Ferrari F10

[myurr]

I'm no Ferrari fan but these aren't wheel covers by any definition as they don't cover anything, they are just guides which may produce a nozzle effect improving the brake cooling.

If they're not wheel covers - well by technical definition part of the brake duct - then they're illegal under FIA rules. They have a purely aerodynamic function and they move.

[meves]

It doesn't appear to fit within the Techinical regs for the wheel assembly which say;

Definition of wheel

1.5 Wheel :
Flange and rim.

1.6 Complete wheel :
Wheel and inflated tyre. The complete wheel is considered part of the suspension system.

12.8 Wheel assembly :
12.8.1 The only parts which may be physically attached to the wheel in addition to the tyre are surface treatments for appearance and protection, valves for filling and discharging the tyre, balance weights, drive pegs, tyre pressure and temperature monitoring devices and spacers on the inboard mounting face of identical specification on all wheels for the same axle.

Exclusion zone

12.4.5 No wheel material is permitted in the following exclusion zones :
- A concentric cylinder of diameter 305mm and length 115mm positioned with its inner face lying in the same plane as the inboard face of the front wheel ;
- A concentric cylinder of diameter 305mm and length 25mm positioned with its outer face lying in the same plane as the outboard face of the front wheel ;
- A concentric cylinder of diameter 305mm and length 100mm positioned with its inner face lying in the same plane as the inboard face of the rear wheel ;
- A concentric cylinder of diameter 305mm and length 30mm positioned with its outer face lying in the same plane as the outboard face of the rear wheel.


So it would have to be joined as part fo the whee and not detachable as it is now. I'm not sure how close it'll be to the exclusion zone...

[mx_tifoso]

[Do we even know why FOTA decided not to use the wheel covers? Was it because of the safety issues or cost issues or something entirely different?

I'm not sure what you are getting so upset about? These are clearly very different from the wheel covers used last years. Until we see a wording on what FOTA agreed not to use and why I think it is a bit early to crucify Ferrari because of it..

I don't recall the exact reason, but safety should be one of them. The wheel covers caused so many problems every season.

So once again, these wheel covers are within the rules but against their intended spirit?

[allan]

i dont think they're really wheel covers. There was a video of alonso's pitstop practice in jerez. You could see that they did not move the "covers" from the old wheels to the new ones. Instead, they installed the old school wheels back, and those so called covers were still attached to the wheels that came off the car.
I mean they're just a very innovative rim desig, and as long as it's within the agreement, there is no reason why not to use it, just like DDD's.

[imightbewrong]

[Do we even know why FOTA decided not to use the wheel covers? Was it because of the safety issues or cost issues or something entirely different?

I'm not sure what you are getting so upset about? These are clearly very different from the wheel covers used last years. Until we see a wording on what FOTA agreed not to use and why I think it is a bit early to crucify Ferrari because of it..

I don't recall the exact reason, but safety should be one of them. The wheel covers caused so many problems every season.

So once again, these wheel covers are within the rules but against their intended spirit?

Are the rims allowed to have any aerodynamic effects?

[Pup]

It doesn't appear to fit within the Techinical regs for the wheel assembly which say;

Definition of wheel

1.5 Wheel :
Flange and rim.

1.6 Complete wheel :
Wheel and inflated tyre. The complete wheel is considered part of the suspension system.

12.8 Wheel assembly :
12.8.1 The only parts which may be physically attached to the wheel in addition to the tyre are surface treatments for appearance and protection, valves for filling and discharging the tyre, balance weights, drive pegs, tyre pressure and temperature monitoring devices and spacers on the inboard mounting face of identical specification on all wheels for the same axle.

Exclusion zone

12.4.5 No wheel material is permitted in the following exclusion zones :
- A concentric cylinder of diameter 305mm and length 115mm positioned with its inner face lying in the same plane as the inboard face of the front wheel ;
- A concentric cylinder of diameter 305mm and length 25mm positioned with its outer face lying in the same plane as the outboard face of the front wheel ;
- A concentric cylinder of diameter 305mm and length 100mm positioned with its inner face lying in the same plane as the inboard face of the rear wheel ;
- A concentric cylinder of diameter 305mm and length 30mm positioned with its outer face lying in the same plane as the outboard face of the rear wheel.


