Ferrari F2008 aero-mech development in 2008

[alex1015]

I'm just curious to try and spot a trend with the slotted nose. Obviously from the CFD analysis the main advantage seems to be a drag reduction rather than downforce. From our limited view point we don't see a downside to the new nose but Ferrari must because it hasn't been run at every race. Since it's introduction in Barcelona until now. Bold indicates the new, slotted design was run.

Spain
Turkey
Monaco
Canada
France
Britain
Germany
Hungary
Europe

Wow, so after doing that it I noticed that they're running it more and more often regardless of downforce need. Turkey and Canada are lower downforce but then again I though Silverstone would require the same amount as well yet Ferrari ran it there.

Any thoughts?

[boci]

Slotted nose is for higher downforce and Silverstone actually requires much more downforce then Montreal.

[Crystalix]

[-X That's wrong.
The amount of downforce is less than 0.9% compared to the other nose, instead of 7% for the drag.
But maybe cars are slower in straight with that nose, that's why in "straight track" like Montreal, Ferrari thought it wasn't useful to use.

[Scotracer]

I'm just curious to try and spot a trend with the slotted nose. Obviously from the CFD analysis the main advantage seems to be a drag reduction rather than downforce. From our limited view point we don't see a downside to the new nose but Ferrari must because it hasn't been run at every race. Since it's introduction in Barcelona until now. Bold indicates the new, slotted design was run.

Spain
Turkey
Monaco
Canada
France
Britain
Germany
Hungary
Europe

Wow, so after doing that it I noticed that they're running it more and more often regardless of downforce need. Turkey and Canada are lower downforce but then again I though Silverstone would require the same amount as well yet Ferrari ran it there.

Any thoughts?

Spain - Medium/High downforce
Turkey - Low/Medium downforce
Monaco - High downforce
Canada - Low downforce
France - High Downforce
Britain - Medium/High Downforce
Germany - Low/Medium downforce
Hungary - High downforce
Europe - Low/medium downforce

They only use it when the front wing runs a high angle of attack. This is because the area under the nose induces a lot of drag when a high AOA is used. So, they use the whole to relieve the high-pressure area reducing drag and increasing efficiency of the front-wing.

[connollyg]

And no front rim shields either.

They ran rim shields at qualify and at first stint of the race (Raikonnen for sure). After first stop they put tyre without them.

A snippet in this weeks Autosport explains that they ran the shields in qualifying with smaller (than the opposition) brake ducts ie less drag, and then removed them when they could (first tyre change) to increase the cooling to the brakes. Autosports comments are that this gave the Ferrari's a top speed advantage over the McLaren's, as evidenced by the speed-traps.

[timbo]

And no front rim shields either.

They ran rim shields at qualify and at first stint of the race (Raikonnen for sure). After first stop they put tyre without them.

A snippet in this weeks Autosport explains that they ran the shields in qualifying with smaller (than the opposition) brake ducts ie less drag, and then removed them when they could (first tyre change) to increase the cooling to the brakes. Autosports comments are that this gave the Ferrari's a top speed advantage over the McLaren's, as evidenced by the speed-traps.

Yep, I thought about exactly that. Smart idea.

[alex1015]

Interesting new details on the F2008 at Monza in addition to standard low downforce fair.

Initial source of the image from Bar555. I just added a Monza pic for comparison. The image on the right is old, the left at Monza on Friday of the 2008 event.

Initially it was posted that the slits in the Sidepod Vanes prevented drag from a pressure build up (a thought that I agreed with) but of all tracks they are not present at Monza, where minimal drag is of the essence. Perhaps the new horizontal member serves the same purpose, to keep the air moving, and prevent a pressure build up. If this is the case, they are even more efficient than the slots because they don't create a disturbance on the outside on the Sidepod vane.


Additionally, the angle of attack on the Ferrari rear wing seems to be more than the Macca rear wing. This would be possible if Ferrari are indeed running the higher HP than most like we believe. The higher HP would allow more wing but still a competitive trap speed.

[myurr]

Looking at the speed traps the McLarens are faster in a straight line - so I don't think they have a huge advantage.

[Rakkasho]

Anyone want too tell me what the 2 differnet noses do?

[timbo]

Anyone want too tell me what the 2 differnet noses do?

Well, it seems that there's a bit of difference in wing profiles, but as it is different angles it is hard to judge if it ain't optical illusion. If what I see is indeed a difference, that I think that version from
upper shot has slightly lower downforce and drag.

[Michiba]

Anyone want too tell me what the 2 differnet noses do?

It seems to me that the lower one seems to have less 'scoop' in the wing just under the nose. As for the nose themselves, doesn't look much different to me, but then again, it could just be down to the different angles of each pic

[ernos5]

Anyone want too tell me what the 2 differnet noses do?

It seems to me that the lower one seems to have less 'scoop' in the wing just under the nose. As for the nose themselves, doesn't look much different to me, but then again, it could just be down to the different angles of each pic

i think he means the front wings because they look slightly different to me although they're both taken from Monza 2008 on Kimi's car, maybe one was from testing..

[Rakkasho]

No they are different. It is not just 2 different angles. Spoons han been modified and the length pr the arms that hold the spoon.

[boci]

Deleted post, I was wrong.

[benjabulle]

Hum, love this one