New Mercedes engine cover

[dr-baker]

Some cars have shark fins while others don't; now Mercedes are moving the location of their engine airbox (presumably to lower the centre of gravity). After all the F1 cars looking like identikits of each other, we are now getting genuinely different-looking cars, despite tightening of the regulations and standard parts...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/83340

[lostpin]

That looks intriguing, let's just wait and see how it performs..

[Phoenix]

That seems quite original; let's see how it works...

[FullMetalJack]

When I saw this I was thinking, Please not another shark fin. Otherwise that would leave just Williams, Virgin, Lotus and HRT without them.

[DonTirri]

When I saw this I was thinking, Please not another shark fin. Otherwise that would leave just Williams, Virgin, Lotus and HRT without them.

As much as I respect Adrian Newey as a designer... THE SHARK FIN MUST DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE

[FullMetalJack]

When I saw this I was thinking, Please not another shark fin. Otherwise that would leave just Williams, Virgin, Lotus and HRT without them.

As much as I respect Adrian Newey as a designer... THE SHARK FIN MUST DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE

I know. It should have been banned at the end of 2008 when all the other aero monstrosities were.

[eytl]

When I saw this I was thinking, Please not another shark fin. Otherwise that would leave just Williams, Virgin, Lotus and HRT without them.

Virgin's aero upgrade appears to include a shark fin as well, and both Williams and Lotus have tried it as well ...

But yes, I'm quite excited about the Mercedes engine cover, although aesthetically I think it will wreck what has been the prettiest chassis design of the year for me. Since normally aspirated engines became standard in 1989 (and you can go back to 1986-87 for when the concept first appeared, and its origins in the dorsal-type airboxes of the 1970s - and the 1987 AGS!), the concept of having an airbox above and behind the driver's head has been a given. No one has dared to change this concept.

It's just exciting that someone wants to question conventional designs. I thought the days of that kind of thing happening were long gone.

[lostpin]

Hm, I thing it's just a matter of time when the shark fin will be outlawed... just like almost every other innovative design...

[Marco]

I fear, that the shark fins will not be banned, because they are good advertising space...

[Aerond]

I can see both Mercedes retiring for overheating or related issues.

[dragonsteincole]

Best part of it is that it was planned from the start, seeing as the rollbar is part of the homologated chassis, and there may be some advantages to having it in such a way. Whether they'll be the must-have thing next season remains to be seen, but Schumacher's 3rd in P2 seems to suggest Merc's updates have had a positive effect. Plus, as a modeller of my own 2010 car for F1C, its something to nick for my own car

[noisebox]

Since normally aspirated engines became standard in 1989 (and you can go back to 1986-87 for when the concept first appeared, and its origins in the dorsal-type airboxes of the 1970s - and the 1987 AGS!), the concept of having an airbox above and behind the driver's head has been a given. No one has dared to change this concept.

Except for Benetton in 1988/9, they ran intakes on top of the side pods next to the cockpit.

[McDuck]

I'd laugh if Rosberg and Schumacher go deaf because of this.

[Waris]

When I saw this I was thinking, Please not another shark fin. Otherwise that would leave just Williams, Virgin, Lotus and HRT without them.

As much as I respect Adrian Newey as a designer... THE SHARK FIN MUST DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE

I know. It should have been banned at the end of 2008 when all the other aero monstrosities were.

They could not have been, for they didn't appear on cars until 2009. (and even then, only in the latter half of the season, I believe. Well, I don't remember about Red Bull, but for other teams, only during the season.)

Anyway, on topic, I am glad to see a team go for a radical solution, and I hope more will follow with the kind of courage to make innovations like this.

[Jordan192]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7318.html

They were around in 2008. Though I seem to be in the minority that I don't really mind them. They don't make the car look fragmented like the winglets and so on did.

[Phoenix]

As much as I respect Adrian Newey as a designer... THE SHARK FIN MUST DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE

Ironically, I think the only car in which shark fins look good is the Red Bull RB6...

[MaxZero]

I rather like them, adds a bit of beef to the chassis

I'm also one for a more varied look between the car's shape so its nice to see the new concept

[CarlosFerreira]

I rather like them, adds a bit of beef to the chassis

I'm also one for a more varied look between the car's shape so its nice to see the new concept

I agree, like the look of the things. But the prize for the best comment goes to:

I fear, that the shark fins will not be banned, because they are good advertising space...

Bingo! Somebody give that man a beer, etc.

[lostpin]

Just a note on Mercedes though, it seems as if Rosberg and Schumacher have swapped cars, at least by the qualifying performance yesterday... really peculiar.

[LionZoo]

I fear, that the shark fins will not be banned, because they are good advertising space...

Bingo! Somebody give that man a beer, etc.

I petition for a shark fin soup advertisement on a shark fin.

[dr-baker]

I fear, that the shark fins will not be banned, because they are good advertising space...

I petition for a shark fin soup advertisement on a shark fin.

Or a film trailer for a new "Jaws" movie?

[Nessafox]

I fear, that the shark fins will not be banned, because they are good advertising space...

I petition for a shark fin soup advertisement on a shark fin.

Or a film trailer for a new "Jaws" movie?

+ the 2001 Jordan nosecone