Merc & McLaren Aero Changes in China

[cosworth151]

I remember a few seasons ago when we played "Where's Waldo?" spotting all of the aero changes made by the teams for each race. It's still going on, just in a far more subtle fashion.

Here's a quick look at the new aero used at the Chinese GP by Mercedes and McLaren:

[Scott]

Hope they don't hit a rabbit this season or there it'll be sliced and diced into a bunny Julienne.   

I still think front wing aero is over rated, and most drivers could drive fast enough with a cleverly angled plank out front.

[Jericoke]

Hope they don't hit a rabbit this season or there it'll be sliced and diced into a bunny Julienne.   

I still think front wing aero is over rated, and most drivers could drive fast enough with a cleverly angled plank out front.

It would be an amazing way to cut costs. 

I suppose as long as the teams are allowed to design their own chassis, there will be aerodynamicists at work though.   

[Andy B]

I think there should be more emphasis on mechanical grip than aero which would make the cars easier to follow and they'll move around more.

[John S]

To give credence to Scott's point that front wing aero is overrated Vettel finished the last race with a heavily damaged front wing but was not aware of any major change in his car's handling. In fact he is reported as saying that he was actually unaware of the damage. 

 

[Andy B]

I understand what Scott is saying but the turbulence that is generated in the wake of the car by design to upset the airflow to following cars so if aero was reduced so would the disturbed airflow and the cars would be able to run closer together.
That's my theory anyhow. 

[Scott]

For aesthetics, it would be best to put one plank at the front and another at the back and mount them to cigar shaped cars.  That would be ideal 

[J.Clark]

I agree with putting more emphasis on mechanical grip.

I also agree, if what I am hearing, some more standardization in aero-packages was instituted, perhaps such as in the Indy Series, it would cut down on the turbulence problem. 

Additionally, if they were to do that, it would be a fairly large savings I imagine, simply from the wind tunnel and design times involved in what they are doing presently.  They could still have DRS, but otherwise, the wings would be more or less the same for everyone.

[Scott]

It's a fine line to keep it from becoming a spec series, and I can understand the technical desire to let the aero guys go nuts on every piece of car they are allowed to work on, but I agree J.Clark that they need to standardize some portion of the front and back of the car to reduce the turbulence so cars can get close to each other.   

I also like Vintly's idea (another thread) of throwing out the brake regulations and create some new ones that require much longer braking to allow overtaking in more corners.