A place to discuss the characteristics of the cars in Formula One, both current as well as historical. Laptimes, driver worshipping and team chatter do not belong here.
I agree. This is a very new design. Some of it will be poor & some great. They are still figuring out which is which.
To me the big droop of the front suspension wishbones looks very suspect - except last year's was quite similar - but that was also a 'terrible' car. I have a feeling their suspension geometry is the cause of their underlying problem. Not that it is pull suspension but because they have two parallel wishbones sloping downwards giving a roll center (or force application center) far from where the other cars have it.
munudeges wrote:Of course Ferrari are going to deny having a new chassis at some point. Whether Gazetta has picked up on something we'll have to see, but the line that they would be changing to a push-rod to accommodate the Mercedes style ducting system rings true as a classic excuse. It's far easier to say you're going to change because of something else than to admit you've gone completely wrong.
I believe that stupid xcuse gave Gazetta's story a certain credibility, only an engineer would dream up something like this;
"We will sacrifice our innovative front suspension, build and crash test a new tub, all in order to accommodate a
Mercedes-like front wing f*ck-duck system, which we are not entirely sure if it xists, let alone does any good."
"I spent most of my money on wine and women...I wasted the rest"
I just love the way FW is shaped. At the very edges of it, there are 5 parts, for most aerodynamic down force... 20 (or so) cm later, it comes to just 3 parts, since tire surface behind it has almost ended and now the airflow needs to get smoother for later use. Above the tires, airflow gets pretty messed-up, if I understand it well, so its better to use the air for DF instead keeping it clean and smooth. Back to triple-surfaced part, not only does it provide better airflow, what's also noticeable, there are no more extra surfaces above the main one, so the flow keeps getting better. Also, it's effect is increased with the fact that there's pull-rod front, and parts of suspension aren't getting in the way. DF is lessened, but airflow is starting to have a greater role and purpose. 15cm or so closer to the center-line, it all comes to just 2 plates, which is reduced to just one shortly afterwards. So, as we get closer to the center-line DF decreases, but its effect is cumulative, and airflow is improved. Logic and general idea of FW design is clearly visible on F2012, and it's pretty much on the same page with high nose for increased amount of air coming below it. Not only it's increased, it is also pretty clean and undisturbed. Red Bull's r-plates near the center would only mess things up, and are unwanted, even though they are quite easily copyable...
bhallg2k wrote:Anyone know why Ferrari ditched the front wheel fairings?
Well, the new wheels definitely allow for faster pit-stops. Maybe there's some problem with fitting those and they made choice in favor of fster stops.
I am a bit confused.
We already said that Ferrari problem is lack of downforce in high speed corner that cause overstreeing.but Stefano say that our problem is lake of traction in slow corner that i think due to lake of mechanical grip that dont need exhaust downforce.
Cat anyone explain that?
type056 wrote:I am a bit confused.
We already said that Ferrari problem is lack of downforce in high speed corner that cause overstreeing.but Stefano say that our problem is lake of traction in slow corner that i think due to lake of mechanical grip that dont need exhaust downforce.
Cat anyone explain that?
The problem is traction in low-mid speed corners & top speed like Stefano said. The high speed stuff isn't too bad, except we lack top speed due to cranking the wing for extra downforce. If the team can get the lack of downforce solved or improved, the car will be competitive.
Crucial_Xtreme wrote:
The problem is traction in low-mid speed corners & top speed like Stefano said. The high speed stuff isn't too bad, except we lack top speed due to cranking the wing for extra downforce. If the team can get the lack of downforce solved or improved, the car will be competitive.
Can new exhaust solve lake of traction in low-mid corner too?
Crucial_Xtreme wrote:
The problem is traction in low-mid speed corners & top speed like Stefano said. The high speed stuff isn't too bad, except we lack top speed due to cranking the wing for extra downforce. If the team can get the lack of downforce solved or improved, the car will be competitive.
Can new exhaust solve lake of traction in low-mid corner too?
Depends on how well it works. I'm not so sure it's going to be one bolt on that's going to make the car all better. But it will be the updating of different areas that give it a step forward. New better working exhaust will most certainly help.
As the year progresses, the team will get better and will gain more working knowledge of their new car, and even more importantly of the new suspensions. Finding the right setup is paramount and that only comes with experience.
Let's not just focus on the front suspension, Ferrari are also running pull rods on the rear which is also new for them.
I think Crucial is right, experience will be what counts when it comes to understanding the new car. No doubt they will be finding things that work with every race weekend. The limit on testing clearly hurts when they bring a car with so many changes compared to last year.
type056 wrote:I am a bit confused.
We already said that Ferrari problem is lack of downforce in high speed corner that cause overstreeing.but Stefano say that our problem is lake of traction in slow corner that i think due to lake of mechanical grip that dont need exhaust downforce.
Cat anyone explain that?
bhallg2k wrote:It wouldn't surprise me at all to discover that everyone who's posted any ideas whatsoever about the F2012's problems is correct in their assertion(s).
