Lotus E23 Mercedes

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.
f1316
f1316
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Joined: 22 Feb 2012, 18:36

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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AlainProst wrote: What do you want to say by "moving back the mounting points"? It's almost impossible to change their nose design type, the choice of Mercedes in this direction confirms this. After how can you upgrade this type of nose ? The overall dimensions cannot change because it's around that you design the rest of the car...
I was referring to how the nose pylons are mounted to the front wing, but looking at it closer I see that it's right at back of the main plane as it is so not much room to move it any further back.

Not sure how Mercedes choice 'confirms' anything though...

AlainProst
AlainProst
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Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 18:41

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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I wanted to say that the fact that Mercedes has chosen the same type of nose than Lotus shows that this is an interesting architecture. Now, I don't understand how they could change their nose cone ... Its probably a bad interpretation. They didn't wanted to say change the nose cone but an other part, for example, the deflector under the nose.

chuckdanny
chuckdanny
69
Joined: 11 Feb 2012, 11:04

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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They changed the nose tip, it's in the post fp3 of ted kravitz in malaysia. It is capturing more air in the vertical with a bigger "mouth" opening (thumb shape as he says) accelerating the flow at the "nose inlet" decreasing static pressure under the nose tip.

korzeniow
korzeniow
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 03:51
Location: Cracow/Poland

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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I also belive they will change the tip of the nose.

But there are also other ways to change the nose of a F1 car: vanity panel as seen on McLaren or camera mountings.
It's been a long time since we drove last time, but it has also been a short time at the same time
Roam Grosjean ponders the passing of time on the first day of testing at Jerez
February 5, 2013

AlainProst
AlainProst
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Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 18:41

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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Where can I find this technical analysis of Ted Kravitz ?

chuckdanny
chuckdanny
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Joined: 11 Feb 2012, 11:04

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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AlainProst wrote:Where can I find this technical analysis of Ted Kravitz ?
If you are alain prost you should call damon hill which should have his phone number.
Joke apart, it was at the end of the free practice 2 in fact, you should find it in torrent site, maybe on sky f1 site.
It's very brief, doesn't worth the download, he shows the 2 front wings stacked in the lotus garage, malaysian version and melbourne one.

AlainProst
AlainProst
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Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 18:41

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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Have you got a link because I didn't find the replay of FP2 on SkySport F1 site

chuckdanny
chuckdanny
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Joined: 11 Feb 2012, 11:04

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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AlainProst wrote:Have you got a link because I didn't find the replay of FP2 on SkySport F1 site
I don't have a link, sorry, i saw it live on a web stream.

AlainProst
AlainProst
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Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 18:41

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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Ok thanks it's not important but have you photos of the two noses ? :)

AlainProst
AlainProst
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Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 18:41

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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It's strange because I didn't found any picture of this nose cone. Anyway, this new nose don't have been used by Lotus during the race no ?

chuckdanny
chuckdanny
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Joined: 11 Feb 2012, 11:04

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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You don't believe me, don't you?
I didn't follow closely that team so i don't know. You should then get the free practice 2 of the 2015 Malyasian grand prix to be absolutly sure.

AlainProst
AlainProst
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Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 18:41

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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chuckdanny wrote:You don't believe me, don't you?
I didn't follow closely that team so i don't know. You should then get the free practice 2 of the 2015 Malyasian grand prix to be absolutly sure.

Think again I'll take your word but I would just like to see that nose because I am interested in this team. Unfortunately, I didn't find any replay of fp2 in english because, I think you noticed, I'm french and I don't have as many good analysis than you ...

chuckdanny
chuckdanny
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Joined: 11 Feb 2012, 11:04

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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You know why i remember that sequence? Because i had just done a similar change on my own merc like nose just moments ago so his remark struck me.
I observed that it is not only beneficial to the underside of the nose but it propagates under the so called neutral central part of the front wing. That's probably why it so beneficial, a short nose, plus you can better extend the low pressure area further back with the moustache!

Image

It's a very efficient way of producing downforce more than with front wing flaps. And it could be easily adjusted to a specific track and maybe even on track.

AlainProst
AlainProst
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Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 18:41

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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Thanks for your explanation. It's really interesting I'm not as expert as you in this area so I have just few questions :)

First, I understand this idea of downforce created by the difference of pressure between the top and the bottom : the idea is to create high pressure area thanks to the nose cone isn't it ? The problem is that this nose reduces the air flow which go to the diffuser and this system create also more drag no ?

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itix
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Joined: 16 Mar 2015, 11:09
Location: Göteborg, Sweden

Re: Lotus E23 Mercedes

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chuckdanny wrote:You know why i remember that sequence? Because i had just done a similar change on my own merc like nose just moments ago so his remark struck me.
I observed that it is not only beneficial to the underside of the nose but it propagates under the so called neutral central part of the front wing. That's probably why it so beneficial, a short nose, plus you can better extend the low pressure area further back with the moustache!

http://oi61.tinypic.com/259iofk.jpg

It's a very efficient way of producing downforce more than with front wing flaps. And it could be easily adjusted to a specific track and maybe even on track.
Very interesting analysis. This would also explain the focus on the nose itself as they have much to gain in that area without changing the air flow further back at the car too much and seemingly no drag loss in (in my mind at least, having no aerodynamic knowledge what so ever).

I assume they will make changes to the back of the car as well further on as they would need to balance out the increased front downforce (and the back of the car looks hugely underdeveloped in my layman mind).
Massive rally fan... have fallen out of love with F1 yet again and have thus migrated