The F1 Technical Developments Thread

060520107661.jpg


06052010764.jpg


06052010765.jpg


065wri.jpg


152206.jpg


r3YG0.gif


088wri.jpg
 
I really like that new Lotus front wing. But aren't Merc pushing it a bit too far with that snowplow front wing? I mean the thing is almost perpendicular to the airflow...
 
/me is just droooling all over the place... this is WAY better than porn... no wait, this IS porn !!!!
 
It's very difficult to see the difference to be honest. There is a clear difference in the lettering, so I'm thinking it's the angle that's the main difference. But other than the obvious lack of droop on the sides it's difficult to tell from that angle. Although it does look likethey've made the top element smaller and the bottom one bigger. We should wait for some other angles...
 
Hmmh...my first post in a million years. Partial collection of the updates; Merc GP has that new intake system as we've seen already. Additionally, they have an increased wheelbase to improve weight distribution. They have a modified double-diffuser and revised aerodynamics. Seems that they will also be running their version of the F-duct-system.
McLaren have big changes to the front and rear wing, some other more subtle changes and they've also modified the floor at the back of the car.
Renault has a smaller update, just a new front wing and some other new aerodynamic parts.

Ferrari will be introducing their F-duct, which they seem to be calling "blown rear wing". Plus they have some other updates, mainly on the aerodynamic side. (Oh and they've deleted the barcode-paint-thingy on their engine cover, as you can see.) Ferrari and Renault are following a similar program, in which the car is supposed to get new parts every race.
Lotus are bringing a lot of updates, said to be worth a second-a-lap. They consist of a new front wing, new floor and new aerodynamics. The brake-cooling ducts at the front have been modified, the sidepods are a bit different and there might be something on the engine cover also. Mechanically, suspension and shock absobers have been improved.

And, according with the new rule, EVERY team now have their rear-view mirrors on the center of the car. The outboard ones are now banned. Sebastian Vettel was one of the worried ones because of this, saying that the mirrors on the RB were a major thing in the aerodynamics. So now Ferrari, RB, STR and others previously sporting the outboard ones have had to change their design.
 
Please enlighten me. How does moving the airbox on the Merc back help? All I can see is that it doesn't restrict airflow to the rear wing.
 
^ reduces drag too, the bit where the airbox intake would be is now a knife edge... there'll be less drag and smoother flow around the intakes and fin
 
I'm not sure about that. Intakes are just in a different place, so they make similar drag. The biggest difference is in airflow management.
 
They are in a different place, but they take up less surface area because they are lower down, and the bulge closes in a lot sooner. Also, because they are nearer the driver's head, the impact of the drag won't be as much as if they were treated as a separate entity over the driver's head (where I agree, it's about airflow management).

However, there is definitely a significant drag decrease as I see it.
 
Fairly simple design iteration, new larger intakes for F ducts mean that the optimal location for the intakes have changed.

Remember however that there are geometry rule boxes that have to be applied, so although the inlets have moved they actually can't move that far.
 
They are in a different place, but they take up less surface area because they are lower down, and the bulge closes in a lot sooner. Also, because they are nearer the driver's head, the impact of the drag won't be as much as if they were treated as a separate entity over the driver's head (where I agree, it's about airflow management).

However, there is definitely a significant drag decrease as I see it.

I don't know much about aerodynamics, so I won't argue. I'm just thinking about this. The engine needs the same amount of air regardless of where the intakes are. So you cant direct air around them or make them smaller. But I think now I understand your point. Because intakes are lower there is no need for all that construction under the intake. But even than, comparing this to the previous Merc's design it doesn't look like a big difference. But again, I know shit about aerodynamics, so all this is just guessing. ;)
 
Top