The Red Bull Bulkhead, is it legal?

[Richard]

Yes, they are the minimum dimensions, but teams try to get it as small as possible.

By the way, diagram 5 on page 73 of the 2012 Technical Reg explains it.

http://www.fia.com/sport/Regulations/f1regs.html

[hardingfv32]

the teams are actually using it to be narrower and shorter than the minimum

What is your basis for this statement? Where are you getting your actual car dimensions from?

Brian

[Ian P.]

Only one thing to say .... SO WHAT....???

As they say in NASCAR ... Rules is rules.
If the shape conforms to what has been (and continues to be) accepted, then give credit to the creative folks that have used it.
I like seeing differences in the cars. If I didn't, I would watch NASCAR or Indy-car.
This is F1, celebrate the designers, the competition and the different approaches that the teams and the drivers bring to the sport.

Hail To Newey ....

[hardingfv32]

but teams try to get it as small as possible.

In the context of compromises that we have little knowledge of unfortunately.

'Small as possible' is a sound principle for the the start of most discussion though.

Brian

[hardingfv32]

.... SO WHAT....

This is a technical forum, not really for admiration. We want to understand why and how something is done.

In this case I learned a different way to apply a rule the looked like it should have been forming a simple box. I can use this in my other racing activities.

I learned something today. It is a good day.

Brian

[raymondu999]

I think the info there is out of date.

It's still relevant. The same thing is still happening; just at a total lower height.

the teams are actually using it to be narrower and shorter than the minimum, how has this not been banned?!

Newey was doing it to allow more air in through the bottom without compromising CofG too heavily. And now in this era of max bulkhead height he's using it to lower the CofG without losing too much space for air to flow through beneath the nose.

How do you get your dimensions? I'm still convinced that the Scarbs article I posted is relevant. At any point along the width; the height is still at maximum height.

[elmerfud]

It's my personal opinion that the radius acts like a cantilever arch on a crane and the 2 corners of aluminium honeycomb sheets butt into each other just below its centre point.

For strength.

As for dimensions, who can say?

[ESPImperium]

Remember team have a +/- 3mm marjin for error.

However i dont care if its legal, i just want to knwo what the "cooling duct" is cooling. Is it steering fluid related, is it suspension fluids related, is it brake fluids related, or is it cooling the rear wing in some way?

[Tozza Mazza]

The Red Bull Bulkhead is so unusual.

It gets round the regulations which dictate a 25mm radii on the corners, by applying this radii 3 times around a single corner.

This gives it more space to use for "cooling", which is definitely not what is going on.

Sure does make these cars uglier.

I also think the FIA has closed this loophole in the 2014 regulations.

[hardingfv32]

i just want to knwo what the "cooling duct" is cooling.

There is no hole in the bulkhead. No cooling duct flow. This is the exact same front bulkhead configuration as the RB7. Note the position of the white caps.

Brian