GPWizard F1 Forum
F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: TheStig on April 01, 2008, 12:15:02 PM
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Ferrari has not been idle on the car front since Sepang and last Saturday, tester Marc Gene evaluated some aerodynamic elements in a secret test session at Vairano.
The plan for this year is that we should have continuous updates throughout the season," revealed Ferrari technical director Aldo Costa. "We aim to improve the package step by step with changes coming for almost every race and in Bahrain we will run some new aero parts."
TheStig
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Secret test session - does that mean that they aren't counting it as a testing day?
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I read today,that they plan to hold fire on the introduction of the new aero.So we wont see anything new in Bahrain.
TheStig
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'cept maybe that electronic lolipop
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I must say i missed the electronic lollipop,have you anything more on it at all?
TheStig
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Secret test session - does that mean that they aren't counting it as a testing day?
It was straight line testing apparently, Scotty. Doesn't count towards the testing allocation.
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I read today,that they plan to hold fire on the introduction of the new aero.So we wont see anything new in Bahrain.
TheStig
Guess maybe the changes didn't work as well as they hoped. ;)
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Well, they will be introducing some aero tweaks apparently. What they have decided against at this stage is the hole they have cut in the nose - because they don't want to compromise reliability.
Now I know this is probably a silly question, but how will a hole in the nose affect the reliability of the cars (let alone be of aerodynamic benefit)? Methinks they're playing some devious Italian game or other...
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I think the small hole in the current nose is used to cool some electronics. Maybe the mods caused problems there.
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I knew it was a silly question. But I still prefer my Italian conspiracy theory. :D
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the culprit
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That looks like quite a bit more developement than a hole to cool electronics. I think it's a bit ugly, especially at the angle of the picture, but wonder how the aero is improved.
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The photo doesn't include the alleged hole in the nose, which is supposed to be right where the Bridgestone logo is at present. I have seen elsewhere an explanation that makes quite a lot of sense. We have been presuming that the hole is an intake but it is more likely that it is an outlet. If a corresponding hole is cut ahead of the logo but underneath the nose, it would act as an extractor for the central section of the front wing, thereby increasing its aerodynamic efficiency.
This would be a similar idea to the sixties brainwave of cutting a hole in the bonnet (hood) to allow air passing through the radiator an outlet, thus reducing drag. I still don't see how it affects reliability, however. ;)
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That way, when David Hobbs says, "The Ferrari just went kablammo!" the team can blame it on the hole. ;)
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I have found a reference photograph of the proposed nosecone with the hole that has been tested here:
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/f1/2008/mal/f1-2008-mal-xp-0595.jpg
Hope this helps the topic
TheStig
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Well if that is the hole the are talking about, it doesn't look much bigger than those found on other cars (although sometimes covered by a screen that matches the paint job) that is actually to help cool the driver and his feet.
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I think in this case, it is aimed at reducing pressure in that area, as the air rises upwards and helps the aero overflow .
It is not going to be used in Bahrain ,but it may come into play in the future?
TheStig
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Secret straight-line testing does count towards the limitation on mileage, unless they put in someone who has done neither a Grand Prix nor four test days in the last two years (in which case it could have been done openly on a normal circuit and it would still have been OK in the regulations).
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It's an extractor : http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66639
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Great find and photo Chameleon in the link......
Thanks :
TheStig
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So have Ferrari fitted a front radiator then ? :D
The hole looks higher than had been suggested before. I can't imagine there is much in that area that needs cooling because the air must be going in at the point on the nose and exiting in front of the crash structure and master cylinders. The only ting I can imagine being cooled is some minor electronics. I suppose the other option is that it is some kind of flow conditioner to keep the airflow attached to the top of the car or maybe it does something to the airflow into the airbox. A sort of minor ram effect.
OK I admit it I haven't a clue.
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What you can't see, Steven, is that there's a corresponding hole under the nose but above the front wing - the two holes are connected right through the nose. That area beneath the nose is a high pressure zone so the channel through the nose acts as an extractor vent. Lower pressure under the nose means more downforce.
By carefully angling the flow through the upper hole, the aero boys can also ensure that it increases the downforce effects on rearward elements, particularly the rear wing. Patrick Head explained recently that this was what they were trying to achieve with the walrus nose Williams - except they went the whole hog and removed the bit of bodywork above the channel. Ferrari's solution looks better since the closed channel should enable the airflow to be better controlled.
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Nothing has come out about this since,but who knows. Michael could be evaluating it now?
TheStig
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I believe Ferrari are looking for the spy who leaked details of the nose hole in February, Stig. Perhaps they're too busy with that to bother about whether the hole works or not. ;)