Honda's new Aero package

[Rob W]

the nose is sad cus the seagull has gone away.

This nose has to be called the ant-eater for sure?

(or maybe the sloth)

Looks strange.

R

[kekekeke]

And sad how Button's career has turned out so poorly.

Well everyone says he was overhyped and overrated.

[Conceptual]

The nose wouldnt look so bad if they ditched the seagull and went with a McLarenish bridge wing.

Actually, I am seriously surprised that they havent done it yet, since the seagull could still stay if they wanted...

Chris

[majicmeow]

Remember that the development of the new Honda began long before Ross Brawn came to Honda.

He's doing his best with what he was given. I'm sure next years car will be a fully "Brawn-ized" machine

[Michiba]

Could it be that the new nose is the way it is to suit the aero of the rest of the car, ie, make it less 'bad'? By all accounts the car is crap, so they're just making do with the latest changes right? Perhaps someone with aero knowledge can explain why the nose looks so 'flaccid', which it does.

[majicmeow]

Michiba,

Check out this link for some of the reasoning behind the "high nose" first.

http://www.f1technical.net/development/126

Seems Honda wanted to go for wing efficiency, but ended up shooting themselves in the foot. I am by no means an aero expert (not even close to being knowledgeable ) but based on what I see, I'd bet the lower nose results in less drag but compromises the efficiency of the front wing.

Also, being lower, Honda no doubt can gain an advantage as far as ballast placement.

My 2¢, take with a grain of salt

[bar555]

plus a bridged wing element would be possible

Nevertheless , Honda is focusing on 2009 season , so do not expect to see radical new aero devices this season

[timbo]

Nevertheless , Honda is focusing on 2009 season , so do not expect to see radical new aero devices this season

Aren't reshaping of the nose a radical update?

[PNSD]

Honda have not yet fully committed to 2009 I dont think. The first need to know if the direction they have and are taking with this car is the right one. It will give them good confidence in themselves if they can get it right.

[bar555]

I assume that the new lower nose comes from the 2009 season (the new RA109 probably would adopt the lower nose philoshophy) and is now being tested almost a year before 2009 start .

Maybe RA108 has turned into a platform for 2009 speed boost solutions , time will tell.....

[PNSD]

In all honesty there isnt much they can do with the RA108 to try and help gather data for the RA109 without changing the car completley. An F1 car is in perfect balance, everything interacts with everything, change one element and no doubt the performance of several elements will also change without doing anything.

As far as I see it, the introduction of a lower nose was always planned. All the other F1 teams have low noses, and imo the high nose was just so they could make a stable easy to understand car, then once they've done that, gradually change things.

Or maybe its a stronger nose after Buttons last few adventures :p

[connollyg]

the nose is sad cus the seagull has gone away.

I am almost sure honda has no wind tunnel and instead of using PC they have a toddler with a crayon.

I know you are joking, but Honda just bought over the winter a new supercomputer from SGI, a 1000 core Intel Xeon based cluster to do their CFD stuff on.

[Metar]

It just needs some Viagra

Like last year's Ferrari had? Seriously, the F2007 and the RA08 are the most phallic F1 cars I've seen.

As far as I see it, the introduction of a lower nose was always planned. All the other F1 teams have low noses, and imo the high nose was just so they could make a stable easy to understand car, then once they've done that, gradually change things.

Sounds like a good reason - the original high nose seemed as high as the '90s masthead cones.. Terrible.