munudeges wrote:I think we're all confused.
Lotus either put a lot of effort into a drag reduction system, which based on last season is going to take up several Friday sessions worth, which nets them a few tenths around Spa or Monza and a negligible gain elsewhere at most. Or they spend their time adding downforce and cornering speed to the car, which is where they're lacking, which will help them at every track.
That's the gist of it. Drag reduction is something you look at when you've exhausted all other avenues of adding performance.
Speaking from technical ignorance but no it's not the gist of it. It's a unique competitive advantage, just like f-duct was for example. Also you're acting as if they're not working on adding downforce in a conventional way. Maybe it's getting harder not just for them but for everybody in the last season of current rules? The only criteria of its worth is gain measured in seconds (in a particular design) compared to alternatives + uniqueness factor. And where did you get "few tenths" on two tracks and "negligible" elsewhere claim? Could you for once back it up? It should be beneficial on many tracks (the ones with a long straight I would guess (?), if it's not too simplistic), but AFAIR not particularly at Monza.
Granted it is/was risky. One: when they committed to it expected gains were probably bigger and implementation easier (a bit like forward exhaust...) Remember how enthusiastic they were last season announcing it? Two: when I hear that they're going to test it in Silverstone I immediately have a question: what if it rains?
They wasted large chunk of development last season on it, they included it in a design of 2013 car, they spent shorten winter testing time to learn about it so if they can't make it work it's going to be costly. I wonder if there's a date past which they have to abandon it. I mean related to switching to 2014 design (second part of the season they say).
That's the point
