Marussia MR01 Cosworth

[MIKEY_!]

There's quite a bit going on around the front of that floor (for a back-marker team). Some of it appears quite thick, what's the reason for that?

[wesley123]

There's quite a bit going on around the front of that floor (for a back-marker team). Some of it appears quite thick, what's the reason for that?

strength of the floor

[hardingfv32]

Some of it appears quite thick...

Thick or trick?

Brian

[MIKEY_!]

Why do they need so much strength there? What extra forces are acting on that part of the floor? Or is that where the side impact structures go?

[hardingfv32]

You are talking about the last photo on page 13? I see a lot of contoured shapes on the leading edge for what we believe is vortex formation. Could some of these just be thick on the leading edge to provide better flow over the shapes. In the same vain as ducts which work better with more rounded leading edges.

Am I on point or misunderstanding the question?

Brian

[MIKEY_!]

This image. And the thick section is partially visible behind the bargeboard.

[jordangp]

All teams' floors are thick there, because of the side impact structures.

[hardingfv32]

It is just the normal wing type contour that routes air flow to the side below that Gurney like structure, forming a vortex down the length of the floor's edge.

Brian

[Mazdaboy]

[beelsebob]

Hah, I never thought I'd see an F1 team using tell tales as measuring devices these days.

[Polarbear]

Is it just me, or do Marussia look like they are finally making progress on Caterham?
The gap between them is closing race by race, and looking at the progression so far, I wouldn't be surprised if they were leading the "new" teams by quite some margin by the end of the season.
I might be dreaming a bit, but I think Marussia scraping a point is not totally out of the question this year...

[TzeiTzei]

Is it just me, or do Marussia look like they are finally making progress on Caterham?
The gap between them is closing race by race, and looking at the progression so far, I wouldn't be surprised if they were leading the "new" teams by quite some margin by the end of the season.
I might be dreaming a bit, but I think Marussia scraping a point is not totally out of the question this year...

Yes, you are dreaming. I think it would be an amazing achievement to catch Caterham during the season, but right now it's looking quite good. I'm interested to see how well their updates will work. If the car only went to the wind tunnell as late as february, then i think there might a lot more to come once they start putting on the updates.

[marcush.]

mind you Virgin started three seasons ago with the quickest car of the three new teams.
I have to say I´m a bit surprised they found their feet quite quickly this year ,i was less optimistic.Considering the new car again is 100%CFD and still it is an improvement.
But where does it lead? I would love to see them bridge the gap to the rear of the field..but then one has to realise teams longer than three years in formula 1 are no backmarkers...Toro Rosso and force india seem to be the ones struggling but hey they score points ....so it´s a big task to make that step.

[ESPImperium]

Is it just me, or do Marussia look like they are finally making progress on Caterham?
The gap between them is closing race by race, and looking at the progression so far, I wouldn't be surprised if they were leading the "new" teams by quite some margin by the end of the season.
I might be dreaming a bit, but I think Marussia scraping a point is not totally out of the question this year...

Yes, you are dreaming. :lol: I think it would be an amazing achievement to catch Caterham during the season, but right now it's looking quite good. I'm interested to see how well their updates will work. If the car only went to the wind tunnell as late as february, then i think there might a lot more to come once they start putting on the updates.

They are closer than they have ever been to Caterham over tha past 12-14 months. However they are still arround a second a lap slower per lap at best.

They will be within seven to eight tenths of Caterham for the seasons end, however this will still be a lap or so down of the target of being on the same lap as Caterham.

They need KERS, no ifs and buts, Caterham are using the Red Bull system for 2011, whitch is worth at most 4 tenths of a second a lap, however its free lap time for no extra weight.

Marussia have made progress, however this year to them will be very much like 2011 for Team Lotus/Caterham, i am not counting out HRT as they are a new start team to me this year, however they are putting in place decent staff in the correct areas, not proven staff ill aggree but staff that could pull a surprise with a workable and useable car that may have more to come. And from their improvements so far, they are more of a threat to Marussia than Marussia to Caterham.

However if Marussia and HRT can get onto and stay on the same lap as Caterham they are improving.

However the proof af a good car is how much laptime you can gain from the first full update package in season. If each of the teams can bolt on 1.5% in lap time, they will start to worry the established mid pack. And 1.5% is roughly 1.381 seconds to my raw quali pace data. Whitch will see the Toro Rossos really as they arnt qualifying well.

Im looking at 2013 for Marussia to catch up ane be where they should be on the F1 grid, with a established TD in Pat Symmonds if he isnt pinched by Ferrari.

[Mazdaboy]