Why all the rage on sidepods/packaging since 2009?

[raymondu999]

I can understand why in the 2009 set of regs until now; great packaging - or innovative execution; such as the MP4-26 - of sidepods would be crucial - to feed the beam wing and mean a bit cleaner air for the rear wing - but what I don't see is - why now?

I don't recall too many times in years past of people going gaga over sidepods. Why did the rage over packaging start in 2009, and not earlier?

I'm sure even in the winglet-laden formula of pre-2009 packaging and tight waisting at the coke bottle region would still have been a benefit, no?

[horse]

I think tight packaging was still important to some extent, Ray.



The main difference comes from the height of the rear wing before 2009. Pre 2009, the rear wing would have had a much greater influence on the diffuser performance because they were closer together. Now it has been raised, teams have to concentrate on flows to the beam wing and diffuser gurney much more to deliver performance from the diffuser.

I'd considered looking at this historically before, but you can definitely see a trend over the inboard wheels period of the rear wheels becoming more and more exposed, presumably to exploit their wakes to aid diffuser performance.

[raymondu999]

...

Horse - I get what you're saying and I agree - just that I don't remember people ever going gaga about tight packaging in the past. It was always the MP4-20 "devil horns," the "dumbo wings" "bridge wings" and all those things which got the attention.

[bhall]

The flip-ups ahead of the rear wheels also did a lot to conceal efforts in this area, but progress was made. Just take a look at the cars from about 1999 onward.

[horse]

Perhaps it was the case that the old diffusers were close to the point of being fully developed by this stage (in 2008). There was not the level of restrictions, after all, with that set of regulations, as there are with the current set. So there may have been more to gain from these "add-on" parts which became common place.

Alternatively, perhaps people were just more interested in the obvious additions to the flow above the car, than the subtleties of improving the underfloor flow.

[elmerfud]

It is nearly impossible for me to imagine the turbulent wakes coming of all those parts and interacting.
It's mind boggling!!!