Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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Richard
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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Just_a_fan wrote:let's not try to kid anyone that motorsport is in anyway 'green' or is, in any meaningful way, capable of being 'green'.
A sustainable agenda is about reducing resource use where we can, whilst supporting some things which are less resource effective but enable better technologies (or better quality of life) such as aerospace or motorsport. So yes, F1 can have a place in a society that is seeking sustainability in a balanced holistic manner.

Just_a_fan
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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As far as I can see, the only way to make a limited F1 series (either limited on power, downforce, finance or all three) work is for the FIA to closely define every open wheeler series it has. So define Formula Ford, Formula Renault etc. all the way up to F1 so each is a step up from the previous one. Otherwise you will end up with a 'junior' series being as fast (or perhaps faster) than the supposed pinnacle of the sport.

Now, does anyone think the FIA is capable or willing to do that?
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WhiteBlue
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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Just_a_fan wrote:Why do we have big front wings? To balance the big rear wing. And why do we have big wings at all? Because of the advertising space they provide.
All that is well known. But the wings also are much less prone to have cars getting airborne than diffusors or tunnels. The best solution is simply to limit downforce and let them optimize diffusors and wings to their heart's content.
Formula One's fundamental ethos is about success coming to those with the most ingenious engineering and best .............................. organization, not to those with the biggest budget. (Dave Richards)

Just_a_fan
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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richard_leeds wrote:
Just_a_fan wrote:let's not try to kid anyone that motorsport is in anyway 'green' or is, in any meaningful way, capable of being 'green'.
A sustainable agenda is about reducing resource use where we can, whilst supporting some things which are less resource effective but enable better technologies (or better quality of life) such as aerospace or motorsport. So yes, F1 can have a place in a society that is seeking sustainability in a balanced holistic manner.
That is a mature, rounded approach. Not the sort of thing one might expect politicians (whether in government or in sports governing bodies) to grasp. And that is what worries me.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.

Just_a_fan
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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WhiteBlue wrote:
Just_a_fan wrote:Why do we have big front wings? To balance the big rear wing. And why do we have big wings at all? Because of the advertising space they provide.
All that is well known. But the wings also are much less prone to have cars getting airborne than diffusors or tunnels. The best solution is simply to limit downforce and let them optimize diffusors and wings to their heart's content.
Nope. Heavily optimised wings will mean that they won't work in dirty air. That's part of the problem today!!

And there are lots of cars out there that use diffusers etc to generate downforce without taking off. Other than Mercedes, who else makes cars that fly...?
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.

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WhiteBlue
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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Just_a_fan wrote:As far as I can see, the only way to make a limited F1 series (either limited on power, downforce, finance or all three) work is for the FIA to closely define every open wheeler series it has. So define Formula Ford, Formula Renault etc. all the way up to F1 so each is a step up from the previous one. Otherwise you will end up with a 'junior' series being as fast (or perhaps faster) than the supposed pinnacle of the sport.

Now, does anyone think the FIA is capable or willing to do that?
Of course they will have a look at GP2 and F2. Those series belong to FOM and FiA. But if the thresholds for power, downforce and resources are set in the right way there should not even be a need to make changes to these formulae.
Formula One's fundamental ethos is about success coming to those with the most ingenious engineering and best .............................. organization, not to those with the biggest budget. (Dave Richards)

autogyro
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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At least it is now becoming obvious to everybody that it is the aero people who are killing F1. They are responsible and their arguments for not limiting DF are absolute crap.

Just_a_fan
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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autogyro wrote:At least it is now becoming obvious to everybody that it is the aero people who are killing F1. They are responsible and their arguments for not limiting DF are absolute crap.
"Killing F1"? Hyperbole 'r' us!

What you mean is "F1 is in a form I don't like"
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.

Just_a_fan
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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WhiteBlue wrote:
Just_a_fan wrote:As far as I can see, the only way to make a limited F1 series (either limited on power, downforce, finance or all three) work is for the FIA to closely define every open wheeler series it has. So define Formula Ford, Formula Renault etc. all the way up to F1 so each is a step up from the previous one. Otherwise you will end up with a 'junior' series being as fast (or perhaps faster) than the supposed pinnacle of the sport.

