Mercedes W03

BINGO. Pic below shows the ducts to the nose through the safety cel.
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I believe this is how it works, and it supports my theory that the front wing duct remains in semi-constant operation:

DRS IS NOT ACTIVATED - Air enters through the nose hole, pressure builds up in the nose cone and air is blown out through the slots on the underside of the wing stalling the front wing above a certain pressure.

DRS IS ACTIVATED - The two ducts in the nose cone now release the pressure in the nose cone and allow the air to flow through the ducting and exit out the rear wing DRS-duct. The slots on the underside of the wing are not blown sufficiently to keep the airflow attached, and the wing stalls, reducing drag. This method essentially uses the DRS-duct as a release valve for the air in the nose cone.

 

Stall the front wing once a certain pressure is realized. So, set up the wing so it's not affected by this tangential flow inside the nose until let's say above 120mph. This would also allow them to use a lower front static ride height due to less high speed tea tray deflection (due to less downforce from stalled front wing).

 

Make note, W03 has by far the softest front end on the grid which is evident by the massive front end roll displayed especially on quick turns. Still trying to figure out why this is.......

 

much better shot of the potential duct holes (someone Photoshopped what they could look like). neat
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I hear W03 is going to undergo a Mclaren-type exhaust treatment soon. I've also finally heard some reasonable conjecture regarding the current EBD. Whiting is quoted saying the Mclaren and Red Bull exhaust arrangements are currently worth about 20% of what the original EBD was worth and that 2013 exhaust regulations will further crack down on this EBD blowing nonsense. Furthermore, the original EBD was worth right around 25% of total rear downforce meaning this year's version is perhaps worth 5%. Still no one knows how it compares to the W03 or Lotus E20 current exhaust arrangement, but apparently Costa sees value in the Mclaren arrangement as he has been quoted as saying such a exhaust arrangement being declared 'legal' is a 'gift'. I would definitely say that Costa's words imply they will implement such a thing shortly.

 

Nope.

I pondered last night the problem with W03, as it doesn't have any fundamental issues like W02 and W01 had, or even like F2012 still has (yet Ferrari have done a magnificent job working around them). The problem with W03 is it is a very fickle machine. Everything has to line up just right for it to be truly quick, and we've only seen that happen at the 100% level a couple times this year, and that was of course Monaco and China.

 

Compared to W02 and W01, W03 even compared to most cars on the field except Mclaren and Lotus, has exceptional attention to detail. I'm really not worried about this team, especially compared to how poor F2012 came out at the beginning of the season. Ferrari have poured too many resources into that car and have no chance at a WCC, just my opinion.

Pic shows old wing (below) vs new wing. Note they have not been running the primary cascade as I believe the wing is running more rake than it was earlier in the season when we did see it with the cascade. I'm guessing the rear is unbalanced with it in place.
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I believe they partially are. Each team must weigh if they want heavy downforce or less drag and figure a balance of the two depending on their chassis capabilities. In most cases they want more downforce and it's usually at the rear.