FIA using common sense?

Maybe things will be better under Todt. They are finally showing some common sense:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80597

 

Not exactly. Common sense would be to trash the testing ban completely.

The micromanagement continues.

 

The increased restrictions on aero testing will hasten the move from the tunnel to the computer.

 

Whilst one day of testing is better than none, is it going to make that much difference for a substitute driver?.

I would arrange it so that as soon as it is known that a substitute driver is required to be used, He has unlimited testing until the next race weekend.

It might not be perfect but it would be better than just one day.

 

I agree that this will merely shift the focus to other simulation methods, but how many times we have heard the drivers/engineers say that the numbers looked great in the tunnel or on paper but once on track, the changes just don't work?.

Teams will either waste money developing "white elephant" ideas because the computers say it's the way to go, or lose out because they were too afraid to take a gamble on an idea because of the cost involved.

Meanwhile it puts more emphasis on the engineers ability back at the factory and less on the drivers ability on track. Drivers will eventually be unable to learn how to develop cars to their personal style due to lack of time available and will be forced to accept, and try to race, the car they've been given (and we've already seen how well that works with Kimi at Ferrari).

 

I have doubts about unverified results from simulations too. Look at McLaren at the start of this past season. Having said that some of the new teams are doing most (if not all) of their development work that way. It might be all that they can afford but IMO its still risky.

 

8 engines for 20 races...and penalty for 2 races.

I don't think that is really great improvement.

 

McLaren had a unique situation this season. They were using flow vis paint as their real life data from testing didn't seem to match what the tunnel was telling them. This was later tracked down to it being wrongly calibrated. This is the reason they switched to primarily using CFD and skipping the tunnel later in the season.

In CFD the simulation is only as accurate as the boundary conditions. The simulation itself is straightforward enough, the engineering comes into play in determining what can be estimated and how close to exact it needs to be.

In terms of overall development CFD is used before a tunnel. Everything effects everything though. A small variation in a wing may produce a better L/D ratio but may disturb things downstream. Which means a mesh is no longer just a wing and has grown in size and the simulation will take longer to run.

I don't see many teams running a full scale aero test instead of an actual testing day...

 

To be honest I have not read anything that Todt and co have proposed that has rattled my cage as yet, and he is stepping in the right direction.

I just hope he remembers what his job, the dream team cannot reunite.

On the other hand if he keeps Mosley side lined for good that will keep me happy.

 

J T's big test will come when he has to decide between unfairly helping Michael or unfairly helping Ferrari

 

""The penalty for exceeding the limit of eight engines per car per season has also been amended to ensure that any car that goes over the limit twice in a single grand prix weekend receives a ten-place grid penalty both for that race and the following event.""

How do you guys understand this? i'm not sure to get it.

""any car that goes over the limit twice in a single grand prix ""

 

I think it's like this :

Imagine your at a GP now. Engine failure during quali. You get a 10 place penalty. Thats considered 1 punishment.

During the race, again, u suffer from an engine failure. This failure however, under the old rules won't affect ur next race position, but what they have done here is make it matter for the next race. So u suffered 2 engine failures over the race weekend. The 2nd failure of the weekend will result in a penalty of 10 place the next race.

 

Why do you think Mercedes are so keen to sign him?. It's nothing to do with his driving or car developing ability, they're just trying to redress the balance when it comes to favourtism now J.T's in charge!


Here's an interesting thought on McLaren using flow vis paint to help develop the car. As it's a paint (be it visible to the naked eye or not) and the FIA rules specifically say that both cars must be painted in identical paint schemes, are McLaren not in breach of the rules?.
After all, by relying on passing air over the car to distribute the paint, there's no way they can replicate the exact same pattern on both cars!.

Mmmm.... Paintgate!, McLaren caught breaching the rules again!. (I wouldn't rule it out, this is F1 afterall )

 

Anyone ever tell you that you have a wonderfully devious mind?

 

It comes from all the years of watching the squabbles in F1

 

You're being too modest. Seems it comes naturally

 

touché Sir!