Extraordinary zero keel for F2007

By Steven De Groote on 14 Jan 2007, 18:01

Contrary to the belief of most people, Ferrari designed a zero keel front suspension layout for their brand new F2007. The upper wishbones are very thick at their base, even more so than last year. Because of the dimensions of the upper wishbone, the lower one has been moved backwards and was made very thin. It attached directly to the monocoque as it fits the description of a zero-keel car. The picture shows that there are actually two thin fins extending to the ground which act solely as aerodynamic devices. It is clear Ferrari has put in serious effort on the front after a long time of sticking to their outdated single keel model.

Comments

By manchild on 14-01-2007 at 17:31

That \"twin keel-no keel\" looks like the one Midland/Spyker had in 2006, almost identical. Can it be that engine deal between Ferrari and Spyker gave Scuderia some insight in Spyker\'s suspension making them realize that it is the option to choose?

http://www.f1-fansite.com/wallpaper/200 ... 2-1600.jpg

By Steven on 14-01-2007 at 17:38

Well actually that Spyker isn\'t that related as you say. At Spyker they had a zero-keel without any extensions, although it may seem like it because their bargeboard is extending to that area.

Although, if you point to the mounting points of the front lower wishbones, they\'re all pretty similar in zero keel designs: as low as possible on the side of the monocoque.

By allan on 14-01-2007 at 17:51

from this pic, it looks like the lower wishbones are attached to a curved fin, just underneeth the front body.. isn\'t it a twin keel in this case?
and the upper wishbones aren\'t only thick, they are actually pretty wide.. similar to those on the tf107, only less aggressive..

By Steven on 14-01-2007 at 18:05

Here is an image in bigger format and a little brigthened up ;)

By Principessa on 14-01-2007 at 18:12

Looks very inventive, especially with the two little wings to let the air through.

I have a question though: what is the advantage of a zero keel over a single keel, like Ferrari had last season?

By manchild on 14-01-2007 at 18:18

F2007 looks more like Mclaren\'s zero keel while Spyker\'s has much longer extensions. Lower wishbones on Spyker go trough the hole in bargeboard and than they meet those flipped extensions while F2007 lower wishbones are connected on chassis almost directly (like Mclaren\'s).

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4550/spykerpr0.jpg

So, engine deal had nothing to with it but new driver did :lol:

By m3_lover on 14-01-2007 at 18:33

I think they copied those fins from Mclaren because at the end of the season they put those fins in too in the upper part of the suspension... I remember posting this.

Ah found it

http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3477

By allan on 14-01-2007 at 18:46

i don\'t think ferrari had a zero keel last year, with a single keel sticking out, princepessa... it was toyota indeed who had that funny design... honestly, i can\'t think of a reason to use such a front suspension design...

By Saribro on 14-01-2007 at 19:14

Freakishly horizontal for a zero-keel, though I\'m personnally not entirely inclined to really call it zero, more like a very short twin, but that\'s just me I guess.

By bhall on 14-01-2007 at 20:10

The advantage of zero-keel, Principessa, is that it\'s more aerodynamically sound. The air passing underneath the car runs more smoothly without anything like a keel hampering it. The disadvantage, at least until a team perfects the system, is that it messes up suspension geometry. That\'s why some teams struggle their first year using azero-keel approach. And for that reason, combined with harder tires this year, it wouldn\'t surprise me if Ferrari struggled some this year.

By allan on 14-01-2007 at 20:36

i think it\'s The chief designer Nicolas Tombasis who had the biggest impact on this suspension. remember when he left to mclaren in 2005.. i wouldn\'t be surprised if the new front and rear wing will look so similar to the mclaren\'s.
another reason i think is michael\'s departure, which also changed the whole design i think, would u agree?

By gcdugas on 15-01-2007 at 04:35

It a single keel. It is just tighter to the main section. Look again.

By Sawtooth-spike on 15-01-2007 at 08:31

Cant be A single. the Black paint makes it look odd though, the new red *blurrrrr* is not go all the way to the bottom. Can we name this Bactrian Keel??? Cus of the 2 humps

By gcdugas on 16-01-2007 at 04:16

It is a single keel. Don\'t be mislead by the angled turning vane mounts. They pulled it up tighter, made it a hump that ends rather than continues all the way back. A zero keel has the lower A-arm mount to the side of the chassis 3+ inches (about 80mm) north of where the Ferrari\'s new car has its mounts.

Seeing is believing. Just look again and don\'t believe all the fenzied hype hastily put together by press hacks. If every press release in the world sain the sun sets in the East, I will still not believe it because I can plainly see it set in the West everyday. The same thing here. Tomba\'s pic is clear as day. Single keel!

By onon on 16-01-2007 at 11:42

i have a noob question, whats KEEL? and what the difference between zero keel model and single keel model? thanks

By Steven on 16-01-2007 at 12:38

Well onon, a keel is an extension to the underside of the monocoque where the lower (front) wishbones are connected to.
Obviously, this design is a zero-keel as there is no extension downward to attach the wishbones to, but instead they connect directly to the monocoque.

By allan on 16-01-2007 at 12:59

gcugas, ithink u are the one who\'s mixing up...
if u focus more closely, u would notice that the lower wishbones are actually connected to a small double extention (no more than 3 cm i guess). However, what makes it hard to see is the small vertical fin which that replaced the single keel, and that attaches two small boards under the suspension under it..
i guess it\'s hard to explain, but u can wait till next week, and we\'ll see some pics with the nosecone off (hopefully) :wink:

By onon on 18-01-2007 at 12:14

thank u tomba