Ferrari F2012

[jav]

Did they change the rocker ratio to compensate for the decreased motion produced by the pullrod?

Why wouldn't they?

I would presume changing the ratio (in this direction) would amplify system clearances? And- in Scarbs picture- the ratio doesn't "appear" noticably different- although the push rod version does not appear as optomized (for rocker rotation) as the pull rod version.

It looks like the other geometries and pivot points may be having a positive impact on motion of the pull rod versus the push rod. I'm wondering if that alone could contibute to the wheel to rocker motion ratio?

[RacingManiac]

The flexibility of having a rocker in your suspension is the ability to alter motion ratio to suit your need, be it as for packaging or other reason. Its one way to get back the potential losses that you might get for running odd-ball push/pull rod geometry. Compare to say a traditional layout in a road car where your ratio is pretty much stuck based on your damper inclination and distance to the wheel end, the rocker can multiply the motion back. I am sure they are not married to the ratio of the rocker from one layout to another, and Scarb's sketch is still just one conjecture of how they might be doing the packaging.... They can probably switch out different rocker to different ratio to suit their setup need, its not uncommon to have different damper/linkage(push or pull rod) pickup point on one rocker. With space being a premium though they might just physically change out one rocker to another...

[Crucial_Xtreme]

ScarbsF1:

I've done some analysis on the Ferrari pull rod front suspension, surprisingly its geometry is as good as pushrod...!
Ferrari front pullrod: It provides a similar ratio of wheel to rocker movement as pushrod

Is there a link to this??? I ran some rough calcs based on the push rod being at 35 degrees from horizontal and the pull rod being 7 degrees from horizontal - each optomized for maximum rocker rotation and the push rod version could produce over 3 times more rocker rotation. Other than the angel of the push/pull rods- most other geometries were best guesses. Is there any more on this analysis?

Did they change the rocker ratio to compensate for the decreased motion prodcued by the pullrod?

Hey Jay, he tweeted his thoughts & then the pictures this morning on Twitter. Expect to see a blog post on his site very soon.

[Hail22]

Interesting to read from Speedtv and the Herald saying that Ferrari have instructed Felipe Massa to go at set speed limits.

Does this suggest testing of components or sensors to determine revising sidepods, flow, flexing (lets admit it Ferrari, RBR and Mclaren will all go for a rubbery effect this year).

I did notice from a photo which i'm failing to find that the Ferrari's exhaust leaving the pits was angled downward to the brake ducts...but when it came back to the pits it was on a upward angle.

Mechanical component allowing variable height for blowing?

[timbo]

Interesting to read from Speedtv and the Herald saying that Ferrari have instructed Felipe Massa to go at set speed limits.

It is the best way to check correlation between predicted aero and what you really get on track.

[Mr Alcatraz]

I've been reading quite a bit of doom and gloom about the F2012 after day two of testing. Massa stating the car needs a lot of work yet. It's too early to start drawing conclusions about the F2012. I will be rather surprised however if Alonso doesn't take it into the low 1.19s by Friday. He usually gets a glory lap whenever he drives in Spain. What they bring to OZ is still a huge question mark.
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/f ... t-of-2012/

To me, with a brand new car with an all new suspension design and new tires, you have to go from one end of your setting to the other and everywhere in between. You have to do every combination of settings, and you have to do it with all the different tire compounds and with different fuel loads.

There's an awful lot to do before you can even attempt to dial the car in. It's not surprise that the RB8 and some of the other "evolved" cars look faster, are setting faster lap times and are more stable than the F2012 right now. Heck, the fastest car on the track today, the w02, was a car that didn't win any races and only cracked the top-5 a handful of times in 2011.

Yes I agree with your post in its entirety. The link I provided was largely about that process. Being it is Spain I still think they can afford 20 minutes to cut Alonso loose with low fuel on Friday for a glory lap or two, or maybe not! JMHO.
We will see what happens Friday. Apologies for not putting this in the F1 testing thread. I'll grab my coat!

[Hail22]

Heard a rumour that the curfew for mechanics, technicians and engineers does not apply during testing, is this true?

Can they work around all hours or does the curfew from last years rules apply to testing as well?

If so, i sense a new exhaust cone will show its face for Ferrari, Mclaren with the 3rd updated rear wing and front wing with the modded F-Duct (probably for cooling).

[bhall]

Trackside reports about the handling of the car are pretty damning. I think it was AmUS which labelled it "lazy" and others are just saying that it is messy. Twitchy, understeery, late on the gas.

Peter Windsor:
Felipe Massa looked very good late in the day, when he was finally able to string some laps together (prior to that, Ferrari were in telemetry mode: out-lap, in-lap, out-lap, in-lap). The new Ferrari gave the impression of being fast on both slow and fast corners – and I say “gave the impression” because Felipe appeared to be driving well within the car’s limits at every given moment. And he was doing so with a nice, taut entry phase, just as he used to have in the good old days. No reason to be anything but positive about Ferrari at this early stage of the day.

So, which is it? (Or is this just testing, and neither mean a thing?)

[Hail22]

I would believe Pete Windsor, the guy is trackside at nearly every grand prix has good contacts in every team.

[Mr Alcatraz]

So, which is it? (Or is this just testing, and neither mean a thing?)

Flip a coin I think the general perception is that Massa was on it in the afternoon on softs.

What was quoted by Massa to La Gazzetta dello Sport backs up what Windsor said, with a large dose of speculation
http://english.gazzetta.it/Motor_sports ... 0493.shtml

[PlatinumZealot]

Did they change the rocker ratio to compensate for the decreased motion produced by the pullrod?

Why wouldn't they?

I would presume changing the ratio (in this direction) would amplify system clearances? And- in Scarbs picture- the ratio doesn't "appear" noticably different- although the push rod version does not appear as optomized (for rocker rotation) as the pull rod version.

It looks like the other geometries and pivot points may be having a positive impact on motion of the pull rod versus the push rod. I'm wondering if that alone could contibute to the wheel to rocker motion ratio?

Scarbs' post is inaccurate because he did not mention that, bell crank radius being the same, the angle off the pull rod determines how much upward motion from the wheels translate to an axial displacement of the rod.

Ferrari are merely relying on the fact that a F1 suspension doesn't move much. So the nasty motion ratio and higher force of their low angle pushrod can be designed for without to much consequences.

[raymondu999]

I would believe Pete Windsor, the guy is trackside at nearly every grand prix has good contacts in every team.

He's a trustworthy, reliable source (he's not going to flame/sugarcoat the situation) but he's not exactly the best source of technical/driving observations

[Mazdaboy]

This solution of the rear wing is legal? In last year's Spanish Grand Prix the similar gurney-flapped solution was banned...

[Hail22]

This solution of the rear wing is legal? In last year's Spanish Grand Prix the similar gurney-flapped solution was banned...

So far C. Whiting has only stated the exhausts are legal, we may hear more news today while he scopes the cars.

[Hush]

I would believe Pete Windsor, the guy is trackside at nearly every grand prix has good contacts in every team.

He's a trustworthy, reliable source (he's not going to flame/sugarcoat the situation) but he's not exactly the best source of technical/driving observations

Yeah, apparently Keke Rosberg says the general paddock consesus is that the car is a failure.