Phil wrote: ↑26 Jul 2018, 12:54
I think the key-points regarding the trick are:
- It's unique to Ferrari, not its customer teams
- either they have a huge power/deployment advantage or they have found a way to drastically shed drag at high speed
Maybe the battery thingy is but just a nice side distraction. The whole F1 paddock are concentrating on it, because it's a unique feature of the Ferrari power-unit and perhaps Ferrari was gaining some advantage from there. This supposed latest performance increase may be something else entirely.
Given the relation between drag and power, one would have to think it's more likely they have found a neat trick that sheds drag at higher speed than a power increase of 38hp in such a short time that is unique to the works team and not their customers.
We got a GPS comparison of the ten fastest training laps at Hockenheim. This proves what Ferrari's opponents only tell behind their hands. The wondrous speed increase is by no means visible on all straights. And where this is the case, not over the entire straight, but only in a certain area.
The phenomenon also occurs mainly in qualifying, after the start or re-starts and in other crucial phases of the race.
This pattern speaks more to active deployment, considering it apparently only manifests when of maximal benefit.
I don't see how it could be passively aerodynamic. If it were, surely it would be consistent in its evidence? I.e. evident between 250km.hr-1 to 300km.hr-1 on all straights, or similar.
I think the conversation has evolved (and I'm behind on this thread), so if I'm repeating what's already been highlighted, my apologies.