So it would have to be joined as part fo the whee and not detachable as it is now. I'm not sure how close it'll be to the exclusion zone...

Yes, despite Scarbs' odd assertion, I don't think these are legal. I think the only reason the brake covers were legal in the past is that they were attached to the hub and not the wheel.

[donskar]

Formula ONE, sometimes considered the auto racing series where one is most likely to find innovative thinking and leading edge technologies.

And several of you are ranting ad infinitum over wheel covers and retaining nuts? Gentleman's agreement? Are you kidding?

Hey -- if Ferrari's innovations are illegal, they will be banned. If they are not illegal -- and they do more than inspire insipid argument -- they will be copied. OK?

[Poleman]

And several of you are ranting ad infinitum over wheel covers and retaining nuts? Gentleman's agreement? Are you kidding?

Noone is kidding i guess...Rules and agreements are made so they wont be violated no?

Hey -- if Ferrari's innovations are illegal, they will be banned. If they are not illegal -- and they do more than inspire insipid argument -- they will be copied. OK?

Isnt that obvious?

[Danlizzyman]

Formula ONE, sometimes considered the auto racing series where one is most likely to find innovative thinking and leading edge technologies.

And several of you are ranting ad infinitum over wheel covers and retaining nuts? Gentleman's agreement? Are you kidding?

Hey -- if Ferrari's innovations are illegal, they will be banned. If they are not illegal -- and they do more than inspire insipid argument -- they will be copied. OK?

+1...well said

[Mr Alcatraz]

Formula ONE, sometimes considered the auto racing series where one is most likely to find innovative thinking and leading edge technologies.

And several of you are ranting ad infinitum over wheel covers and retaining nuts? Gentleman's agreement? Are you kidding?

Hey -- if Ferrari's innovations are illegal, they will be banned. If they are not illegal -- and they do more than inspire insipid argument -- they will be copied. OK?

+1...well said

+1 more =D>

[axle]

This is another DD arguement...interpretations of the rules can being legal yet against the spirit in which they were written. I feel these wheel extensions, for me, are in that catagory.

Innovate or lose, as Ferarri found out in 2009!!

[myurr]

This is another DD arguement...interpretations of the rules can being legal yet against the spirit in which they were written. I feel these wheel extensions, for me, are in that catagory.

Innovate or lose, as Ferarri found out in 2009!!

And which team complained the loudest about the DDD's?

If these are legal and you can install a rotating (in two axis no less!) aero device, then why not just make the spokes in the shape of fan blades and make the brake duct feed from the floor of the car?

These aren't innovative in the sense of a worthwhile invention of new technology, merely innovative in their interpretation of rules and agreements.

[Kester]

If these are legal and you can install a rotating (in two axis no less!)

Technically it's 3 axis, as the camber angle changes with suspension travel. But that's just me being pedantic.

Regardless, yes Ferrari were one of the big out criers last year over the DD, but if you guys haven't realised yet, in Formula 1 you are either being hurt, or dishing it out. Last year Ferrari were being hurt, no wonder they kicked up fuss. This year they are trying to be the ones dishing it out.

It's how this sport works, and if you guys don't realise that you probably should be paying more attention to the sport than bickering like school girls over a wheel. If the FIA deem it illegal it'll be removed, until then no amount of whining by people on a forum will change anything.

[sunny_f1]

These aren't innovative in the sense of a worthwhile invention of new technology, merely innovative in their interpretation of rules and agreements.

And DDD's were innovative in the sense of a worthwhile invention of new technology?

I think they too were merely innovative in their interpretation of rules and agreements.

You got to give them credit for thinking out of the box though...
1) They could still be called wheel covers, but technically they dont fall into the same category as the last years ones which are banned.
2) They is a much reduced risk of accidents like Alonso's mishap last year as these are infact welded on. (Last years covers were mainly banned on safety grounds if i am not mistaken)
3)They are definitely not movable aero devices. They aid cooling, and not downforce generation.

[gibells]

There's nothing new about these wheels. Types of them have been used many years before (before the hub-caps came), but I guess what others on this forum are saying is that they are not allowed to be used by definition of the rules, as they are definitely an aero device (albeit one used for the purpose of brake cooling).