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Mercedes confident it has fixed engine cooling problems

Published on 25 Feb 2020 09:16
4
By: Fergal Walsh

Mercedes is confident that it has eliminated the engine cooling issues that it suffered from throughout the 2019 season.

The Silver Arrows were particularly hurt by the problem at last year's Austrian Grand Prix, when it was forced to drive at a slower pace in order to protect the engine.

MORE: Mercedes: 'Aggressive' W11 car streaks ahead on downforce compared to 2019 model

Team principal Toto Wolff last year described Mercedes' cooling issues as its "Achillies Heel", and something that it new about heading into the 2019 campaign. Over the winter, the team has worked to ensure that no such obstacles arise in 2020.

“In the middle of the car, a huge, huge effort gone in by HPP (High Performance Powertrains) to put more performance into the power unit,” said technical director James Allison.

“They have managed to have a really good winter, finding lots and lots of fresh horses from this power unit, many years into a regulation with fixed fuel flow, this year they have managed to find a really impressive upgrade in the power.

“Not just more horsepower. They have also for the third year straight bent over backwards to give us a power unit that gives opportunities on the chassis side to develop better aerodynamics.

“Because they have put a lot of work in to make it so that this power unit can operate at elevated temperatures compared to the previous year.”

Allison added that the changes to the power unit have allowed the aerodynamic department to build a slimmer car compared to previous models, as it can use smaller radiators.

“Being able to run hotter means that for the same everything else, we can make smaller radiators in the car and keep the car cool,” he said.

“One of the reasons why this car is even slimmer than the ones that we have seen in previous seasons.

“Last year’s chassis would have stuck way out the side of this bodywork, but this year’s one, narrower still, as a result of the investments that HPP made on our behalf in their power unit.”

Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172

Two posts tonight I've misspelled They as the. I wish GPT would let us edit our comments so we can correct our mistakes or change something we wrote after one glass of wine too many. Hint, hint, not to hard to do GPT. I'm not as think as I drunk I am.

1
Feb 26 2020 - 07:35

F1 News James Allison Mercedes

Replies (4)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
For better or worse, I believe them. For all we know they might've retaken the engine crown.
- + 0
- Feb 26 2020 - 06:33
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
"Mercedes confident it has fixed engine cooling problems" Let's hope not! Mercs mistakes will help level the playing field. Wishful thinking I know, as the are clearly showing the best innovation so far this season, but I can hope they get it wrong for a season, and Hamilton has some psychological issue that sets him off his game and lets BOT beat him. Wishful thinking I know. I've come to like HAM but please, someone, make him work for those last two record setting titles.
- + 0
- Feb 26 2020 - 07:33
- Ram Samartha
  
  Posts: 1,172
  Two posts tonight I've misspelled They as the. I wish GPT would let us edit our comments so we can correct our mistakes or change something we wrote after one glass of wine too many. Hint, hint, not to hard to do GPT. I'm not as think as I drunk I am.
  + 1
  
  Feb 26 2020 - 07:35
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Thou art forgiven if thine misspellings art due to:
  -weariness
  -spelling on a phone
  -wine, ale, whiskey, cocktails, petrol or any of the divine waters
  After all, 'tis not a sin to be exhausted or to use tools of improper qualities for dictation. ;) (Yes, please let us edit comments GPT, my spelling is bad as is, it doesn't get better when I write on my Android!).
  
  Jokes aside: this is Merc'. I, too, kinda hope they still have some kinda flaw, but if anyone gets on top of things, it'll be them.
  + 0
  
  Feb 26 2020 - 07:55