Red Bull RB6

[raymondu999]

They've clearly got the speed, and arguably the BEST speed... but reliability is sucking. I can see how they can compare this against the MP4-20. Raikkonen was devilish fast in that but almost always retired

[bill shoe]

I think the low exhaust exit on the RB6 is a basic packaging issue, not a direct aero issue. At least not an aero issue as far as the diffuser is concerned.

The RB6 sidepods end at the second deck of the diffuser. The diffuser gets its air from under the car, not from the sidepod, so the rear of the sidepods are essentially closed off. The RB6 ducts all its radiator airflow out the "mailbox" duct on the centerline of the car above the diff. Therefore all air that leaves the radiators in the sidepods must flow from the rear of the sidepod in an inboard/up direction to the top of the bellhousing/diff. I think that by positioning the exhaust bundle/outlet lower in the sidepod rear they have opened up more room in the upper rear sidepod for clean airflow to the mailbox duct. The exhaust is not really in a low position to "blow" the diffuser or something. It's there because it's out of the way there.

The closed sidepods and pullrod rear suspension and low exhaust and mailbox air outlet all integrate together very well. Aside from the Toro Roso car there is nothing else like it. I am quite suprised that no other team has gone this route despite Red Bull showing the way last year.

The Red Bull is definitely the car I would most like to see naked this year. I would love to see the internal ducting in that thing in addition to the exact layout of the rear suspension parts, etc.

[Raptor22]

It's pretty obvious he cracked it on a bump or a curb. It's a nice idea but it's not going to work. Maybe in the wind tunnel it's great, but it's not practical for a race.

turns out it was a defective spark plug that broke. The electrode was cracked and made intermittent contact which is why once the problem was intermittent.

naut wrong with the exhausts

[raymondu999]

Is it fixable tho? Is it salvageable? I would hate to see Vettel lose out this year on engine troubles again

[Italiano]

I think a sparkplug is a minor thing on the engine, like changing the oil or something similar. Maintenance I think it's called.

I really can't see why changing sparkplugs could be illegal. It would be really stupid...

[autogyro]

I think a sparkplug is a minor thing on the engine, like changing the oil or something similar. Maintenance I think it's called.

I really can't see why changing sparkplugs could be illegal. It would be really stupid...

(Hi Michael, remember the greasy spoon at Silverstone when Briatore came and nicked you from Jordan?)
A cracked insulator on a spark plug is almost impossible to guard against, just the worst of luck.
Mind you I would be a little worried about something else 'solid' having cracked it. I hope they can confirm that nothing else was involved.

[Italiano]

T'was indeed a greasy spoon. Good grub.

Anyways, they'll just replace the lot and that's it. I can't see any further complications, since it was probably just a bad batch.

[rayden]

Spark plug is a red herring imo

from parc ferme:

[vinuneuro]

I'm not very familiar with this car. What are the arrows pointing to?

[MattyT]

I'm not very familiar with this car. What are the arrows pointing to?

Yep have to say, not too sure what you are referring to in the pic...

[rayden]

pic is screen cap taken by bbc in parc ferme post race (on red button feed).

red arrow shows cracked paint due to heat stress, yellow arrow is pointing to whole above suspension mounting caused by heat from cracked pipe im guessing (this was the bit that 'flew off' during telecast), if i had a decent pic from friday prac to campare alongside, it would be obvious, but im struggling to find a good one.

that exhaust is gooone

[Mysticf1]

Pic from testing

hmm kinda hard to tell but theres definitely something going on there.

[marcush.]

it could be more than that:
what if the technician dropped the plug before mounting to the engine,the Tool fixingthe plug was marring the plu or the engine mapping is causing the plug to fail?
it is not like you could easily blame the manufacturer for a bad batch...
I would not.
Of course technology wise Champion is to my knowledge on a par with NGK but if that is true with F1 plugs ? I know that some other manufacturers have real real problems with quality ,also because of the crises when some subsuppliers went down the drain
suddenly..

obviously the end tip of the exhaust is already being reworked from testing to the
race and it looks now very integrated ...a nice piece...

[djos]

Spark plug is a red herring imo

from parc ferme:

What rubbish, if there really was a crack in the exhaust there would be burn damage and the car would have prolly not made it home!

[autogyro]

Any damage or cracks around that area are more likely stone damage going by the plowed field on the rear tyre.