The Mercedes AMG 2013 W04 Formula 1 car is fitted with a complex suspension system that is designed to improve overall aerodynamic performance.
The W04 is running a complex passive system that uses hydraulics to link the front and rear suspensions. There’s nothing really new here as Mercedes AMG and Lotus have been running such systems since 2011 and now other teams are testing similar solutions.
The idea is to prevent the car from diving too much under braking, so the floor and the diffuser remain at the peak angle of attack and therefore generate as much downforce as possible.
Mercedes’ 'FRIC' (Front and Rear Inter-Connected) system is understood to link the front and rear suspension hydraulically and can be adjusted in a similar way to the brake balance.
The ‘FRIC’ device now also connects the left and right suspensions, acting like an antiroll bar in order to help keep a constant ride height and aerodynamic balance.
Back in the ‘80s, Lotus and Williams ran their cars with fully active suspensions that kept them in the most efficient aerodynamic attitude, whenever the conditions (accelerating, braking and cornering). The FIA banned all types of fully active suspension in the early ‘90s.
The W04 is running a complex passive system that uses hydraulics to link the front and rear suspensions. There’s nothing really new here as Mercedes AMG and Lotus have been running such systems since 2011 and now other teams are testing similar solutions.
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| Mercedes W04 - Front suspension. (Photo: WRi2) |
The idea is to prevent the car from diving too much under braking, so the floor and the diffuser remain at the peak angle of attack and therefore generate as much downforce as possible.
Mercedes’ 'FRIC' (Front and Rear Inter-Connected) system is understood to link the front and rear suspension hydraulically and can be adjusted in a similar way to the brake balance.
The ‘FRIC’ device now also connects the left and right suspensions, acting like an antiroll bar in order to help keep a constant ride height and aerodynamic balance.
 |
| Mercedes W04. (Photo: WRi2) |
Back in the ‘80s, Lotus and Williams ran their cars with fully active suspensions that kept them in the most efficient aerodynamic attitude, whenever the conditions (accelerating, braking and cornering). The FIA banned all types of fully active suspension in the early ‘90s.