Ferrari front wing

[Apex]

How can you people even consider this not to be illegal? It is a movable aero device! If there was no performance advantage would they go to the trobule of manufacturing a structure this complex?

If any of here has experiance with composite manufacture, you will understand just how much more difficult it would be to get consistent performance (flex) from the wings. They are not doing this so show off their manufacturing skills!

From the footage it may not be too visible but I feel that they are applying a 'skew bending' phenonion. A practical example of skew bending is to carry a long (4m+) 'angle iron' extrusion on your shoulder and you will feel the twist of the bar as it flexes.

If you apply an 'equivalent' areo load a distance from the centriod of the wing profile you will achieve skew bending, which could (will) lead to a decrease of the A.o.A. thereby reducing drag.

[joseff]

IMO Ferrari should get a slap on their wrists and told not to do it again. This is one of those things that are legal by the letters but "not in the spirit of the regulations". Same thing with Williams and their funny diffuser a couple of seasons back. Also McLaren's McBrakes from '99.

ie. sure it conforms to the stress/load testing, but it's clearly designed to be a movable aero device, which is not allowed.

[Scuderia_Russ]

IMO Ferrari should get a slap on their wrists and told not to do it again. This is one of those things that are legal by the letters but "not in the spirit of the regulations". Same thing with Williams and their funny diffuser a couple of seasons back. Also McLaren's McBrakes from '99.

ie. sure it conforms to the stress/load testing, but it's clearly designed to be a movable aero device, which is not allowed.

How is this going to be policed if it passes the F.I.A. test though? The problem lies with the F.I.A. here in my opinion. At what point will everyone be happy that they have stopped this 'flexing' because there is no way of measuring it?

[f1.redbaron]

Watching the race, I could clearly see Ferrari's front wing moving. There is no doubt about that. But, according to the tests conducted by the governing body, the wing was declared legal. So, my question is, can the video evidence overpower the tests conducted by the FIA? Other teams have made comments about FIA's test not being adequate enough.

[DaveKillens]

There is a property called "aerolastic tailoring", which really applies well to carbon fiber wings. For example, the X-29 research plane had a swept forward wing with built in aerolastic tailoring. To really simplify an explanation, when you apply a force on an object, it bends, in a specific manner. But if you design that structure with specific layers of carbon fiber in specific directions and layers, it can be made to bend in a direction you desire.
So if we see a front wing bend down under speed, our assumption is that on the outside edges of the wing, the negative angle of attack increases. But with aerolastic tailoring, the opposite may be true. The front wing may be bending down (all within specified limitations), but it's angle of attack relative to the airflow may be decreasing, and thus lessening downforce and drag.
As well, the devices we have all seen moving and separating from the nose are not defined as wings themselves, but as something else. So technically, and within the interpretation of the rules, they move, but are not "wings". They appear to slide back and forth on a dowel that comes from the nose secion, thus still being able to carry downforce and transmit it to the nose structure.

http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news- ... oring.html

[manchild]

Too much flexing is treated as illegal becaue of the safety issues (breaking off etc) while movable aero devices are not flexible elements of the car but the ones operated automatically or manualy by driver.

[Principessa]

http://www.f1technical.net/news/2236

[Ciro Pabón]

I think you are right, Principessa. Manchild could be wrong. At least, I am not the only one thinking it is an aero thing. Today, ITV says something very similar to Principessa's quoted news:

"Eight of the 11 teams have signed a letter to the FIA asking for clarification over the regulations regarding the alleged use of flexi-wings in Formula 1.

...

Two other teams are in the same situation, and ironically they are part of the eight.

We had a nice conversation with Charlie Whiting this morning today and took his word that it will be fixed for Melbourne."

Besides, to be a moderator, you have to prove that you are always right...

[Raptor]

Sorry for my ignorance, but can anyone tell me if the front wing does not move vertically but horizontally how will help aerodynamically? Sorry, but I am slightly confused!

[manchild]

I know that flexing gives advantage but if flexing is within FIA prescirbed limits than it is legal.

So, flexing isn't 100% illegal while any movable aerodynamics is 100% illegal.

Since some people were mentioning flexing as "movable aero" I worte what I wrote in my previos post.

[Ciwai]

I think its illegal not strictly because of the flexing, but because of the sliding attachment point which makes it a movable aerodynamic device.

[Sawtooth-spike]

the FIA say its legal. and they know best

By the way anybody else notice what you get if you add a T to FIA

[Tom]

Hang on,



Look above the prancing horse on the nose!

[Steven]

Here are some pics posted in another thread (where they were off topic):

[johny]

if that isn't moving , please can someone post a link to bmw sauber front wing gif?