2014 pre-launch thread

I dunno know man..... Playing devils advocate for a moment, they've chopped what, 6 inches off the width, that's quite a bit. More importantly, they can no longer 'steer' the air around the outside of the front tires like they were doing without that width.

OK, the (supposedly) all important blowing has gone, but dear old Williams said their cars driveability improved once they got rid of it. May not be generating Newey levels of D/F, but driver confidence counts for a hell of a lot.

It should be interesting that's for sure!

Cheers,
Ian

 

You think they care two hoots about 'visual compromises'?

Here I have to disagree!..... If it works, they'd build the ugliest looking thing we've ever seen! 'Beauty' is not even on their priority list!

Now, as has been said many times, there's often a good correlation between what 'looks right' and what 'goes right', but with aero at this level, they'll do whatever they think will work best and beauty be damned!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Ettore Bugatti showed that pretty design isn't always good design.

Fast is beautiful but beautiful isn't always fast.

 

Well said. I just wish the rules were geared towards better looking cars. Things only really took a turn for the worst in 2009.

 

It's 6 inches of front wing width vs. completely doing away with the blow diffuser (worth upwards of 20 points) and beam wings (also another 20 points or so). So, 6 inches compared to what was lost off the back isn't squat.

Williams could never get their EBD working right anyway so I don't judge their pace whilst not using it as a team worth providing significant data.

Red Bull based their entire car paradigm on the EBD, and the Renault engine was simply best for it as it yielded just plain superior blowing properties.

 

Mclaren not building a hump nose a couple years ago was a great example of a car that went like heck but looked good.

 

The Ferrari may have a brilliant engine and exhaust system with them exiting from the center ie. no exhaust pipes going into the sidepods taking up space.

BTW, this IS within the rules

IF Ferrari have done this, it's a masterstroke of cleverness. It's been done before in other engines, but not here. Love it.

From Scarbs:
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Hmmmm.... 2014 tech regs;

Guess I'll go read what Scarbs has to say......

Cheers,
Ian

 

At the start, but they eventually had to redesign it to keep pace in development.

 

per Scarbs:

"I drew the ferrari engine with exhausts exiting upwards through the heads, not through the outer face of the head. This would keep exhausts short and keep the total engine installation much narrower.
The rules only demand the exhausts exit outboard of the cylinder bores centre line, the top exit exhausts meet this rule. Similar exhaust ports have been used on the lancia delta group B car and some BMW racing engines."

 

Finally some engine cleverness

 

Yeeha!

And if my prediction of the Renault engines going Kablamo comes through, then the eternal runner up from the past few years could finally be the one getting crowned.

Forza Fernando! Forza Ferrari!

 

Considering how much heat these engines are liable to produce, especially through the exhaust system, I would have thought it could be counter-productive to have the inlet manifolds and the exhaust manifolds too close together due to heating up the air entering the engine?

 

...And Renault may be reading these lines and start changing their setup.

 

I can't find the article on the blog?

 

Scarbs posted this on the F1technical forum where he actively posts. Scarbs also tweeted the idea.

 

Ok thanks

 

This is all conjecture at the moment, but it was prompted by something or other, no idea what yet.

Heat would be an issue with that much 'stuff' in a small area with various functions, but the spacial savings would be worth it if they can get their hands around the heat. Everyone has been banking on cars needing larger sidepods due to the new cooling requirements so it would really be something to see Ferrari show up with this. It would take better part of a year for any other team to implement such a design with an entirely new cylinder head and everything else that goes along with it to reap the benefits.

 

OK, thanks. That's what I wasn't seeing in his drawing.

Awesome stuff if true! (Not that they meet the rule, but that they're trying it!)

Can't help thinking exhaust valve control is gonna be 'interesting' in that configuration...... Even pneumatics need some space.

But hey, who said innovation is dead in F1?

Cheers,
Ian

 

Maybe..... 'This is why we watch'

Ouch!

Certainly, they never got it going like the Cans, but then neither did anyone else.

Williams were using the same lump of course.......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Spain practice on Jan. 29-30 only 10-12 allowed 00 euros per day. team trailer is the venue. I am not going. this is through Ferrari F 1 Club. should b interesting

 

I'm liking the sound of this more & more......

Big torque, no TC, no EBD & (supposedly anyway), way less D/F.

Maybe the jockeys will become 'important' again.

Cheers,
Ian

F1 drivers will need all-new race approach for 2014 - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

 

+1…more skill required versus electronic aids and gizmos

 

Fuel saving, tyre management, ...

Doh!

 

Exactly. Allison comments allude to going slow to save fuel. Not good.