Mercedes launch the F1 W03 - Analysis

The run-up to the launch of Mercedes AMG F1 Team’s 2012 Challenger, the ‘W03’, took a somewhat different approach to a launch traditionally adapted by a Formula 1 Team – whether it was on purpose, or planned however, may be a question we will never know the answer to.

Hype and speculation of Mercedes’ offering for 2012 started before the first Winter Test in Jerez, when the team announced that they would be delaying the launch of their 2012 challenger until the second test in Barcelona. Rumour had it that Mercedes were doing so as they had a new piece of technology on the car that may be copied by other teams after the first test was completed. The rumour was fuelled when Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey was asked as to why a team would delay their launch, and he replied “why you might choose to do that would be if you had some feature on your car which you think is a big benefit and which is relatively easily copied”. Whatever the reason, Mercedes would only run their 2011 car, the W02, for 3 days of testing at the first winter test in Jerez.

Unofficially, the W03 was actually launched last week on Thursday, February 16th 2012. The Brackley based team opted to ‘shakedown ‘the car for the first time at Silverstone Race Circuit, just a few miles down the road from the factory, at the hands of Nico Rosberg and Seven-Time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher. Although the shakedown was to take place on the smaller South Circuit at Silverstone with tight security, onlookers who noticed the team trucks at the circuit and heard the scream of a formula one car engine were able to not only capture a few pictures of Mercedes 2012 challenger on track, but also a short video – thanks to the power of Social Media, YouTube and Twitter meant the world had seen numerous views the new car in only a short time span, and 5 full days ahead of the teams planned launch at Barcelona. The next day, Mercedes AMG F1 would release a film of Nico Rosberg taking the car for its first full lap – whether this was planned, or in response to the leaked photos, is still up for debate.

Formula 1 teams, and fans, were then treated to a second ‘launch’ of the Mercedes AMG F1 W03 on Sunday February 19th, 2012, when the car appeared on track for an entire day at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona; the venue of the second Formula 1 Winter Test. Again, numerous sources near to the track were able to leak full and detailed pictures of the car for the world to see. The team later explained that under the rules of winter testing, because Mercedes opted not to run on the final day of the first winter test at Jerez, they were owed a full day of testing and opted to use this as a ‘private’ test day in Barcelona before the second test commenced. With Michael Schumacher driving in the morning and Nico Rosberg in the afternoon, the team completed over 300 kilometres on track with no reported issues or problems.

Then, just when everyone thought that was the last appearance of the W03 until the early morning launch scheduled for Tuesday and the start of the second Winter Test in Barcelona, the W03 made its third public appearance on track in Barcelona, with the team opting to run what was left of its kilometre allowance for filming. Those present at the track were also privy to a surprise appearance of ex-formula one driver, younger brother of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher and current German DTM driver Ralf Schumacher, who would run his DTM Mercedes AMG works car as part of the filming day.

Which finally brings us to today – at 08:20 local time, the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 ‘W03’, the Mercedes works 2012 Formula 1 challenger, was ‘Officially’ launched by the team at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. This would be the fourth appearance of the W03 since Thursday, but the first day the car is due to run alongside its competitors on track.

Attended by the world’s media, the Mercedes AMG F1 team management, and 2012 drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher, the sheet was pulled back from the car, allowing the media, for the first time, to get an up-close look at the W03.

The first and most predominant change, and feature, of the W03, is the aggressive stepped nose. Like all other Formula 1 teams 2012 challengers this year so far (with the exception of McLaren’s MP4-27) Mercedes AMG F1 has opted to adapt the ‘platypus’ style front nose and wing, which is now considered to be the ‘norm’ for 2012. To serve as a reminder, the ‘stepped’ nose has been adapted by teams this year as part of the FIA’s regulation changes which are aimed at reducing serious accidents if a car were to ‘T-bone’ another whilst on track, at speed. The lower nose ride height should stop a car being forced over the top of the car it hits, reducing the risk of either driver being hit in the head.

Another considerably distinguishable aspect of the W03 is the cars’ rear – with the rule change from the FIA banning rear-blown diffusers, the exhaust system has been completely redesigned and rerouted, allowing for the exhaust to exit out of the top of the W03’s side-pods. The redesign has meant the entire rear of the car looks considerably thinner and more streamlined compared to their 2011 challenger, the W02, and aptly giving the W03 a very distinguished ‘Silver Arrow’ look when looked at from above.

Finally, a noticeable feature of the new Mercedes AMG F1 W03 is the redesigned side-pods (redesigned to fit the newly redesigned exhaust system). The side-pods of the car are described as “undercut” side-pods, which slop downwards over the newly designed exhaust exits on the car. Aerodynamically, this should push the flowing air, and in turn, the exiting exhausts air, over the side of the car, and into the rear suspension. Effectively, the result of the newly designed undercut side-pods should give the W03 a more stable rear end on track and in corners; making up for some of the lost grip the car will have naturally inherited due to the ban on rear diffusers.

With the Official Launch now complete, the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 W03 will take part in all four days testing in Barcelona. The team will be running a series of different testing programmes over the four days, including general data collection, heavy fuel load runs, and race simulation. Michael Schumacher will drive the car for the entire of Day 1.

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