Will approaches to aero be different in F1 in 2007?

[rubystone]

I had a trip round an F1 team's factory last weekend and without giving away too much, there might be some interesting aero tweaks for next year for that team for starters and therefore presumably others.

Some changes are driven by the move to Bridgestones, which have a more squarer sidewall than Michelins (whose sidewall is very round when you look at it in the flesh) but also in flow conditioning on the nosebox and around the radiator inlets.

[FourWheelDrift]

So each team's car will look even more like the others this year?

[ewenm]

Presumably the aero packages will be tailored to take maximum advantage of the new split rear-wing regulations. I'd excpet this to mean significant re-shaping of the noses at the very least.

[rubystone]

The CDG concept has been put on hold. The TWG has agreed to take a look at it and come up with a beter solution for 2008. The team I visited had run a scale model in their wind tunnel and reported that it was disastrous

[SamHH]

rubystone said:

Some changes are driven by the move to Bridgestones, which have a more squarer sidewall than Michelins (whose sidewall is very round when you look at it in the flesh) but also in flow conditioning on the nosebox and around the radiator inlets.

Can you explain this in numpty language? When you talk about flow conditioning do you mean controlling the way in which air moves past the bodywork? And what sort of changes are you thinking about?

[Eric Mc]

What did they mean by "disastrous"?

The whole idea of the split rear wing is to make the rear wing less effective and at the same time reduce the turbulence being generated at the back of the car.

The more "disastrous" wings are, the more likely they are to be removed.

[rubystone]

In truth, everything beyond the nose is a "flow conditioner" designed to control the flow of air to the rear wing.

By "disastrous" I mean that it works fine in one plane, but less so when the car's asked ot do something else, such as turn a corner...

[Eric Mc]

The less efficient aero devices are, the more exciting the cars are to drive and, hopefully, the more exciting to watch.

[AlexS]

There are also concerns with the split wing package that though it was designed to produce a wash that would make the front wing of the following car more effective it also produced a zone of low pressure air through which the airbox of the following car would have to travel. This would cause a drop in engine power and may not allow the car to get close enough.

Nothing had been done to simulate what would happen when one car pulled out to over take another either.

[megy]

AlexS said:

Nothing had been done to simulate what would happen when one car pulled out to over take another either.

Speaking to an aerodynamacist with one of the teams i was told that the car behind would more than likely be able to speed up to the car infront with considerable ease(rev limits permiting) and the tow acheived would be considerable, then when the driver pulls out to overtake, either left or right, he will then travel through the 'dirty' air and will more than likely be unable to steer the car back straight to pull alongside, either that or he will have to turn the steering wheel a lot more than normal, then leave the 'dirty' air and veer straight into the side of the car he is overtaking.

I think all will agree that could be a little scary at 200MPH down the start straight of Indy.

[ewenm]

megy said:

AlexS said:

Nothing had been done to simulate what would happen when one car pulled out to over take another either.

Speaking to an aerodynamacist with one of the teams i was told that the car behind would more than likely be able to speed up to the car infront with considerable ease(rev limits permiting) and the tow acheived would be considerable, then when the driver pulls out to overtake, either left or right, he will then travel through the 'dirty' air and will more than likely be unable to steer the car back straight to pull alongside, either that or he will have to turn the steering wheel a lot more than normal, then leave the 'dirty' air and veer straight into the side of the car he is overtaking.

I think all will agree that could be a little scary at 200MPH down the start straight of Indy.

They are meant to be the best drivers so they should be able to handle it.

[rubystone]

Eric Mc said:

The less efficient aero devices are, the more exciting the cars are to drive and, hopefully, the more exciting to watch.

I'd rather an efficient aero device than an inefficient but dangerous one (not that I'm suggesting CDG is dangerous, you understand)

[anonymous-user]

megy said:

Speaking to an aerodynamacist with one of the teams i was told that the car behind would more than likely be able to speed up to the car infront with considerable ease(rev limits permiting) and the tow acheived would be considerable, then when the driver pulls out to overtake, either left or right, he will then travel through the 'dirty' air and will more than likely be unable to steer the car back straight to pull alongside, either that or he will have to turn the steering wheel a lot more than normal, then leave the 'dirty' air and veer straight into the side of the car he is overtaking.

I think all will agree that could be a little scary at 200MPH down the start straight of Indy.

sounds like out braking into corners would be easiest then, no need to try and get back in front of the othetr car, just pull out, hold that place, get the inside line and you gain a place.... i'll wait three months before i believe anything, the teams have a lot of testing to do and there will be some serious money spent in wind tunnels before the testing begins in 2007. should be an interesting season though.... i'll make an effort to watch a few of the early races.