Ferrari F2012

[amouzouris]

There's nothing wrong with the front suspension. (I think that's soon to become my signature here.)

And I don't even think the car's inherently "draggy." The speed-trap figures are right on par with RB8. It's traction that hinders the car's top speed.

i agree with you on that bhallg

[Lycoming]

If they are draggy, its probably a compromise to make up for a lack of downforce.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Some of the changes for China

[Nando]

There's nothing wrong with the front suspension. (I think that's soon to become my signature here.)

And I don't even think the car's inherently "draggy." The speed-trap figures are right on par with RB8. It's traction that hinders the car's top speed.

traction? at top speed or near top speed?
Traction while having a long fast, banked right hander to help you get out on a 1km long straight in which you later get your speed lasered?

I doubt it.

If the car is on par with the Red Bull in terms of top speed it probably means that the Ferrari produces less downforce then the Red Bull but creates an equal amount of drag.

Bad aero basically.

[bhall]

No. Traction coming out of a corner that leads onto a long straight is a major factor in the top speed achieved on that straight. Ferrari is struggling in this area due to compromised, stiffer suspension settings.

[Lycoming]

But they all hit the limiter well before the brake markers start. Unless you mean the fact that it takes longer to get to top speed means they find it more beneficial to gear the car shorter to compensate?

[bhall]

I think they have to, yanno?

[Lycoming]

no, I don't know. What are you trying to say?

[Nando]

Lyoming knows what im saying.

Straight is so long, the cars hit top speed almost halfway through.

They are not in any way traction limited to reaching their top speed.
Possibly if we discussed a shorter straight where you just touch on the top speed but not with a straight this long.

[bhall]

Problems with low-speed traction and poor top speed are problems confessed by the team. The quotes are everywhere.

Regarding the win in Malaysia, Pat Fry said, "Damp low grip conditions suit our car and flatter some of the issues we have with the F2012 at the moment."

Indeed, because, amongst others, two changes made to a car's settings for a wet setup are raising the ride height and softening the suspension for better traction.

I'd post all of the numbers, but it's a pain in the ass, and they're easy to find anyway. But if you look at the speed trap figures from Malaysia, you can see that the F2012's top speed steadily increased throughout the practice sessions and into qualifying as the team moved toward the wet setup that allowed for a win.

Below are selected speed-trap numbers from qualifying yesterday. I'm not comfortable suggesting that the F2012's nearest peers are equally "draggy," nor am I comfortable suggesting that the F2012 makes comparable downforce.

Code: Select all

15    3    Jenson Button    14:10:35    313.4
16    4    Lewis Hamilton   14:32:29    313.2
17    5    Fernando Alonso  14:10:26    312.7
18    6    Felipe Massa     14:04:16    312.6
19    1    Sebastian Vettel 14:36:08    311.5
20    2    Mark Webber      14:09:03    311.3

While nothing can be known for sure, all of this strongly suggests that the F2012's top speed issues are traction-related.

[elFranZ]

Good point, I perfectly agree. They were losing much in sectors 2 and 3, where traction is required after the strong brakings, so the car must still lack some corner exit.
Where is the speed trap located?

[Hail22]

Interesting Sauber who has a smaller budget mind you, on average are performing much better than Scuderia Ferrari.

Whether or not that boils down to the front nose vent or the exhaust exit they have remains to be seen.

[tok-tokkie]

Some of the changes for China

Is the insert picture of the winglet not from the opposite side of the car? Guides air upwards not downwards?

[Lycoming]

That is correct, though given the profile its hard to tell if its directing air up or down.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Sorry tok-tokkie, that was the best picture I could get for comparison. I would say from the pic below they probably guide air upwards.

Right click>view image