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

It does seem a little dim of the FIA not to think that something that affects ride height wouldn't also affect aerodynamics, but maybe Renault "asked" only in a very vague sense. After all, as was mentioned before, basic suspension is technically moveable aero under those kind of rules, but that's hardly going to be banned.

One of the teams should ask if they can fit a V12, on account of how the extra weight will give them more grip.
 
Suspension is not part of the sprung part of the car, and the primary use is clearly not for aero advantage, so no, they do not fall under the same rules.
 
Skeeter said:
Suspension is not part of the sprung part of the car, and the primary use is clearly not for aero advantage, so no, they do not fall under the same rules.
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i just want to point out that primary/secondary/whatever effect of benefiting aero has no bearing in the rules atall. if it moves, affects aero, and is attached to the unsprung part of the car then its banned
along with the "no adjusting the suspension while its in motion" rule, from what ive read in the article above the lotus system was banned because it is the hydraulics of the braking system that affect the suspension, which affects the aero. the main parts of the hydraulics are attached to the sprung part of the car

feel free to prove me wrong on any of these points because i'll be honest i'm not 100% sure how the lotus system works, and am just going by the autosport article
 
Just one thing to correct, its the sprung part of the car, not the unsprung part. Sprung is everything supported by the suspension components (body), unsprung is stuff not supported by the suspension (wheels, brakes, etc). But either way, your right, it seems to contravene a number of the rules around adjustable suspension and moveable aero.

The primary use of something does have a bearing. Its why the suspension wishbones are allowed to be streamlined in shape. They allow them to be moulded in such a way that reduces drag because at the end of the day they are not there for aero advantage, their primary purpose is to hold the wheels on :).
 
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