No airbox on Mercedes’ revised 2010 car
"That's cool if you can do something new that nobody else has on their car," said the German, after the updated W01 car was seen in the Barcelona paddock without a traditional airbox above the drivers' head.
Instead, the rollover structure is now knife-sharp, with air now being fed into the normally-aspirated V8 engine via two inlets further back in the engine cover.
"I think it looks really futuristic," Rosberg told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
However, the 24-year-old also had to confirm reports that Mercedes is not yet ready to debut its full F-duct system in Spain this weekend.
"I'm sorry, we don't have the F-duct system like McLaren," said Rosberg.
"The rear wing is basically the same as it was in Shanghai. The longer wheelbase and the airbox are the only fundamental changes."
05/06/10
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| Look Mom! No Airbox! |
| Photo by Sutton Images |
(GMM) One of the innovations on the Mercedes car for the Spanish grand prix is the abolishment of the traditional 'airbox'.
The airbox – an inlet for the normally-aspirated engines – has traditionally been part of the roll-hoop structure immediately behind and above the drivers' head.
But the rollover structure of the revised W01 is now sharp as a knife, with air to now be fed to the 2.4 liter V8 engine via two symmetrical inlets on either side of the engine cover.
Also spotted in the Barcelona pitlane on Thursday was Christian Klien, having his molded seat and settings fitted to the HRT car usually belonging to Karun Chandhok.
The team's newly-appointed third driver will hand the F110 car back to Indian Chandhok ahead of Friday's afternoon practice session.
Meanwhile, in the paddock, Virgin's new double-storey motor home won the race as the most impressive of F1's three new teams.
Sauber has taken over BMW's imposing paddock structure of 2009, while Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel walked behind the Circuit de Catalunya pits sporting a new haircut.
Also spotted on Thursday was Joan Villadelprat, who is hoping his Spanish Le Mans outfit Epsilon Euskadi will be given a green light to race in formula one next year.