Technical Regulations for 2009-2015

[turbof1]

The main difference is that compared to 2011 the noses are much weaker due that the described panel is none-structural.

I'm not sure how that could be weaker.

It is only adding a cosmetic panel over the step to make a pretty shape. The stepped structural bit underneath will be just as strong.

Relative speaking; the density of the the now flatter noses is higher then the ones in 2011, but overall they have less mass to get through the crash test. They still get through though. The panel of course doesn't change anything at all, but we are comparing to 2011.

[Tommy Cookers]

Does anyone here care to speculate towards the possibility of using the recovery systems as a means of traction control coupled with active suspension in the future regulations? Do you think that such devices would make up for(in terms of lap time) any reduced aerodynamic performance due to design restrictions built into the regulations?

edit in parenthesis

there is inherently a traction control (and an ABS) characteristic in electric drive (and in recovery)

I would expect this to be enhanced (within the MGU etc control), and the rulemakers will allow it (in part because they cannot do anything to prevent it)
there will be intelligent millisecond-by-millisecond MGU control from day 1

in effect the rules have been written by the motive power providers (in consensus), this is FIA policy

[Powershift]

Other than the new engine and HERS/KERS rules do we know any of the new tech regs for 2014? Will they finally be going back to allowing ground effect downforce or are we still stuck with the 2009 formula?

[turbof1]

Other than the new engine and HERS/KERS rules do we know any of the new tech regs for 2014? Will they finally be going back to allowing ground effect downforce or are we still stuck with the 2009 formula?

Nosetips are going to be much lower, front wings will be shorter and rear wings shallower. Expect cars to be more like pre-2009. I dearly hope that they reintroduce ground effect. Cars are bound to loose a huge chunk of performance.

[Mika1]

The 2014 season will see the introduction of a new engine formula, with the sport moving towards a turbocharged, 1.6 litre V6 format with an 8-speed gearbox.[1] The rules dictate the use of a ninety-degree engine bank, with fixed crankshaft axis and mounting points for the chassis, while the engines will be limited to 15,000rpm. The Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), first introduced in 2009, will be incorporated into the design of the engine; its function as a supplementary power source will be taken by the introduction of the Thermal Energy Recovery System (TERS).[11]

The 2014 regulations will dictate the use of lower noses than in previous years, in the interests of safety. The tip of the nose must be no more than 185mm above the ground,[35] in comparison to the 550mm allowed in 2012.[36]
Further technical changes will mandate the use of narrower front wings, and requiring teams to use a shallower angle on their rear wings.[37]

Following a string of accidents in open-wheel motorsport that resulted in several deaths and injuries and recently in a multi-car pile-up at the start of the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix that saw three cars cartwheel across the circuit and nearly injured Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, the technical directors of several teams renewed their push for the introduction of closed-canopy cockpits — similar to those used in fighter jets — in Formula One, describing them as "inevitable" and putting forward the 2014 season as the earliest possible date for their introduction.

Source: Wikipedia

[turbof1]

A good analysis:

http://sidepodcast.com/post/f1-2014-reg ... innovation

Bye bye aero development...

[WhiteBlue]

A good analysis:

http://sidepodcast.com/post/f1-2014-reg ... innovation

Bye bye aero development...

Perhaps more bye bye excessive aero development and welcome propulsion development. That really would be a nice change. Who needs all the short lived aero junk of the last five years?

[turbof1]

A good analysis:

http://sidepodcast.com/post/f1-2014-reg ... innovation

Bye bye aero development...

Perhaps more bye bye excessive aero development and welcome propulsion development. That really would be a nice change. Who needs all the short lived aero junk of the last five years?

There isn't much to develop concerning propulsion. Engine freeze will still be there. You have TERS now to develop, but it is severely limited. Also don't forget that the "short lived aero junk" is "short lived" because the rules are being more stringent year after year. F1 is more and more moving to a development-sterile series.

[Ogami musashi]

The aero regs are not finalized yet; The one published are just a draft.

But i can't see how we can reverse to more open aero rules...it will surely be the opposite as it is since the 80's.

[skgoa]

I don't get how the "no aero T_T" meme gets so much traction. Just because the wings are smaller? Aerodynamic downforce will still be a huge factor.

[WhiteBlue]

There isn't much to develop concerning propulsion. Engine freeze will still be there.

