Ferrari F2012

[Italiano]

I hope that those invisible updates address race pace on low fuel.

[elFranZ]

i've looked at it for five minutes and i can only say, sorry it is just reflection.

Same first impression, but they are real to me.
Now, sorry for the stupid question, but... what's the purpose of generating vortexes (if any) in that particular zone?

I have to quote myself, just got a clear explanation from my best friend (usually reading here, he's a bit shy to sign up and share all of his fluid dynamics experience).
That zone is affected by laminar fluxes influencing the air volume coming into the inlets. In particular, creating a turbulence should reduce the boundary layer flux, maximizing the volume of air streaming to radiators.
Sounds convincing, mh? He's a good guy

[ell66]

I hope that those invisible updates address race pace on low fuel.

theres not much evidence to suggest the car goes much better on high fuel yet, didnt look like it in aus anyway.

hopefully we have more answers this weekend.

[froggy]

Looks to me like they shaved the winglet and added those bulges, unless my eyes are playing tricks on me...seems like you can see where they sprayed the red paint where the winglet was and where it meets the sidepod???

You can see that the mirror mounting location is the same just taped up with some overspray on it.

[Forza]

We need better picture but we can clearly see the junction point on the monocoque which could indicate to some change. As elFranZ siad probably to generate turbulence and effecting the boundary layer and improving the air flow. There is no presence of that fin extension placed under the mirrors of the car on previous races.

The cooling exit presented on pictures above could be the first step into redirecting the cooling air due to some structure change on the bodywork.

[bhall]

That zone is affected by laminar fluxes influencing the air volume coming into the inlets. In particular, creating a turbulence should reduce the boundary layer flux, maximizing the volume of air streaming to radiators.
Sounds convincing, mh?

I wonder if maybe something (albeit very slight) has been lost in the translation.

At any rate, the former winglets created turbulent flow for the sidepod inlets, because turbulent flow is better than laminar flow for heat transfer. The downside to those winglets is that they also created turbulent flow over the sidepods as well. This is very bad if you're trying to keep the exhaust plume attached downstream.

Notably, Sauber and Red Bull have introduced horizontal elements to their sidepod wings apparently to prevent that from happening on the C31 and RB8, respectively. That effectively increases mass flow over the sidepods, which then keeps the exhaust attached. McLaren had similar winglets within the U-pod channels on the MP4-27.

EDIT 2: If none of that makes sense, it's because I think I've temporarily lost the ability to translate my thoughts into sentences, and it's frustrating as hell.

EDIT 3: Grammar and syntax, and I am not altering this thing again.

EDIT 4: Damn you, OCD!

[hardingfv32]

Is it common for the mirror stalk (very top of photo) to have this much angle of attack and wing foil shape?

Brian

[bhall]

Is it common for the mirror stalk (very top of photo) to have this much angle of attack and wing foil shape?

I don't know about the rest of the field, but it's not unusual for Ferrari.


(Click to enlarge)

(And, goodness me, I had almost forgotten about just how good that car looks.)

[PlatinumZealot]

For those who are so inclined to details. the redbull cooling solution is a HUUGE change. This means the fundamental flow under the side pod has changed. The majority of the hot air is now going to the middle and up, when before it was going out the sides through the acer ducts.

I will hazard a guess and say that the radiator layout has changed for China!

[Chuckjr]

Yes indeed. I was just thinking that as I saw your post. Didn't the 2012 last race have ALL the side pod air flow out the acer ducting area? So this, as you just said, is indeed a MASSIVE change.

Wow. Go Ferrari. Hells yes.

[bhall]

For those who are so inclined to details. the redbull cooling solution is a HUUGE change.

[...]

What makes you think they're going the Red Bull route? The new central vent?

I don't mean for that to seem skeptical; I'm genuinely curious.

I just posed the possibility in the RB8 thread that maybe Red Bull is doing A/B testing this weekend to see if outboard exhaust development is even worthwhile this year. There's no doubt that the regulations have diluted the exhaust's effects on diffusers; the only question is to what degree.

It might be a case of teams keeping the outboard exhaust concept if it already works, or just letting it go completely if it doesn't.

[MIKEY_!]

Ferrari used the redbull exit on and off last year. No reason to suspect the are going to keep it this year.

[kebab]

Using Redbull exit surely has its pros & cons and Ferrari must understand all of that. Using it in this race where the weather is still cool to me is a indicator that Ferrari is changing their cooling concept which, as n smikle said. Don't know what it could bring or solve any of the problems but the positive thing is that if they have changed the radiator layout for the new exit in a relatively short time then I think a big change around sidepod with new exhaust can be ready for Mugello (if they are to do it).

[bhall]

maybe they will extend and meet the side vanes and form a sauber-like winglet on top of the leading edge of the sidepods

That's not a new idea, but you might be onto something.


(Click to enlarge)

[Crucial_Xtreme]

For those who are so inclined to details. the redbull cooling solution is a HUUGE change. This means the fundamental flow under the side pod has changed. The majority of the hot air is now going to the middle and up, when before it was going out the sides through the acer ducts.

I will hazard a guess and say that the radiator layout has changed for China!

I said the exact same thing(big change in cooling) at AutoSport today. And although speculation I think you're probably onto something with the radiator layout change, as Fry said there would be some updates you could see & some you couldn't.
Seems like Ferrari are heading down a path that will change the concept of their car from the sidepod inlets backwards to the RW. Ferrauber!