Illegal skid block tricks discovered

[Farnborough]

Its strange that they had the points headroom to soften the risk profile just a little, for Lando's car at LV, but went headlong into pushing hard, it seems on every aspect.

A little of a roll-in to this championship position would have allowed then comfort in decision for the last two.

[search]

Its strange that they had the points headroom to soften the risk profile just a little, for Lando's car at LV, but went headlong into pushing hard, it seems on every aspect.

A little of a roll-in to this championship position would have allowed then comfort in decision for the last two.

well, if The Race is to be believed, in Vegas McLaren lowered the rear of the car to prevent the car from graining at the front, which they suffered from on Friday. So if true, it's not quite sure what effect running a bit higher would have had. Potentially they would have been significantly worse with a legal car.

[Emag]

Its strange that they had the points headroom to soften the risk profile just a little, for Lando's car at LV, but went headlong into pushing hard, it seems on every aspect.

A little of a roll-in to this championship position would have allowed then comfort in decision for the last two.

In retrospect it's a stupid decision because they got it so wrong. But if you view from another perspective, Las Vegas was supposed to be one of their weaker tracks in the last tripple header. If it had worked out, they would have dropped minimal points to Max, heading into the last 2 races with a rather comfortable cushion.

But they did not get it right. They got it very wrong. So now the last 2 races are very important for them.

[f1isgood]

It's a weaker track, run a legal car and get whatever you can and move on. Not score blanks. They obviously are trying too hard for no reason from whatever the news seems to be saying the last few weekends.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Honestly think it's as simple as McLaren gambling on a Safety Car period that would give them a reprieve. When one didn't come they were screwed.

Ferrari have been saying all season that they're not the only team using LICO to manage plank wear.... Seems they were right!!

[aMessageToCharlie]

Honestly think it's as simple as McLaren gambling on a Safety Car period that would give them a reprieve. When one didn't come they were screwed.

Ferrari have been saying all season that they're not the only team using LICO to manage plank wear.... Seems they were right!!

They did have 2 VSCs as mitigation though, even if it was only for a few laps. So they would have gambled on what, like 5 laps minimum behind the safety car to make it work? That doesn't really seem reasonable and for me pointing towards miscalculation and likely needing to play it save going forward.

However, since Qatar is a sprint weekend, they should be able to better judge the parameters for the race which would play into their hands again for big points on sunday.

[Chuckjr]

At the end of the day, Macca seem screwed at this point, imo,

[napoleon1981]

At the end of the day, Macca seem screwed at this point, imo,

The momentum is against them, but mclaren still holds all the cards, and they are still the favorites by far. Any slip from Max and its over.

[Andi76]

^^

Is was made clear to be in a IG post by scarbs yesterday, THE SKID BLOCK IS THE MEASURING POINT.

Completely destroys any thought of using thermal expansion to protect them and shows just how clueless we all are.

That's right. Here's a picture of how and where measurements are taken.



A measuring instrument called Legality RAM or "the bridge of doom" is pushed through holes in the plank and raised until it touches the reference plane, which is shown here as a red dotted line. Untill recently there were two such points at the front and one at the rear from which "measurements" were taken (because the height of the front wing and rear wings are also measured with it). The holes themselves are used to measure the thickness of the plank. However, the holes are usually surrounded by skid blocks (depending on the team's design, but every F1 team naturally tries to protect the plank from wear and tear with these skid blocks), see picture.



So basically, the wear on the plate is measured at the skid blocks, and the rest of the floor can wear as much as it wants.

There has been no change to the regulations, but what has changed is the selection of checks relating to plank wear. Previously, the FIA did not check all the cars for this. Recently, all cars have been checked for plank wear after every race.

[Andi76]

I believe there maybe some confusion, on here and in general reporting, about whats being measured.

There's three holes in skid assembly specifically to facilitate measurement by placing the micrometer through the hole to "clamp" for want of better word, on the periphery of that hole, and so determine the thickness as we see it stated.

