KimiRai wrote: ↑10 Jul 2023, 01:18
KimiRai wrote: ↑10 Jul 2023, 01:14
Both McLaren and Williams have a RedBull style undercut, while Aston and Alpine who have a much more aggressive outwash in that area have not improved as much. Probably not relevant at all though and I have no idea.
Do you think this is nonsense or not? After the Canada upgrades Aston's is almost at a 90 degree angle, much more different compared to the McLarens, Williams... Coming from a very limited knowledge it feels like it must be very draggy the way the air is moved around that way. Not sure if that has anything to do with the team's weaknesses.
Clearly there's performance difference which we can all observe, the team must be working on analysing why their design is in front or behind other's performance for variation in track attributes.
The AM downwash/waterslide arrangements do look more likely to generate drag figures at sub optimum in comparison to RB type to my view. Seem to have good separation of longitudinal airflow but at more drag cost.
The AM appears, through their flow vis image, to be pulling up airflow from outside flank of side pod and rolling that over into the trough on topside, as comparison to RB which seems intently focused on letting the top surface of the side pod bleed downward into the undercut channel as it progresses away from front inlet area.
The AM performance at season beginning I feel took them by surprise in it's ultimate performance, they all said they had good numbers but until they ran it against opposition they were right to treat with caution.
This in itself gives something of a pause in data and how the update route is defined, until they really knew exactly where they were positioned in regard to level against competitors, then throwing speculative design changes at it (to give continuity in update) would seem invalid to me. Establishing many aspect of this new chassis in real competition needs to be accomplished in driving true improvements from that new baseline. It takes time, which I believe we are seeing now as that understanding can't really be short circuited. It may be (in contrast to statements about updates previously) just the reality if now finding a refining direction that doesn't give inconclusive results, which could either be leading into more significant iteration or, given budget cap etc, leading to desirable core chassis changes list for 24 season in evolving their concept. They are effectively out of step with all the other team right from that mid season change in 22 in evolution of concept development time.
