LionsHeart wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 17:02
mwillems wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 16:09
LionsHeart wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 13:36
Very interesting:
The International Automobile Federation FIA announced the tightening of technical regulations in the field of control over the flexibility of the aerodynamic elements of the car. The new technical directive, which has come into the possession of the Motorsport editors, has been sent to the Formula 1 teams ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, notifying them that the stricter regulation requirements will come into force with the Singapore Grand Prix.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-te ... /10513290/
Which teams will suffer the most?
I've not reviewed the current state of play but last time I looked Mclaren were one of the teams least exploiting this, but this was at the end of last year. On the front wings RB I think were pretty flexible, I think Ferrari too, Merc also but less so... but this is memory not fact. It's worth a look at the onboards on the Monza straight to see what those front wings are doing!
But is this focussed more on the floors? It's worth working the assumption that the FIA want to close the gap so you'd assume the RB has some undue flexing on it somewhere!
I feel fairly certain though I've seen the RB front wing flexing a lot. I have no clue about the rears, but like I say, this feels like they suspect flexing is used to seal the floors by some more than others.
It'll be interesting to see what these new tests are since you are only breaking the rules if you fail the tests, not if you fail the letter of the regulations
Thanks for the comment. I never thought that flexing of the front wing can be used for bottom efficiency. I generally thought that the camber was needed more to reduce drag on straight lines, as well as to stabilize the balance in fast corners where excessive control is not required.
I think 6 teams may be affected. And some will have to make changes to the design of the front wings. I can’t say anything about the rear wing, I didn’t see the bending or flexing.
The closer to the ground the front wing is, the more efficient it is, until it gets too close and bottoms out like any Aerodynamic device. It is a little different now as you want sufficient air to get to the floor, but if the wings flex at the extremity and don't lower the nose too much at the centre then you retain airflow to the floor and get a downforce buff as well as streamlining the car at high speed and produce more DF in Med - High Speed corners.
When the wing gets closer to the ground and less air is behind the front wing, the low pressure becomes even lower pressure behind the wing and begins to get sucked into the ground, increasing those forces.
Flexi rear wing simply increases the Aero efficiency of the car at higher speeds I think, not sure it increases DF just reduces drag at higher speeds and raises the wing back to full height for more DF as the car is slower, or less impacted by aero forces.
Reading the article I can see now that it has nothing to do with the floor and talks specifically about the front and rear wings. This very much feels like an attempt to reign in RB plus whoever else is collateral damage.
Mclaren tend not to be too exploitative but I'll confess I don't know if this is the case or not today. Worst case we don't fall back, best case we might get a few tenths closer for free.
