Korean Grand Prix 2011, Yeongam Circuit - Race 16/19

3dcandy · 19 Oct 2011 at 12:24

it's a rich country's game these days....I honestly expect there to be a reduction in GP's over the next few years because the costs are just too high

NathanE · 19 Oct 2011 at 12:34

So apparently Mercedes have been testing out a new F-duct concept on their front wing. It is linked to the steering wheel column which activates and deactivates the aero fluidic switch.

Skeeter · 19 Oct 2011 at 12:37

If there are moving mechanical bits, I can see the FIA pulling the 'moveable aerodynamics' card.

NathanE · 19 Oct 2011 at 12:43

I think the steering wheel column concept is just one guys idea of how it could be working.

Another idea I heard is that the throttle pedal, when fully depressed, covers a hole that activates the aero switch. But I think that is less likely as it would surely hurt performance through corners that can be taken flat. Maybe there is some extra dead travel at the end of the pedal though.

Skeeter · 19 Oct 2011 at 13:04

Article 3.15 of the 2011 regulations state:

With the exception of the parts necessary for the adjustment described in Article 3.18, any car system,
device or procedure which uses, or is suspected of using, driver movement as a means of altering the
aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited

3.18 defines the DRS.

So, providing this is carried into the 2012 regulations, I can't see any device that uses any sort of switch or opening or closing of vents being allowed. The only way it would be allowed is if it was passive, with the airflow dictated by speed alone.

GravyMonster · 19 Oct 2011 at 13:11

Is there any vague wording in 3.18 about the DRS which could mean the mechanism could be added to to include stalling/opening the front wing too?

Duke · 19 Oct 2011 at 13:13

That steering wheel hole is ingenious.

Guerrilla · 19 Oct 2011 at 13:18

Duke said:
That steering wheel hole is ingenious.

Yea it is, very impressive, even if it turns out that it isn't what Mercedes are using.

GravyMonster · 19 Oct 2011 at 13:42

@ScarbsF1 said:
Whether the system is steering or G force operated, it alters the aero, so is a moveable aero device and thus illegal in F1

Illegal it is then.

Skeeter · 19 Oct 2011 at 14:13

Spunkey said:
Is there any vague wording in 3.18 about the DRS which could mean the mechanism could be added to to include stalling/opening the front wing too?

No. 3.18 explicitly defines the shape, size and position of the DRS wing in relation to the rear of the car.

This is not to say the Merc idea isn't a good one. They would just have to make sure that the advantage gained in straight line speed would offset any disadvantage from lower downforce in high speed corners. I imagine it would work well at places like Valencia and Singapore where there are no high speed corners, but lots of fast straights.

Zuban · 19 Oct 2011 at 15:26

I read the merc front wing idea is about feeding more air to the underbody/diffuser not stalling the front wing.

here is the link
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95526

freebooter · 19 Oct 2011 at 15:41

Back to the Hamilton speculation. Was this article in the Independent mentioned here? It reports a major falling out between Lewis and Mclaren.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/hitandmiss-hamilton-on-crash-course-2371347.html

Skeeter · 19 Oct 2011 at 16:01

freebooter said:
Back to the Hamilton speculation. Was this article in the Independent mentioned here? It reports a major falling out between Lewis and Mclaren.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/hitandmiss-hamilton-on-crash-course-2371347.html

Was this before of after his supposedly split with his girlfriend?

arknor · 19 Oct 2011 at 16:55

Spunkey said:
Illegal it is then.

it wont be using the steering wheel....mercedes DRS was a passive system unlike everyone else nico and msc werent covering any hole.. as i said its why they had a lot of issues with downforce loss in corners at the start of that season while they were tweaking it.

theres also some pictures of mercedes suspension floating around and its very impressive
Mercedes: Innovative Linked Rear Suspension

scarbs already has an article covering it http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/mercedes-innovative-linked-rear-suspension/

GravyMonster · 19 Oct 2011 at 17:03

arknor said:
it wont be using the steering wheel...

I know the Mercedes system is passive and therefore legal, the Scarbs tweet was in reference to the video with the Fduct/steering input system, which would be seen as a movable aero device, and therefore illegal.

CaptainRAVE · 19 Oct 2011 at 17:03

Duke said:
That steering wheel hole is ingenious.

Absolutely, as said before, some of these things blow my mind. So, so clever.

Glaucus · 19 Oct 2011 at 17:59

Dukes been doing a fantastic job and I think it's time for me to stand down. My work life means I cant do the threads properly as I'm lodging away so often and a tablet isn't the right tool for the job. Working away for the next two races and next year is only going to get worse as we start working in the midlands and east coast. Still got plenty of time to kill on the forums though, so I'm not going anywhere. Hopefully duke will want to carry on his fantastic work.

TaKeN · 19 Oct 2011 at 18:05

Thanks for all the hard work you've put into the threads over the years Acid, you've done a cracking job every time

CaptainRAVE · 19 Oct 2011 at 18:12

Thanks for doing all this Acid, you have made some excellent threads here. Look forward to seeing what Duke does with them in future (no pressure)

Shimmy · 19 Oct 2011 at 18:14

Aye thanks for the all the effort you've put into these threads AH2, it's a high benchmark which we've all become accustomed to. Good to hear you'll still be around to have some in put too.

Duke's been doing a great job in the mean time, hopefully he'll be around to carry it on.