Exhaust blown diffusers and FIA restrictions/ban

[Just_a_fan]

More likely that McLaren have a lot to lose because of their cooling situation. The car is designed with excess cooling according to Whitmarsh, and as a result can likely handle more aggressive engine maps than the Merc, possibly even Red Bull.

If the car is "over cooled" this begs the question of whether they can reduce the sidepods further. Imagine the top of the L being cut off to give full width very low profile sidepods.

That might be interesting to see, especially if it gives a decent performance increase...

[i70q7m7ghw]

The problem with the ban is that the exhaust system really doesn't work without the overrun. The cars are far too unstable. Just remember how the McLaren's were all over the place when they tried to introduce their system at Silverstone last year. So I think you either do a partial ban on overrun, maybe 50% of wot, or you get rid of the blown diffusers all together.

With the current configurations of exhausts exiting either side of the diffuser or even under it (Red Bull) then I would have to agree with you. However, if you look at the early 2010 Red Bull, I would say this configuration was less dependant on the overrun engine maps. Allegedly Red Bull didn't actually run the engine map for the first few races of 2010.

[hardingfv32]

Why would McLaren's cooling requirements be that different from the other teams? The engines are all very similar and their ratings nearing equal.

Brian

[godlameroso]

Because not all radiators are created equal.

[Mr Alcatraz]

Fair or unfair, this is not a system that should be changed mid season,
plain and simple as that. IMO

[Caito]

If I where in the FIA I'd ask how much of the car is designed around blown diffusers. If the % is fairly acceptble, then I'd try to ban it for 2012. Else, I'd try to anticiapte at least 2 races, or wait until summer vacation recess-

[godlameroso]

I agree, they should just ban it next year, that's what they usually do.

[Mr Alcatraz]

I agree, they should just ban it next year, that's what they usually do.

It is utter insanity to ban it before 2012. This thing had the green light for last season and this one. I'm not what you would call an RB fan, and I don't know who this would affect the most, but let's let this season play out. This system has been deemed legal. It is not like the Michelins 2003 with the incredible growing contact patch. That was a legitimate complaint that could have been overlooked but it wasn't.
What a bad call by Todt, and Co.

[noname]

apart from the blown diffuser element of this ruling and any "green" cnsiderations, is it possible that someone has realised what the implications could be when turbo's are re introduced? by keeping the exhaust flowing like this, the turbo would effectively be spinning continually at a usefull level of boost. left unchecked we could end up with the turbo engines running at 100% throttle for the whole race (fuel permitting)

2013 will mark introduction of e-turbos. They will most probably be spinning with almost constant speed, however not due burning fuel in the exhausts but thanks to MGUs providing support during transients.

Of course there is always a chance FIA will ban this, even if it would be making good use of available energy and what automotive industry is really looking at. I can imagine FIA deciding MGU operating at 100% duty cycle produces too much heat causing global warming

[beelsebob]

More likely that McLaren have a lot to lose because of their cooling situation. The car is designed with excess cooling according to Whitmarsh, and as a result can likely handle more aggressive engine maps than the Merc, possibly even Red Bull.

If the car is "over cooled" this begs the question of whether they can reduce the sidepods further. Imagine the top of the L being cut off to give full width very low profile sidepods.

That might be interesting to see, especially if it gives a decent performance increase...

Surely the uprights at the sides are necessary to house crash structures.

[Just_a_fan]

More likely that McLaren have a lot to lose because of their cooling situation. The car is designed with excess cooling according to Whitmarsh, and as a result can likely handle more aggressive engine maps than the Merc, possibly even Red Bull.

If the car is "over cooled" this begs the question of whether they can reduce the sidepods further. Imagine the top of the L being cut off to give full width very low profile sidepods.

That might be interesting to see, especially if it gives a decent performance increase...

Surely the uprights at the sides are necessary to house crash structures.

We don't know how their lateral crash structures are designed / work. Maybe they don't use the upper part of the L-pod...

[beelsebob]

Surely the uprights at the sides are necessary to house crash structures.

We don't know how their lateral crash structures are designed / work. Maybe they don't use the upper part of the L-pod...

I'll need to check the technical regs, but I was under the impression that they had to be at a set height.

Edit: My bad, the rules don't specify the positioning of the structures, but they do require that the car gets hit at 30cm above the reference plane in the testing, so I would expect that no side-pod there would fail, as the impactor would hit the cockpit side.

[CyleB]

im not sure that the side pods have to be a certain height but the driver tub does i think not completely sure

[alelanza]

2013 will mark introduction of e-turbos.

What's the source for this?

[noname]

2013 will mark introduction of e-turbos.

What's the source for this?

2013 technical regulations.

I think it's quite a common knowledge, already. There was a quite nice article made by Pat Symonds in "Race Tech" few months ago dicussing changes 2013 seson will bring. It was focused mainly on the new drivetrain.