Australian GP 2009 ( finally! )

[Conceptual]

I'm too lazy to find the Williams fw31 topic, and I don't remember this being discussed... take a look at the splitter that is at the bottom of the noscone attachment...




it looks new to me, but please correct me if i'm wrong.

space for ballast? KERS? or purely aero function?

here's another pic with the nosecone attached

BRILLIANT! =D> =D> =D>

[ISLAMATRON]

Does it look to anyone else that the drivers are sitting alot lower in the cars than they did in the last few years, to keep the COG down now that the KERS is fitted?

This post
viewtopic.php?p=99549#p99549
has a pic that shows you just how low the KERS batteries are(which are the main weight component of KERS weight). The MGU ha been quoted at 5kg and that is at the crankshaft level of the engine, not a big shift in CoG.

The cars look lower & closer to the ground in general, but I think that has alot to do with the later time start. We cant see any light under the cars because of the long shadows and it makes them seem lower.

[Ciwai]

As I remember, barge boards, shark gills, and flow conditioners were all not within the "spirit of the rules", but everyone shut up and adapted.

I don't recall those ever being contentious items. Barge boards only came into question in the ferrari incident that was a manufacturing error with it not matching the shadow plane. Shark gills, or louvered bodywork has always been allowable in the past. Flow conditioners only may have come into question perhaps with flexing issues, but have always been within the rules.

I always remember the little fin tabs that Newey used on the Williams to meet minimum bodywork dimensions as being debatable whether it was within the spirit of the rules. Of course, everyone else followed.

[hulmerist]

seeing that williams today, it really is a thing of beauty, would've looked so cool if they'd kept the dark blue livery

i was thinking, after loads of people making mistakes and going off, even if you're not fast fast you've still got a chance of points if you can keep it on the road

this race is going to be amazing

[slimjim8201]

Looks like a more elegant under-nose diffuser, compared to the Renault solution. I see a single splitter plane that gradually rises upwards downstream. The lateral portions of the splitter develop into diffuser skirts. From an under-nose view, I imagine this looks and functions much like the Renault nose. From a frontal view, the air flow management in this area is completely different, with the Renault nose pushing all flow through the front wing supports under the nose diffuser and the Williams nose actually "splitting" the air.

[donskar]

I always remember the little fin tabs that Newey used on the Williams to meet minimum bodywork dimensions as being debatable whether it was within the spirit of the rules. Of course, everyone else followed.

Excellent example of following the letter of the rules and violating the spirit. As I recall, Newey did something similar to circumvent the ruling on the relationship of the top of the rollbar and the height of the cowling.

[Agerasia]

Looks like a more elegant under-nose diffuser, compared to the Renault solution. I see a single splitter plane that gradually rises upwards downstream. The lateral portions of the splitter develop into diffuser skirts. From an under-nose view, I imagine this looks and functions much like the Renault nose. From a frontal view, the air flow management in this area is completely different, with the Renault nose pushing all flow through the front wing supports under the nose diffuser and the Williams nose actually "splitting" the air.

Do I spy an aerofoil at the front where it joins the pillars as well?
I also think it's the same idea as Renault's nose, but more thought through and elegant.

[Conceptual]

I'm simply stunned that this hasn't been around for a few years now...

It is such a simple, elegant solution, and quite possibly more productive than the rear diffusor...

I wonder if any other teams even saw it, since their attentions were so firmly riveted on the rear of this car!

[modbaraban]

I'm simply stunned that this hasn't been around for a few years now...

Don't forget that all cars used to have a huge 'central spoon' out there. That area was optimized for its performance (F2008 nosecone hole being the extreme example). Now that the central section of the wing is neutral thay try to use that area somehow.

[dp35]

This question assumes that the car's are not in parc ferme until qualifying begins, and that changes to things like diffusers are allowed.

Will some teams quickly build up new "double decker" diffusers, right in the pit garages? If so, make your predictions about who will do it.

I'm imagining the CFD programs running around the clock back at the headquarters offices, designing new parts, the engineers emailing these new designs to the mechanics at the track, and them building the new parts by hand. All of this is possible. Although this certainly would not produce the optimal combination, its quite possible that it could provide some improvement, and many teams have nothing to lose.

[MustGoFaster]

With the amount of interaction between parts, they would probably have to make more than just a new diffuser for it to work. I'm betting no. I would guess a maybe one
or two teams will have them already made and ready to put on.

[Scotracer]

Unless they had the parts near-completion before leaving for Melbourne I cannot see it. If they managed to get them shipped down tonight for FP3 then it's possible. The diffuser is one of the most complex pieces on the body so requires a lot of work AND track validation.

[ESPImperium]

The whold floor would need changing then as the diffuser is conected to it isnt it???

BMW Sauber has reportedly got 3 new "mark 3" floors out there, but if they put them on, wouldnt the team have to put the cars back into scruteneering to make shure their cars were legal, loosing each car arround 30-45 mins set-up tim in the morning.

I think there will be new diffusers for at least 2 teams at Sepang tho, BMW Sauber and Force India with McLaren waiting off for at least one more race.

[Scotracer]

Yes the diffuser is a part of the floor.

I believe BMW have already run their new diffuser. I'll try and get you a shot.

[cba_]

What are they going to make it from? Ductape?