Ferrari seeks edge with new wheel nut design

[John S]

I wonder if any of the other teams have little suprises like this in the mix?

Ferrari has designed a new wheel nut in an effort to win F1's 2010 pitstop race. With in-race refuelling not allowed this year for the first time since 1993, Williams hinted recently that tyre pitstops in 2010 could be as short as sub-three seconds.

Spain's El Pais newspaper reports that Ferrari has responded to the challenge by designing a cone-shaped nut that integrates better with the wheel gun.

The nut also features the automatic triggering of its fastener, where previously it needed to be pulled manually by a mechanic.

"We have worked over the winter to speed up the process of changing tyres," said designer Nikolas Tombazis.

Updatef1.com, Friday 19th Feb.

[Dare]

Shouldn't all teams have to use  the same
lug nut removers

[Scott]

How about electromagnets - flip a switch and the tires fall off, roll the new ones near the hub and flick the switch again and 'WHACK' they're good to go!   

[John S]

How about electromagnets - flip a switch and the tires fall off, roll the new ones near the hub and flick the switch again and 'WHACK' they're good to go!  

Yeah that sounds like a plan Scott, can't wait til someone has a Mansell moment and manages to nudge the power off switch during a race, it'll  make great TV having a car lose all it's wheels at 175mph.

[david1275]

Sounds like a plan. Just hope they get the rest right.

[Jericoke]

Shouldn't all teams have to use  the same
lug nut removers

I suggested something along those lines in the Lotus Power Steering thread.  Ali points out that a common refueller worked out so well they banned the whole thing entirely.

I love the idea of teams coming up with ways to speed up the pit stops... I also think that it's a prime area for cost savings by using a common design.

[Scott]

How about electromagnets - flip a switch and the tires fall off, roll the new ones near the hub and flick the switch again and 'WHACK' they're good to go!  

Yeah that sounds like a plan Scott, can't wait til someone has a Mansell moment and manages to nudge the power off switch during a race, it'll  make great TV having a car lose all it's wheels at 175mph.

Don't give the driver the switch...give it to the jack-man.  Anyhow, it was tongue-in-cheek 

[John S]

Don't give the driver the switch...give it to the jack-man.  Anyhow, it was tongue-in-cheek 

Oh Dam and Blast!     

Looks like you may have found something to liven up processional races though, Bernie could trigger the magnets from the pits to let held up cars get by. 

 

[Scott]

Or reverse the polarity and watch the fun as the mechanics try to get the wheels anywhere near the car.   

[Alianora La Canta]

Or reverse the polarity and watch as the tyres stick to each other, leading to a 12-man tug-of-war against an unyielding tyre stack...

[John S]

Or reverse the polarity and watch as the tyres stick to each other, leading to a 12-man tug-of-war against an unyielding tyre stack...

 

Could make a good contest for the break between Quali and the race, after all the teams have nothing much to do on the cars under parc ferme rules.