Additional to this are specific "skid" blocks embedded into various point of the plank surface, these not measured as I understand.
The implication, from that Brazil exposè, was that THESE block were somehow being expanded or moved by heating to protrude down below the surface of the plank.
The net effect projected would be these to strike the track BEFORE the measurement holes surfaces, and so protect those critical measurement areas from wearing. Those measurement areas don't appear to be the target of heating claims, spurious or not as they were reported.

Allowing the assembly to cool and having a "target" temp in regulations:- likely impractical as tge ambient temperature around the world is still different at each location raced.
In reality, the teams have a tolerance all of it above 9mm, choosing or not taking into account the affect a race distance has on that material they start with, over and above the 9mm, is in their sole control. They commit to keeping within the regulations the whole time its competing.
They measure all sort of compliance themselves, this just one of them.
Effectively, they "gamed" this dimension for ultimate pace, as do all teams, and failed to conserve enough material. The method of measurement is not at fault.

Maybe just one point of wear being too much could be explained as accidentally heavy curb strike .... but not multiple locations AND across both cars ! that's planning. Also admirable in their setup accuracy, but a step too far. Especially considering the points gap they had in championship coming into this race.

This exactly. The blocks are to prevent plank wear. It doesn't matter how much the skid block wears, the plank thickness is what counts.

That's not entirely correct. Basically, you're right, but also wrong. The thickness of the plank is measured by inserting an instrument through holes in the floor until it hits the reference plane. The distance from the reference plane to the lowest point of the holes is then measured, which gives the remaining thickness of the plank. Since these holes are surrounded by skid blocks on every F1 team, the thickness of the plate is actually measured at the skid blocks and not at the plank itself. Since only these holes are measured, the plank can basically wear down as much as it wants because it is not measured. The regulations specify these holes as measuring points.

[Farnborough]

The FIA report stated they used a Mitutoyo Micrometre, even when it was purchased, to define the error. The working range of this component would usually put that device as a 0~25mm instrument, and standard in general engineering practice.

I believe the check of dimensions to reference plane is to stop the teams using deformable substrate on the top side of tge plank, therefore giving it some flexibility in being "squashed" on impact to help mitigate wear. Wasn't that what TD 039 was about ? The design arrangement to comply with regulation in dimension, but allow the plank to move in extremist circumstances.

[basti313]

The FIA report stated they used a Mitutoyo Micrometre, even when it was purchased, to define the error. The working range of this component would usually put that device as a 0~25mm instrument, and standard in general engineering practice.

I believe the check of dimensions to reference plane is to stop the teams using deformable substrate on the top side of tge plank, therefore giving it some flexibility in being "squashed" on impact to help mitigate wear. Wasn't that what TD 039 was about ? The design arrangement to comply with regulation in dimension, but allow the plank to move in extremist circumstances.

Yes, and the pre TD039 skids looked completely different. While everyone now uses skids that go around the hole, the pre TD039 were asymmetric, just one corner of the hole on some cars.
Within the TD039 discussions I found an interesting comment, that the hole does not need to fulfill the 9mm all around. It just needs to be higher than 9mm in one spot. That was basically the flexing skid idea, they just flexed away a portion of it.
That brings us back to the heating: You just need to buckle away a piece of the skid.

I am still working on the pictures. So far I would say, that the McLaren skids are round and mounted with two screws. Ferrari in comparison has a more rectangular shape and four screws. On most cars I saw four screws.

[Slitch-nl]

The rules state teams:
"May use a load spreading washer if required"
"No part of any fastener or load-spreading washer may be more than 8mm below the reference plane"

Could there be some trickery going with the washers? Do they mount the washers between the skid and the reference plane?
If the washers heat during the race they would expand.

That would explain the skids on the McL were measured lower of the car.

[FW17]

i still dont understand the point of the plank post 1994. It was introduced to prevent stalling on a flat floor. From 1995 onwards it is completely irreverent as the floor is not going to stall with the introduction of the stepped floor.

[AR3-GP]

i still dont understand the point of the plank post 1994. It was introduced to prevent stalling on a flat floor. From 1995 onwards it is completely irreverent as the floor is not going to stall with the introduction of the stepped floor.

Teams would still run a plank even if they didn't have to. Cars bottom. Would you rather bottom on the very expensive and long lead time monocoque, or a sacrificial plank?