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| Should aero devices be banned? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 2 2007, 08:36 AM (249 Views) | |
| Paul_Murtagh | Aug 2 2007, 08:36 AM Post #1 |
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Chief Engineer
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Having just watched the highlights of the European GP again on formula1.com and seeing the wheel rim of the Renault lying on the racing line, is it time that the FIA banned all these add-ons to the cars? Not only can they fall off the cars and cause an obstruction, but they also add aero drag and ruin the racing |
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| Norbert | Aug 2 2007, 08:53 AM Post #2 |
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Well, as the car itself is an aero device, I'd suggest no...... |
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| AndyW76 | Aug 2 2007, 09:39 AM Post #3 |
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Team Boss
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I think he means the areodynamic wheel covers. From what one of the ITV comentators said, they should be abnned on safety ground bacause on of the ferrari pit crew badly gashed their hand on a practice pitstop. I certainly wouldn't want to change a tyre on my car with a razor sharp object only millimetres from my hand, let alone do it during a high pressure pitstop. Also, they can come loose and fly off, which is dangerous. Also, don't they constitute a moveable areodynamic device on the unsprung part of the car, which contravienes several FIA rules? |
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| The STIG | Aug 2 2007, 09:45 AM Post #4 |
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I think that they should be banned. Looking at it from a regulations point of view - I see these covers on the Ferrari and Renault as hub caps - and most sporting regulations say that the hub-caps must be removed, in case they fall off and cause unessasary damage. and their use as an aerodynamic aid is probably a little uncertain legally too. However Andy, They cannot be classified as a movable aerodynamic device, since that implys a wing which can be adjusted during racing (as opposed to at a pit stop), or prehaps a large fan to suck the air from beneath the car. They cannot move the wheels into a more optimal position for better downforce. |
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| Paul_Murtagh | Aug 2 2007, 09:51 AM Post #5 |
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Chief Engineer
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I'm not only talking about the wheel trims (which are very dangerous in my opinion), but what about the likes of the winglets in front of the rear wheels & on the front wing, and mini-wings and horns on the engine covers. These are the reason why F1 has so much turbulent air |
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| Hobbes | Aug 2 2007, 09:53 AM Post #6 |
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Movable aero devices does not imply a wing, it implys a 'movable aero device. Look back at the mass-damper fuss of last year, nothing winglike about that and it wasn't adjusted at pitstops, it was in constant motion with the cars suspension. Likewise, I'm not sure how these wheel covers escape investigation.... |
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| The STIG | Aug 2 2007, 09:55 AM Post #7 |
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Ah, quite right. although how a mass damper is an aerodymaic bit is beyond me... I think the wheel covers are classified as "Brake ducts" |
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| Red Andy | Aug 2 2007, 09:57 AM Post #8 |
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Ferrari pioneered them, that's how! ![]() I think aero devices should be severely restricted, e.g. no aerodynamic devices between the front and rear axles. Either that or ban rear wings and make the teams use the diffuser as the only means of generating rear downforce. |
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| The STIG | Aug 2 2007, 10:07 AM Post #9 |
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That wouldn't work unless you re-legalised ground effects. and having seen what happens when a ground effect car lets go, that's not a brilliant idea... (see Le Mans 97 for an example) |
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| AndyW76 | Aug 2 2007, 10:46 AM Post #10 |
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I don't know, they certainly move (spinning with the wheel) though I guess techincally they don't change areodynamic performance with the position of the car. What I am certain of is that it is illegal to have an areodynamic device on the unsprung part of the car (i.e. the suspension arms and wheel). These kinds of devices have been illegal since the 1960s. |
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| AndyW76 | Aug 2 2007, 10:47 AM Post #11 |
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Team Boss
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Zolder 1982? Hockenheim 1982? |
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| Paul_Murtagh | Aug 2 2007, 10:47 AM Post #12 |
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Chief Engineer
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Personally I would love to see rear diffusers banned or severly restricted. The cars would lose alot of downforce and it would make them very tricky to drive. |
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