The FIA have today confirmed that the blown diffuser row has been settled, with all teams agreeing to continue running blown diffusers to the Valencia regulations. No other rule changes in this area will be imposed during 2011 while their complete banning is set for 2012.
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Ferraripilot wrote:I have ton wonder if Whiting knew this was how RB was able to run so much rake which was in turn making their front wing flex.
say what?
The wing will flex just as much, it just wont be as close to the ground.
Actually, it could make the wing flex more (note, not claiming it does)... If the rake puts the wing closer to the ground, it would cause ground effect to destroy the eddies round the edge, causing it to generate more downforce, causing it to flex more due to the extra force.
I stand corrected, thanks.
And yes, RBR has completely denied any flexing in their wing. they gave us the "well it´s the rake so it just looks like it" talk.
beelsebob wrote:They would never admit that it was flexing – that would make it illegal.
Flexing is allowed as long as it is within 20mm under a 100n load.
Flexing is allowed in the test as long as it's within 20mm under a 100N load. Parts designed to bridge the gap between the sprung part of the car and the ground however... (which is what Horner would be admitting to here)
My understanding is that as the driver lifts off the throttle these special engine maps are automatically reapplying the throttle (by anything up to 100% in qualifying) but that ignition is retarded so that the engines are developing much power/torque with more of the fuel burning in the exhaust. This effectively turns the engine into a big air pump blowing air out of the exhausts.
The FIA has decided that this has taken things too far and is effectively movable aero in the same way a fan would be. Right decision, in my view, but with typically appalling timing.
I believe that drivers will still be able to use the throttle in the corners to blow the diffuser, but this will also be generating power to the wheels so can only be used when the tyres will take it. Will this also lead to higher degradation of the rear tyres as drivers are more likely to induce power on oversteer?
So far we've mostly talked about which teams this will affect / favour, but what about drivers? It's been mentioned that last year Webber's natural line through corners was more suited to the EBD than Vettel's, at least before these engine maps were introduced.
But what about other drivers? I would have thought that this would add significant instability to the rear of the car, something that Hamilton is more comfortable with than Button for example. Could it also help Schumacher make his car a bit more pointy? How will Alonso cope relative to Massa (I believe the latter is happier with oversteer, but Alonso is very adaptable)?
Will we see some drivers (my money would be on Button being the first) switching back to the old style exhausts that sit higher up and don't blow the diffuser?
Ferraripilot wrote:I have ton wonder if Whiting knew this was how RB was able to run so much rake which was in turn making their front wing flex.
say what?
The wing will flex just as much, it just wont be as close to the ground.
The Red Bull position was that their wing only flexes so much because they run such a huge amount of rake. Should this new rule cause them to not be able to run as much rake we will see if their wing still flexes the same amount or if their contention was a fleece job sold to shut up the media
They said it looked closer to the ground because of the rake, not that it flexed.
I stand corrected! Many thanks for clarifying the point.
So, will it still 'appear' closer to the ground should they have to change their rake settings on the car specifically due to the more unstable rear end they will probably suffer when entering high speed corners?
myurr wrote:But what about other drivers? I would have thought that this would add significant instability to the rear of the car, something that Hamilton is more comfortable with than Button for example. Could it also help Schumacher make his car a bit more pointy? How will Alonso cope relative to Massa (I believe the latter is happier with oversteer, but Alonso is very adaptable)?
Will we see some drivers (my money would be on Button being the first) switching back to the old style exhausts that sit higher up and don't blow the diffuser?
Massa likes understeer. It is one of the reasons he has gone so well at Turkey in the past, his natural setup is well suited to Turn 8.
It was Kimi who liked a pointy front and a rear he could tweak with the throttle in recent years at Ferrari.
bhallg2k wrote:I'd just like to go on the record to say how proud I am of everyone that this hasn't produced the usual cacophony of blaming Ferrari.
Bravo, people! =D>
To blame Ferrari they would have to come up with some form of new technology. Something they have not done for sometime now.
That said, i'm quite confident there was some small talk between Luca and Todd & Co about how important to F1 future Ferrari is compared to "just drink company"