Care to elaborate why you think there will be still engine freeze? There is nothing frozen like the V8 in the current 2014 regulations. And how can you say that there will be no propulsion development? There are massive new developments on the boards for 2014 and beyond. You have direct injection, new combustion technology, potentially axial turbos, dual torque acceleration and breaking, new electric storage systems, electric compounding, electric turbo spin up, fuel flow control, new MGU design and many more things that are totally unknown at the moment. There is also the potential to free up the specifications in the following years to exploit variable valves, variable geometry turbos, multiple ignition per cylinder, new ignition devices and a ton of other stuff.

[Tommy Cookers]

Care to elaborate why you think there will be still engine freeze? There is also the potential to free up the specifications in the following years to exploit variable valves, variable geometry turbos, multiple ignition per cylinder, new ignition devices and a ton of other stuff.

rule instability discourages new participants (the time to have this potential ruled-in is now, if new participants are really wanted))
(the rules are based on suggestions from the present 'big 3', and maintain their freeze motivation that disadvantaged Cosworth)

speaking technically, the 2014 rules are quite clever, electric compounding largely avoids a need for VVT and even VGT
(this also applies to road vehicles)

[WhiteBlue]

Care to elaborate why you think there will be still engine freeze? There is also the potential to free up the specifications in the following years to exploit variable valves, variable geometry turbos, multiple ignition per cylinder, new ignition devices and a ton of other stuff.

rule instability discourages new participants (the time to have this potential ruled-in is now, if new participants are really wanted))
(the rules are based on suggestions from the present 'big 3', and maintain their freeze motivation that disadvantaged Cosworth)

The technical engine rules don't discourage new engine manufacturers, it is the missing cost control that does. Cosworth had specific requests regarding cost control that were not met. VW would have participated in F1 if it were a sensible business proposition. But it isn't with all the rule making power in the hands of the established teams and huge profits going to CVC. It is not the engine rules that are putting off more motor manufacturers.

speaking technically, the 2014 rules are quite clever, electric compounding largely avoids a need for VVT and even VGT(this also applies to road vehicles)

That is debatable as well. Those features are initially suppressed in order to contain cost and to give room for future development. If you have followed the rule debate around the engines you would be aware of it. I'm pretty sure you could increase efficiency by implementing them and that is the one competitive advantage that counts from 2014. VVT and VGT will be among the first things that will be freed for future development if the objective of the new engines is pursued. It always was the plan not to stop with the introduction but to reduce the fuel allowance successively in the following years. Unless some misguided souls pervert the whole scheme we will not see a freeze but a gradual lifting of restrictions.

[Dragonfly]

Time will tell. I think we'll see just the opposite. This is the mind frame in which FIA/TWG work. Many of the intended new things could be already implemented and running even with the current engines. If the intent was to extract the best value for money, they wouldn't put such detailed limitations like V-angle, placement of the turbo, intake/exhaust manifolds and so on.
For me this all means that a lot of effort and money will go in vane in a very tight frame which will lead to identical solutions and no divergence in concepts which is the essence of competition.
Then, they'll spend even more in refining and extracting tiny bits of performance, like they do now with aero and at the end, after initial reliability problems are more or less overcome, this all will be put in the freezer. If nor earlier because of the unsustainable costs.

[turbof1]

There isn't much to develop concerning propulsion. Engine freeze will still be there.

Care to elaborate why you think there will be still engine freeze? There is nothing frozen like the V8 in the current 2014 regulations. And how can you say that there will be no propulsion development? There are massive new developments on the boards for 2014 and beyond. You have direct injection, new combustion technology, potentially axial turbos, dual torque acceleration and breaking, new electric storage systems, electric compounding, electric turbo spin up, fuel flow control, new MGU design and many more things that are totally unknown at the moment.

Why wouldn't there be an engine freeze? Smaller teams are already complaining about "through the roof" costs. Imagine what will happen if engine manufacturers are allowed to freely develop their engines. They will do the same as with the V8: one year of free development (but that is already restricted by the maximum amount of engines). You also mentioned several parts which will be fully developed by the time the 2014 season kicks off.

There is also the potential to free up the specifications in the following years to exploit variable valves, variable geometry turbos, multiple ignition per cylinder, new ignition devices and a ton of other stuff.

Like hell that'll happen. FIA isn't exactly known for loosing up the regulations.