Now, does anyone think the FIA is capable or willing to do that?
Of course they will have a look at GP2 and F2. Those series belong to FOM and FiA. But if the thresholds for power, downforce and resources are set in the right way there should not even be a need to make changes to these formulae.
The only way to do it successfully is for each series to be a defined series. No lee-way. Set engines, set aero, set everything. If the rules allow for variation then you will get spiralling costs as teams plough increasing resources in to very small areas of very quickly diminishing returns.

Personally, I'm not interested in such a format for F1.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.

autogyro
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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Just_a_fan wrote:
autogyro wrote:At least it is now becoming obvious to everybody that it is the aero people who are killing F1. They are responsible and their arguments for not limiting DF are absolute crap.
"Killing F1"? Hyperbole 'r' us!

What you mean is "F1 is in a form I don't like"
Not at all, what I mean is that F1 is in a form that cannot survive.

wesley123
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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Just_a_fan wrote:
WhiteBlue wrote:
Just_a_fan wrote:Why do we have big front wings? To balance the big rear wing. And why do we have big wings at all? Because of the advertising space they provide.
All that is well known. But the wings also are much less prone to have cars getting airborne than diffusors or tunnels. The best solution is simply to limit downforce and let them optimize diffusors and wings to their heart's content.
Nope. Heavily optimised wings will mean that they won't work in dirty air. That's part of the problem today!!

And there are lots of cars out there that use diffusers etc to generate downforce without taking off. Other than Mercedes, who else makes cars that fly...?
The Delta Wing group :lol:
"Bite my shiny metal ass" - Bender

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strad
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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WhiteBlue said
The best solution is simply to limit downforce and let them optimize diffusors and wings to their heart's content.
Give it up W/B..It can't and won't happen. It appears to me you're the one that wants to kill F1. The best solution would be to limit the role of the FIA. We do not need a spec series.
To achieve anything, you must be prepared to dabble on the boundary of disaster.”
Sir Stirling Moss

autogyro
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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F1 has ALWAYS been a 'spec' series, I think you are muddling it up with some computer games.

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strad
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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autogyro said
F1 has ALWAYS been a 'spec' series, I think you are muddling it up with some computer games.
Just how do you figure that?
To achieve anything, you must be prepared to dabble on the boundary of disaster.”
Sir Stirling Moss

Scotracer
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Re: Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

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WhiteBlue wrote:
Scotracer wrote:
WhiteBlue wrote: And this is the basic misconception. If downforce is limited there is no need to make any restrictions to aero configurations. Teams will automatically find the one which is best for the performance. The rules do noit have to be changed in the future to adjust to performance increases. The development will automatically reduce drag and turbulence for any config that is more efficient.
And this is a basic misunderstanding. I am not supporting a downforce limit, I find the idea ridiculous.
You are not telling anything new. The last thing we need is another round of OWG delays. Last time they have only been used as an excuse to shoot down the downforce limit. Even P. Lowe from the OWG says that DDDs were the wrong thing to do and that too much downforce is the problem. He doesn't think that diffusor downforce is any more beneficial on wake turbulences than wing downforce. We now have as much downforce as in 2008. So should we give the tricky Dickies of F1 yet another opportunity to define aero rules which supposedly cut downforce but in reality will never do this? The aero guys have played everyone for sucker much too long!
The last thing we need is some poorly conceived design decision made on the hunch of a random internet poster. We need a properly methodical and systematic analysis of the implications of each design choice within the context of F1 cars. You can't just say "look, this bigger aircraft has a larger wake signature therefore...". That's an equivocation fallacy and correlation is not causation. Until you have data to back up the idea of limiting downforce and opening up the ways in which that downforce can be produced not being either just as bad or worse for the overtaking situation I'll gracefully ignore your proposals...but I'll continue to point out how baseless they are.

I am not proposing a solution, I'm proposing we find the actual problem.

Downforce, as an absolute is not the problem. The cars have more downforce this year than they had in 2008 yet they can follow each other more closely. Bang goes your theory. The intention of the 2009 rules was to reduce total downforce by 20-35% - they knew they'd never get the 50% first conceived but it was the DDD loophole, not foreseen that caused them to overtake the 2008 levels. And many, many engineers have said since then that the DDD has not had a negative impact on the situation. And until you can bring me the data I am asking for (and the only way to get the real data is for the OWG to get back to work) it's your opinion versus that of some very senior engineers in the F1 field, including Sam Michael. Now are we gonna run this on anecdotes, appeals to authority and other scientific no-nos or actually do it properly, as engineers?
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