I have modelled both the 2008 and 2009 front wing on CFD, following quite close to the regulations...the results i had achieved for Drag and Lift were almost the same. Even tho they were different geometries (they looked quite similar to the Mclaren 2008 and 2009 front wings) Anyone know why they had the same results?
The first thing that i thought of was that the wings are longer but do they have a larger surface area? I also know that a longer wing is more efficient which may explain why lift/drag ratios are similar.
I feel that the OWG should have kept the front end regs more or less the same, maybes lowering the wing a little more and banning spoon wings, but keeping the 2008 width and little add ons like the full bridge wing.
I can see the regs dictationg the front wings to go back to the 2008 width if speeds are getting high, as well as a little higher as well. But to counteract that they will allow infinite changes in wing angle each lap within a +/- 9 degree sweep.
However that will be changed with the front wheel width as well to try and reduce front end grip when the current regs get to the stage that the cars are too fast.