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Here's the testing wing (if its the same as the race wing). Something to do with the upper wing element, possibly the radius curve being too small. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90294
Yeah i remeber seeing them and thinking that the ferrari must be pretty draggy as its the same engine yet they were alot lower down the table. The flater upper element was to get the most out of the DRS was it not? If so the mclarens system must be very efficient as jenson overtook Kamui (sorry dont know the spelling) fairly well on the main straight. either that or mclaren turned up the engine + KERS
Here's the testing wing (if its the same as the race wing). Something to do with the upper wing element, possibly the radius curve being too small. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90294
Its pretty obvious in that image that the inner radius on the flap can't be much less than 100mm. I'm not even a Sauber fan, but the stupidity of this ruling boggles my mind. Red Bull have been getting away with their flexing wing for over a year and the FIA comes down on this? And what about Hamilton's splitter? I should mention, I don't think any of these 3 examples should be punished (Hamilton=racing incident, Sauber=dubious performance advantage, RB=too clever for the lawyers), it just illustrates the FIA's selective nature regarding rules enforcement and their inability to perform more sophisticated tests.
Formula None wrote:........
I should mention, I don't think any of these 3 examples should be punished (Hamilton=racing incident, Sauber=dubious performance advantage, RB=too clever for the lawyers), it just illustrates the FIA's selective nature regarding rules enforcement and their inability to perform more sophisticated tests.
+1
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Formula None wrote:it just illustrates the FIA's selective nature regarding rules enforcement and their inability to perform more sophisticated tests.
OK, you have 24 cars to check for all sort of stuff.
How do you make your "more sophisticated tests" in time?
Where do you get the money for "more sophisticated" test rigs?
How do you train the people to make those "more sophisticated test"? AFAIK stewards who do the tests are randomly picked folks from local racing associations.
Those are good questions that the FIA needs to answer, Tim. There's a lot of millionaires (billionaires?) walking the halls in Paris. I'd hope they could pony up for some mobile hyraulic test rigs. Historically themed escort costs do add up though, I suppose.
the closest thing to the Sauber case I can remember, off the top of my head, would be the Ferrari barge boards a couple of years ago.
The stewards at the track dsq`d the Ferrari after the race.
(Ferrari appealed the decision, and won the case in Paris, rightly or wrongly is another matter - Sauber can do the same, it´s not all over yet)
We should not confuse load/deflection tests and simple geometric tests with templates.
First of all, it´s the responsibility of the team (any team) to comply with the rules at all times, not the responsibility of the stewards.
The way I understand the test (using a ball with 100mm diameter), it´s fairly simple and straight forward, so Sauber could have done it at any time in the factory or at the track, no need for fancy equipment.
I´m "sorry" for Sauber, because they put in a strong performance, and would have deserved the points, but such is life.
There must have been a serious "f... u." in their QC process somewhere, as this seems to be a part coming out of an mould, and not simple a mounting error of a "legal" part.
It has happend before, and will happen again, no big deal, let´s not make more out of it, then there is to it.
It´s a mistake by the team, not by the FIA/stewards.
"Make the suspension adjustable and they will adjust it wrong ......
look what they can do to a carburetor in just a few moments of stupidity with a screwdriver." - Colin Chapman
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” - Leonardo da Vinci
I believe the various templates are available for the teams to use at the track too. Sauber may have known the flap was wrong but hoped it was "close enough".
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.