Rules Innovations - be careful what ya wish for

[The Counterfeiter]

For entertainment purposes only!

F1 decides that moveable front wings and F Ducts (whatever that is) did not provide overtaking. So the millions teams have spent are in the dumpster. New solution for 2011 is a driver controlled moveable rear wing governed by the following rules:
Driver adjustable bodywork
From 2011, adjustable bodywork may be activated by the driver at any time prior to the start of the race and, for the sole purpose of improving overtaking opportunities during the race, after the driver has completed two laps. The driver may only activate the adjustable bodywork in the race when he has been notified via the control electronics that it is enabled. It will only be enabled if the driver is less than one second behind another at any of the pre-determined positions around each circuit. The system will be disabled the first time the driver uses the brakes after the system has been activated. The FIA may, after consulting all the competitors, adjust the time proximity in order to ensure the purpose of the adjustable bodywork is met.

Racing in F1 has to be the pinnacle of the More Money Than Sense Club -

 

[vegasnitro]

F Ducts are VERY cool. Basically there are small inlets in the body work near the intake for the engine below the roll hoop (very pronounced on this years McLaren MP4/25, gives it that long dorsal fin look). These inlets collect undisturbed air and speeds it up through a channel and dumps it out on the center of the rear wing. This creates a negative pressure situation on the surface of the wing, thereby reducing drag. In theory, what this allows teams to do is dial in more downforce on the rear wing for traction in corners, without sacrificing speed in the straights. Most teams have a lever in the cockpit so the driver can open and close the F Duct as he sees fit. Because it is not either movable or electrically or hydraulically activated, it is legal.

Their effectiveness have been debated by the likes of Adrian Newey (the greatest aerodynamacist of our time, his Red Bull does not run the F Duct system) but I find the concept fascinating.

 

[vegasnitro]

I know it is way late from the original thread ... but here is an excellent video from ITV 's F1 coverage explaining how McLaren's F-Duct system works ... It is more elaborate than I initially thought, and McLaren claims it is worth 3 MPH in the straights. Imagine that ... millions of dollars worth of CFD and wind tunnel time for 3 MPH.

YouTube - Mclaren F-Duct Explained by Martin Brundle

20 years ago Sir Frank Williams famously said that each tenth of a second of lap time to catch the leaders cost 1 million dollars to engineer/develop, which is why small teams at the back have NO CHANCE of catching up to the bigger teams ... I wonder what each tenth of a second is worth now?

 

[mick]

wow.........that is some amazing aero.
thanks chris.

 

[vegasnitro]

Sorry to bring up old stuff ... but the F-Duct has made it's way to sportscars already!!! Look at this pic of the new Audi R18 coupe in pre-season testing at Sebring (warning, you may need a cigarrette afterwards). Peugot will have a similar system in place by the time Le Mans rolls around in June.

 

[vegasnitro]

Peugot unveiled their 908 Le Mans car today, and it also has an F-Duct system. Curiously, none of the F1 cars testing this week at Valencia, Spain are running an F-Duct system. Have F1 cars already moved aerodynamically past the F-Duct system? Renault are running their F1 cars in the test with the exhaust outlets facing forwards to the entry of each side pod. The idea is to use the energy from the exhausts to create a "blown floor" concept, which supposedly greatly increases the efficiency of the floor/undertray, which greatly increases downforce without increasing drag.