-front-wing/

http://scarbsf1.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/merc_mgp_fd_stallslot1.jpg