Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

[Nicolai]

Hi,
I noticed that the new Ferrari and the new Mclaren both feature, what i would guess to be a small air intake in the tip of their nose cones.
There is a small hole in the tip with a mesh behind it.
My question is; what is the purpose? What could possibly need cooling in the nose cone?

[axle]

Hi,
I noticed that the new Ferrari and the new Mclaren both feature, what i would guess to be a small air intake in the tip of their nose cones.
There is a small hole in the tip with a mesh behind it.
My question is; what is the purpose? What could possibly need cooling in the nose cone?

AFAIK - The Driver.

[manchild]

Many teams have them for several years now. They are for cooling of driver and suspension/steering elements as well as all electronics that can be found from the end of the nose till the end of the cockpit. It can get extremely hot in cockpit if not ventilated.

[DaveKillens]

Strangely, and interestingly, during the Michael Schumacher era the Ferraris never had intakes in the tip of the nose. Any supplimentary air was provided by a scoop in the top of the front chassis.

[Iciano]

I remember a B.A.R. mechanic calling it a 'donkey dick' on one of the F1 reviews froma few years ago.

[bizadfar]

look for Hungary 2005 pre race interview with Herbert.

He said the same thing as most here.

I also assume it reduces drag.

Also these were on the cars after a few races in 2007 already.

[bhall]

The nose intake was a feature of the Ferrari a few races into the season last year. It must not be necessary though, as Massa's car had the intake plugged while Raikkonen's was usually open.

[modbaraban]

Some examples:

248 F1


RA106


RB1


RB3, RA107 (link)

F1.07



Interesting how BMW.Sauber had no nosecone hole in 2007 then had one in 2007 and again got rid of it for 2008.

[Nicolai]

Ah that explains it. Thank you all. I never noticed it on the old cars till now.

[eidetic]

I'm no aerodynamicist, so maybe someone can help me out here. I've read some suggestions that the placement is also a place to get rid of stagnant air that "pools" at the front of the nose cone. So instead of air building up in front, it instead gets sucked inside. Any truth to this?

[modbaraban]

I'm no aerodynamicist, so maybe someone can help me out here. I've read some suggestions that the placement is also a place to get rid of stagnant air that "pools" at the front of the nose cone. So instead of air building up in front, it instead gets sucked inside. Any truth to this?

As far as I'm aware it's aerodynamically beneficial to clock the nosecone hole, as they do it when extra cooling isn't absolutely necessary.



(there's a hole, but it's blocked if you have a closer look)

[donskar]

Also notice that when the perforated nose is/was used the mirror on the driver's left is NOT identical to the other mirror. It is more sculpted on one side, rather than "smooth"

That anomoly/aerodynamic solution is particularly apparent on the F2007. I got a gorgeous Ferrari F1 calendar for Xmas and the photos there make the differing mirror shapes very apparent.

Any ideas why?

[mx_tifoso]

Also notice that when the perforated nose is/was used the mirror on the driver's left is NOT identical to the other mirror. It is more sculpted on one side, rather than "smooth"

That anomoly/aerodynamic solution is particularly apparent on the F2007. I got a gorgeous Ferrari F1 calendar for Xmas and the photos there make the differing mirror shapes very apparent.

Any ideas why?

I was under the impression that the bulge on one of the mirrors was due to the cockpit/rear facing camera mounting. Or at least thats what I was told a few months ago by someone on this forum. So if this is true, then there is no corrolation between the nosecone hole and the bulge on the mirror(s).

[megz]

It is indeed a camera, it was occasionally used on I *think* only on Kimi's car and on the warm down laps usually but I do know of a clip during French GP quali where Kimi goes off onto the grass and a replay was from that camera showing Kimi checking his mirrors before getting back on track

[alleyoop]

according to italian newspaper Autosprint Ferrari is studying a very different nose cone intake to shape a better air flow around the car body.