F1 2009 Season discussion/development thread
- Thread starter Duke
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Diffuser row will be an interesting one.
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37275
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37275
The diffuser alters the speed of air flowing from underneath the car to increase downforce. A few teams are sore at Williams, Toyota and Brawn because they appear to have found a way to increase the size of their diffusers without coming up against the brick wall of the regulations.
Have a look at the Toyota and McLaren diffusers. That should give you an idea what a diffuser is and what the difference in the two rule interpretations are.
Basically, the rule was that you couldn't have a diffuser higher than (IIRC) 120mm, but Brawn, Toyota and Williams have dodged this rule by using a different piece of bodywork to effectively create a bigger diffuser. Personally, I think what they've done should probably be illegal since it deliberately subverts the rule; however, I don't think they should be penalised for racing with it (since the FIA didn't draft the rules sufficiently clearly) but instead just told to bring a new design after Malaysia.
(edit) Got the details of the rule wrong - see here.
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My plan:
Friday First Practice 1:25-3:05.
Sat Qualiflying 5:00-7:15
Sunday Race 6:00-9:00
Then Race to Brands Hatch for Truck racing. Going to be alittle tired Sunday night
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Basically the boffins at Brawn, Toyota and Williams have done a better job with the diffuser rules (not technically illegal) so good on them
yup this is the thing, f1 design is about interpreting the rules and making the best design out of it. The other teams didn't come up with this idea, so want it banned/rules changed. Its how F1 works
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You can bet the other teams are currently working on a diffuser just like the one they say is illegal just in case
Yup, and you can bet the teams running the questionable diffusers have a backup plan.
Indeed, it's just another in a long line of these...yup this is the thing, f1 design is about interpreting the rules and making the best design out of it. The other teams didn't come up with this idea, so want it banned/rules changed. Its how F1 works
- Renault's original turbo engine
- Brabham's variable ride height to get round the sliding skirts ban
- All the Cossie team's water cooled brakes to get round the minimum weight rule
- 96 Jordan's low cockpit head protection by measuring from the back of the roll hoop rather than the front
The scary thing is I'm struggling to think of anything more modern that's been designed by one team and then picked up by all the others rather than being banned - the wheel disk things I suppose could fall into this but they're not as radical or controversial as some of the above.
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yup this is the thing, f1 design is about interpreting the rules and making the best design out of it. The other teams didn't come up with this idea, so want it banned/rules changed. Its how F1 works
Other teams being Ferrari! If Ferrari had the questionable diffuser then you bet it wouldn't have been banned.
I'd forgotten why I wasn't going to post in this thread again. You just reminded me.
Yeah I can't think of anything 'radical' but several general aero bits have cropped up:
- Sharkfin tail on engine cover
- Horns by air intake to engine
- Upper deck 'over the nose' on front wing
Ones banned:
- Ferrari's underfloor thing
- Honda's dodgy oil/fuel weight
- Renaults Mass Damper?
- McLaren 'additional' braking pedal
I was wondering how long it would take for a comment to bring you back
Actually, I 'came back' to answer a question about what diffusers are.
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As been said before FIA and the stewards decisions last year were all over the place. It got to the point where FIA were running a coordinated campaign in order to re-establish its credibility as governing body and prove it wasnt Ferrari bias. I mean look into current affairs.. Italian politics/football league is corrupt as it gets, are we saying Ferrari large involvement with F1 wont get influenced by some dodgy characters!? Anyways wont go on about it, im sure its been said all before. Just hope it all stay clean and wont lead into serious corruption allegations for this years season, but you know i get the feeling it'll be a difficult season for FIA and this diffuser argument is just the start!
Bring on next weekend!
Bring on next weekend!
