New front wing - Mugello test

[vintly]

Nerdy pic for y'all - seriously complex looking wing methinks:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/formula1box/7132252103/

[lkjohnson1950]

Lot of wind tunnel time on that puppy!

[F1fanaticBD]

It is unbelievable, this little wings along with its curves does this magical thing of controlling these beast @ 200 mph.. even the fairy god-mother seems a bland thing for this technological advancement...

[John S]

Yeah but are they really worth all that expense and wind tunnel time when some cars go just as quick in races with damaged front wings? 

[Scott]

Yeah but are they really worth all that expense and wind tunnel time when some cars go just as quick in races with damaged front wings? 

Really?  Than Sauber?  Which car goes quicker with a damaged front wing than a Sauber?  Sauber do a great job with their wind tunnel (which I think is still the only 1:1 scale wind tunnel in F1, meaning they can actually put the entire working car in it, instead of a scale model, even though the regulations only allow a 60% model.  Not only that, but it has a rolling road capable of putting two models front to back, allowing for measurements based on following a car.).  They also still own a supercomputer which not only runs their state of the art CFD department, but also does the analysis of the wind tunnel testing. 

When Ferrari comes knocking at the door for aero help, I'd guess Sauber are doing a pretty good job.

Since Ferrari doesn't have the funding to run the tunnel 24/7, they rely on renting it out to a handful of Swiss aerospace firms who help pay the bills.

[John S]

Ouch!  Sorry Scott it was mean't in general about all teams, didn't mean to wind you up.

Never realised you were so jealously patriotic about your adopted country's F1 effort. 

 

[cosworth151]

I'll bet Sauber's cost accountants faint every time Kobay or Sergio peel one of those off on a guard rail. 

[Scott]

Never realised you were so jealously patriotic about your adopted country's F1 effort.   

Just sayin'...  No need to diss Sauber, they punch higher than any other team in relation to their budget. 

I've had a soft spot for Sauber ever since I moved here, and even more so after BMW yanked the carpet out from under Peter.

[F1fanaticBD]

I've had a soft spot for Sauber ever since I moved here, and even more so after BMW yanked the carpet out from under Peter.

  I am with you in this. After BMW's abortion of its formula one program, it was this people, who with little money and great brought this team, here where its now..and I firmly believe they will be even higher..

To me Peter Sauber has this amazing ability to turn around the teams, I guess its been almost three decades, he is doing it..

And Johnny my boy, you should wind things more, may contact those Ferrari people if you need a wind-tunnel for that...

[lkjohnson1950]

Sauber does an excellent job with limited resources. I wish they could attract a sponsor, they surely deserve one. It is true however that on several occasions I've seen a driver damage his front wing and then go faster. 

[Scott]

It is true however that on several occasions I've seen a driver damage his front wing and then go faster. 

Maybe to the next corner

[lkjohnson1950]

Note, I didn't say knock it off, I said damage. Indy Car was notorious for drivers bending the wings down or back and then going faster. Cruder cars to be sure, but it did happen.

[Scott]

That's because you COULD bend a wing in Indy.