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F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: John S on January 07, 2020, 11:47:07 AM

Title: Shark fins are back on F1 cars this year.
Post by: John S on January 07, 2020, 11:47:07 AM
Well Baby ones at least carrying the drivers number, see extract from article on Racefans last April below.

Will it help with identifying the drivers? Who knows until we actually get to see them on screen.

Personally I go by the helmet colours or the differing black or yellow on teammates camera bar. - How about the rest of you?   


Shark fins are back! Although not a technical rule for performance reasons, this is a marketing-led rule change. It has always been hard to read the driver’s race number on the car and on the side of the car, with the ban on shark fins from two years ago, there has been little real estate on the engine cover to place the numbers.

Now the teams will have to create a tiny shark fin on the spine of the engine cover, as defined by the dimensions in the rules. This make a small shark fin similar that that McLaren have run this year and seen on the 2021 ‘India’ CFD concept car. As with any rule change, team will seek to find an advantage and having the small fin in this area down low ahead to the top rear wing, there could be some performance benefit to keep the wing working when the car is cornering.

Courtesy Craig Scarborough, Racefans.net, April 2019.

https://www.racefans.net/2019/04/05/top-ten-pictures-from-the-2019-bahrain-grand-prix/lando-norris-mclaren-mcl34-28/ (https://www.racefans.net/2019/04/05/top-ten-pictures-from-the-2019-bahrain-grand-prix/lando-norris-mclaren-mcl34-28/)

Title: Re: Shark fins are back on F1 cars this year.
Post by: Jericoke on January 07, 2020, 02:59:26 PM
1)  I miss the sharkfins.  I thought they looked great!
2)  The halos make the helmets hard to spot sometimes
3)  Drivers don't always keep the same helmet design (I thought there was a rule, am I wrong?)
4)  Debris makes the cameras hard to spot sometimes

Having the numbers easier to see will be good.  If the professionals calling the race can get it wrong 30% of the time, fans have no hope!

Now I just need to learn everyone's number...
Title: Re: Shark fins are back on F1 cars this year.
Post by: Dare on January 07, 2020, 04:45:47 PM
Why not put the drivers name on the fin?
Title: Re: Shark fins are back on F1 cars this year.
Post by: John S on January 08, 2020, 05:45:25 PM
Why not put the drivers name on the fin?

Not enough space I guess. There's barely enough for a number.
Title: Re: Shark fins are back on F1 cars this year.
Post by: Dare on January 08, 2020, 11:21:04 PM
Why not put the drivers name on the fin?

Not enough space I guess. There's barely enough for a number.


How many people remember the numbers of all
the drivers? I can hardly remember my mobile number
and address
Title: Re: Shark fins are back on F1 cars this year.
Post by: Jericoke on January 09, 2020, 02:42:22 PM
Why not put the drivers name on the fin?

Not enough space I guess. There's barely enough for a number.


How many people remember the numbers of all
the drivers? I can hardly remember my mobile number
and address

If the numbers are easier to see, they'll be easier to learn.
Title: Re: Shark fins are back on F1 cars this year.
Post by: Willy on February 07, 2020, 02:09:28 PM
The only cars I consistently knew were the Mclaren's when they had the drivers names on the side at races that banned West tobacco ads.
Title: Re: Shark fins are back on F1 cars this year.
Post by: Jericoke on February 07, 2020, 02:49:08 PM
The only cars I consistently knew were the Mclaren's when they had the drivers names on the side at races that banned West tobacco ads.

I suppose instead of numbers they could put the 3 letter name IDs they use on the scoring screens.
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