wesley123 wrote:10 cm seems like a crazy long Wheelbase extension. 10 mm seems far more likely. These cars already have really long wheelbases, the 10cm extra would make it extremely long.
But yes, with a 10 mm wheelbase extension you could just move the pillars a bit forward and change the front suspension geometry a little.
Also you made different aero efect on the car. All those little "microscopic" vortices on the macro scale of the car could change "completely" aero the the car. It hurts expecially rear of the car and all areas around it. Remember MCL, RB, Sauber (probably also Ferrari) they also had diverse problems whis micro aero behavior this year.
So you change behavior of tunnel exhaust =>edge of diffuzor, flor, side-pods =>coke-bottle etc. Usually if you made such changes in mid season you most have very good aero department, knowledge about how car will behave in the next part of the championship etc.. If you want made huge step ahead, you must had exact plan how to made little tweaks on the optimum level. I mean tweks like little tiny changes in shape of expecialy on the diferend edges of the FW, flow conditioners, FW pillars, bulges under nose etc. Before revolutionary 2014 you don't want broke the whole knowledge and understanding of the car witch they gathered until this season and also seasons before. Its all about evolution.
Whit last sentence in mind i also doubt it they will made such HUGE almost drastic changes. To some point i also contradict myself and agree for max. 10 mm changes, but that is maybe just normal evolutionary process. Maybe is just normal "Asian" tour routine procedure for team whit similar car mechanical and aero characteristics. Who knows? Maybe is true maybe dont.
Certain is that the silverstone slimm body pack reall work and also made car slightly more aggressive, more quick on 1 lap without broke apart Sunday performance and its durability abilities. Coke bottlle aere and whole start motor hole and also diffuzor allow to "breath" more air. They made better suction or if you like rear extraction => make more clean downforce (they build it whiteout such big drag penalty its almost otherwise). Of-course important is whole package!
This car from mechanical point of view made aero bids really efficient (if don't most efficient on the grid). I talk about extremely stiff front end under bracing circumstances, when we very often saw sparks underneath the car skid-plate. This tell me they really made almost perfect passive hydraulic system (in some aspects like Mercedes FRIC). This allow Lotus to run the most optimum or minimalistic ride height throw the whole car setup. If you made proper setup and aero work in the wind tunnel you could effectively build car around pre-steady philosophy. Sadly details i don't know i just expeel my and observation of all dear motosport technical enthusiasts.
"And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you're no longer a racing driver..." Ayrton Senna
