Lotus's new ride height adjustment system deemed legal by the FIA

May not be legal any more. Sounds like the FIA have banned it.
Just following all the comments on twitter. Official announcement should be anytime now.

So... it lasted 10 days. :D
 
Dont generally post thtis time of year but, **** me that opens up a whole can of worms with regrads to what is deemed moveable.
 
Glaucus said:
Oh god, why ban it.
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Why be in contact with the team for as long as a year discussing the system, give it the thumbs up and then suddenly decided to change their mind and ban it :confused: What a complete waste of time, effort & money for Lotus & anyone else who has ventured down that avenue.
 
Skeeter said:
Ferrari's flappy front wing passed all the tests, so yes, it was fine.
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The really clever parts are well within the test regulations but still movable. Then it takes the FIA to step in and do one of their regular about faces to say "hold up.. we actually think this is movable and therefore illegal".
 
Lotus' original details were around stability under braking. If the FIA have since been provided with enough evidence for them to conclude that the primary function of such a device is instead to affect aero through the use of moveable devices, then it makes sense for them to ban it.

Also, I would not be at all surprised to find that the FIA had seen enough plans from enough teams to think that this opens up the potential for another mid season screw up trying to change the rules, so instead decided to nip it in the bud before the season began.

Also, those asking about how this can be moveable aero, the regulations are not just about actual aero bits moving (wings, etc) but about the movement of any device affecting the aero. It's why the F ducts required the drivers leg or hand to cover holes, as any moveable flap would be deemed illegal, and also how the off throttle maps were (for one race at least) banned by including the moveable parts of the engine as part of the proccess that produced the exhaust gas that affected rear aero.

It's not a ban on movable aero bits, its a ban on anything moving that in turn effects aero. The definitions are different, and its how the Renault mass damper or this adjustable ride height system can be included under that regulation.
 
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With a conventional setup you brake, compliance in the suspension allows the nose to dip, this affects the aero yet this is not considered a moveable aerodynamic device and it's allowed.

With this system you brake, the system reacts to prevent the nose dipping and yet somehow this is considered a moveable aerodynamic device and is banned.

Truly laughable. It'd almost be worth Lotus asking the FIA to clarify how suspension is considered legal just to watch the FIA squirm their way out of it.
 
Skeeter said:
Ferrari's flappy front wing passed all the tests, so yes, it was fine.
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Not quite what I was on about.

A component that doesn't see airflow and doesn't change shape depending on speed, is moveable aero.

But a component that does see a lot of airflow and changes shape as the speed changes, isn't moveable aero.

Forget the flexible wing rules, how is that at all sensible?
 
*sigh*

Once again the issue is people not understanding the regulations.

This is the section on Aerodynamics from the 2012 FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations:

3.15 Aerodynamic influence :
With the exception of the driver adjustable bodywork described in Article 3.18 (in addition to
minimal parts solely associated with its actuation) and the ducts described in Article 11.4, any
specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance :
* ‐* Must comply with the rules relating to bodywork.
* ‐* Must be rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car (rigidly secured means not
having any degree of freedom).
* ‐* Must remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car
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A damper attached to the sprung part of the car that moves in relation to the sprung part of the car and is deemed to affect the aerodynamic performance of the car is illegal.

Its as simple as that.
 
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