Team Lotus T128 Renault

[lotus7]

That became problematic did it?

Nope, I am not a pedant like some on these threads

[conni]

they will be team caterham air asia as tony has dropped the lotus name for a 20% share of the govt owned airline and has been put in charge of running it

conni

[FW17]

"Jarno Trulli: I suffered a lot with the old power steering system because it had been designed poorly." via @Jamesallenonf1

Why does a formula 1 car which has such a large turning radius need a power steering system?

[conni]

downforce makes the steering really heavy

conni

[ESPImperium]

Team Lotus T128 Chassis History:

T128-01 History:
Kovalainen: Valencia Test, Jerez Test, Barcelona Test #1, Barcelona #2 Test, AUS, MAL, CHI
Trulli: Valencia Test, Jerez Test, Barcelona Test #1, Barcelona #2 Test, CAN, EUR, GBR, HUN, BEL
Teixeira: Valencia Test Day 4, Barcelona Test #1
Valsecchi: Barcelona #2 Test, MAL FP1
Razia: Barcelona #2 Test
Chandhok: EUR FP1, GER

T128-02 History:
None (Posibly car they have used for crash testing and also the car they use for straightline aero tests now, also car for their 7 post rig usage)

T128-03 History:
Kovalainen: Barcelona #2 Test
Trulli: AUS, MAL, CHI, TUR, ESP, MON, ITA
Razia: CHI FP1
Chandhok: AUS FP1, ITA FP1

T128-04 History:
Kovalainen: TUR, ESP, MON, CAN, EUR, GBR, GER, HUN, BEL, ITA
Chandhok: TUR FP1, GBR FP1, BEL FP1

[bill shoe]

Why power steering for F1? I think the "because they have downforce" answer is too simple and incomplete.

During transients (turning into a corner), steering wheel weight is heavy because the caster causes the steering motion to extend and compress the dampers. You are literally pumping the dampers via the steering wheel.

During steady-state cornering (holding constant steering in the middle of a corner), steering wheel weight is heavy because kingpin angle and scrub radius raise the front end of the car up from its non-steered height. You are literally holding the car weight and downforce up via the steering wheel.

The transient situation does not depend on downforce, but the steady-state situation does. It would be possible to make a car with no kingpin/scrub that had constant steering weight regardless of downforce.

I don't know which effect is more important in a typical modern F1 car. Perhaps the complex interaction of transient vs steady-state steering weight was the reason that Lotus couldn't just dial the power-assist boost up or down to satisfy Jarno Trulli.

[King Six]

Slightly off topic, but what car is this? It's a pre-2009 car outfitted in Team Lotus colours, which I can't really understand as they didn't buy anyone out for their F1 entry.

[PaulB]

That should be an early 2000's Arrows.

[RAF]

That should be an early 2000's Arrows.

If that is the case I believe Paul Stoddard acquired a number of these when Arrows folded and had them as display cars dotted around Australian Airports, a few of which I believe were lifted from display and used as Super Aguris in their first year.

[wesley123]

nope, it's an 2003 or 2004 Toyota, Toyota were the only ones to run that flick up configuration.

[gridwalker]

Yeah Wes, I do believe you are right :

[majicmeow]

I know it was never an amazing car, but that poor TF103 deserved better than that

Maybe Tony F. has more from the old Toyota factory than meets the eye?

[MIKEY_!]

Come to think of it the nose of the last Toyota and last years lotus had a lot in common.

[dren]

Come to think of it the nose of the last Toyota and last years lotus had a lot in common.

Did't Team Lotus pick up a lot of engineers from the old Toyota team?

[raymondu999]

They had a major falling out with FIndia too when apparently they picked up a replica of FIndia's wind tunnel model?