Formula One returnee Michael Schumacher has experienced understeering problems with the new W01 car, while Nico Rosberg also had to deal with poor handling issues throughout the non-European rounds of the 2010 campaign. In order to tackle all those problems, Ross Brawn confirmed the team will debut a completely revised W01 in the upcoming Spanish GP.
Among several aerodynamic cues, the main difference between the new single-seater and the one used so far will be the longer wheelbase. Apparently, the Mercedes engineers did not have enough time to study the new tires for the 2010 season (as compared to its rivals), which is what led to the poor weight distribution experienced by the W01 so far.
“The problem is not actually the wheelbase per se, it is the weight distribution. We got the weight distribution wrong,” admitted Brawn, according to Autosport.
“When we got to test these tires we realized we didn't have the correct weight distribution and we went to the limit with what we could achieve with this car. It is not the wheelbase as such, it is the weight distribution that is not what we wanted it,” added Brawn, who hinted that the longer wheelbase will solve this problem to start with.
“We will have a modification to the car at Barcelona which will give us a better range for the weight distribution that we can achieve,” concluded Brawn, who also revealed that an own-designed F-duct system will be in place with the new car for either the Barcelona or the Istanbul race.
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