Williams FW34 Renault

[Seamus]

Guys any high res pictures of the rear end?

This is what I found on GPupdate website (not a high resolution image though):

compared to fw33 /canada/

[shelly]

Interesting to see the central/lower part of the diffuser get narrow and than wide again: usually we see smooth tapering of that zone

[boyracer94]

Link to hi-res: http://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/gall ... us/035.jpg

[kilcoo316]

What is much more interesting is the double flap "diffuser" (OK, it ceases to be a diffuser, but...). This contouring of the diffuser is directly related.

The existence of the upper element and the cambering of the diffuser central section will result in a increased effective diffuser exit area - a fudgy way of saying it would be that the wake will be much higher = increased massflow under the car = increased downforce.


Kudos Williams - I like it!

[shelly]

kilcoo. are you referring to the gurney on top of the diffuser or what? I see nothing unusual there

[manchild]

Link to hi-res: http://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/gall ... us/035.jpg

What is that tiny box below rear light? It looks like something attached on the bottom of original crash structure, with square aperture on the left upper corner, of what seams to be like yet another set of LEDs.

[kilcoo316]

kilcoo. are you referring to the gurney on top of the diffuser or what? I see nothing unusual there

Look at the central section of the diffuser, there is no gurney. Look above that - there is a "second" wing element.

[shelly]

<isn't that a quite common feature (see for ex rb7)? ferrari and mclaren have a bigger gurney there, I agree it is interesting seeing they have chosen a different path.

Anyway, i think the sape of the central part of the floor deserves a closer look, because if I am not mistaken is orignal and it seems aimed to a better exploitation of the so called starter hole, whihc has now become an aero feature

[MIKEY_!]

I wonder why they didn't extend that flap across the whole top of the diffuser. Also what would the cutouts in the gurney do to help performance?

[Coefficient]

I wonder why they didn't extend that flap across the whole top of the diffuser. Also what would the cutouts in the gurney do to help performance?

The outer strakes under the diffuser actually come right through to the upper surface and join the gurney at right angles where the gap in the gurney is visible. This creates a right angled vertical element at the outer edge of the upper diffuser. We also see heat stickers on the RW Endplates so does this indicate that the Williams is blowing the outer upper surface of the diffuser and the team is making sure the endplates don’t suffer heat damage?

Does the right angled gurney ensure that the air/exhaust blowing across the top of the diffuser is deflected up towards the ends of the underside of the beam wing to speed up the flow and reduce drag?

[PlatinumZealot]

Why do you think exhaust comes down to the diffuser level?

[Coefficient]

Why do you think exhaust comes down to the diffuser level?

Hi Smikle,

It was just speculation based on the gurney position which could have the double effect of working the diffuser harder whilst also ejecting air and also exhaust gases skywards towards the underside of the beam wing. I say “also exhaust gases” due to the presence of temp stickers on the underside of the beam wing.

[ledzep4pm]

I thought that the diffuser isn't allowed to have undercuts like that. Or has that rule changed?

[FW17]

Funny you are allowed to test only with only 1 car but teams have enough resources to take 2 cars even to filming day

[Francesc]

Those are two old FW33s.