Compare any 2016 car side-by-side

If you watch this episode of "Ted's Notebook" from SKY F1, halfway through when Ted Kravitz starts talking about the McLaren, he mentions how the air comes out of the front wheel nut and is then used to make the rear diffuser work harder: WATCH: Ted's Notebook - Barcelona Test Two, Day Four | F1 News

The theory of the blown wheel nut is the same as the hub design that Red Bull's originally had 3 years ago that was eventually banned as beinga movable aero device: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbXxbdOCIzo

The blown wheel nut (first used by Williams F1) is simply a clever way to circumvent that aero rule.

 

Yep. I think we're saying the same thing here - They're trying to 'steer' the air away from the underside as much as possible. All the 'flips & flaps' from the nose, thru the blown wheel nuts and then the barge boards etc are generating vortices to try & stop air bleeding to the underside. Think of them as 'virtual' skirts if you like. The more they can 'seal' the underside the better basically.

Cheers,
Ian

 

TBH, the way modern day F1 designers and engineers understand and manipulate the airflow over, under and through the car, and then not only use the air, but then re-use it again later on, is hard for Me to get My head round at times (I come from a much simpler time when the aim of the game was simply to stop the air from going under the car and get it to go over the car - How times have changed! ).

Take the Red Bull vortex clip in the other thread on this subject - Twisting and spinning the air to guide it back under the rear end of the car to re-use it and make the rear end work harder and more efficiently is incredible.

It was interesting to read an interview with Gene Haas recently where he had to admit that despite all of his experience in motor racing, he had underestimated F1 and the technology involved. He pretty much stated that F1 designers and engineers are on another plane (if not two planes!), to those in any other motorsport series!

The sad thing is, an awful lot of the design, engineering and effort that goes into making a modern F1 work so well goes unnoticed and goes uncredited.

 

^^ couldn't agree more!

It's pretty much rocket science these days! (Maybe even more so - the rocket guys just throw more power at the problem )

One could, & indeed many do, make an argument that it's all 'silly', but personally I love the technology.

Back in 'my day' we had adjustable flaps on the front & rear wings & that was about it. Maybe add a Gurney tab to either/both of 'em for more downforce on occasion, but that was about it.

Progress? Sure. I don't have a problem with it, although I could make an argument that a return to such setups would save more money than anything they're trying now......

Cheers,
Ian

 

I meant Haas is almost identical with the Ferrari ... but yes they ALL differ only slightly.

I'm not actually sure why Mercedes is so utterly dominant. I assume it's PU related and the one in the other cars is not the same spec, exactly????
Pete

 

I'm not sure..... But I *think* they can only have one homologated PU at a time, & it's that they have to supply to their customers.

Their current dominance is really no different to what Ferrari or even Mclaren achieved back in their days..... It's all swings & roundabouts as they say. It will pass.

Cheers,
Ian

 

First off you have to account for the scale difference and angle of each photograph. I am eager to see how Ferrari does with their new coke bottle rear section which should help for speed and streamlining. Also the side pods have a convex curve which will create negative lift/down force. Surprising how many other teams have a concave curve. That may help streamlining but why give up grip at that central area? Haas has LAST YEAR's engine, correct? The F-16T is fast. And I love that sexy waist.