The FIA is the governing body for several racing series, including F1.

 

Balance change key to 'illegal' Ferrari wings.




Ferrari's front wing is under investigation by the FIA, after TV pictures suggested that it contravenes the rules outlawing movable aerodynamic devices.

On-board pictures seen on the German Premiere satellite channel, but not the worldwide feed, apparently showed the upper elements moving sideways after retaining pins came out of their holes under load. Several teams were alerted to the story by people watching in Europe, and have made their feelings known to the FIA.

Rivals says that the role of Ferrari's suspect front wings is to balance the car between high and low speed corners, and not apparently to do with reducing drag and improving straightline efficiency.

In fact, what happens is that as the main front wing flexes downwards - as all wings do under load - a pin attaching the upper elements to the nose slides out of position. This creates a gap between the elements and the nose which allows a flow-through of air that would not otherwise occur.


http://www.crash.net/news_view.asp?cid=1&id=126901


Ferrari: We'll bring new wings to Melbourne.





Ferrari has agreed to bring modified front and rear wings to the Australian Grand Prix after a bust-up with rival teams on Sunday morning in Malaysia.

Eight teams â€" everyone except Ferrari allies Red Bull and Toro Rosso â€" presented a unprecedented letter to the FIA indicating their disquiet, and threatening a protest after the race. During the day, Charlie Whiting met with the teams and discussed their concerns. He also had contact with Ferrari.

As reported earlier, Ross Brawn met with Pat Symonds, Martin Whitmarsh and Geoff Willis to discuss the situation. We can now reveal that, while Brawn initially refused to concede that there was a problem with Ferrari's interpretation, after Jean Todt joined the meeting, a compromise was reached. Brawn reportedly had a dossier of information on wing behaviour on other cars.

Ferrari has now given its assurance to the teams and the FIA that it will bring revised wings to the next race in Australia.

 

I for one am seriously enjoying the new qualifying format but can't wait until the European season starts - I'm exhausted that early in the morning.

On a different note, did anyone catch the 12 hours of Sebring this weekend - there was some incredible action right down to the last corner in GT1 where Aston-Martin was battling with the second Corvette. Brilliant stuff!

 

ncdave - qualifying has changed for the better... As I've stated many times, I still like the 1 hr sessions though...

markldriskill - I've sorry that you don't like F1. It's a great sport. I do agree with you that the DTM and the British and German touring car series are great. If you want to see some good racing, passing and such, check out the Speed World Touring Series. That's a great series. I won't get into the whole F1 VS NASCAR debate though...

 

The Ferrari wing controversy is about the only interesting thing from the Malaysian GP. Alonso had his customary great start, and Kimi had his customary travails, and everyone else pretty well just fell into place.

I'm not sure what Ferrari would be gaining from the front wings pulling a few millimeters away from the nose of the car, but I am sure the wings wouldn't be moving if there weren't some advantage to be gained. Why on earth would they put such a device in place when they had to know it would be in clear view of the television camera?!

On another note, anyone wondering about what attracts me to F1 need only watch the cars through the esses at Suzuka or the twisty sections of Sepang this morning to see that these are extraordinary machines. Not all the action on a race track involves one driver passing another. To me, it is more exciting to see F1 cars pushed to the limit than any other form of motorsport, passing or no passing.

 

I thought it was a good race not as good as Bahrain

Those Renault still blast off from the standing start

Engines blowing up everywhere

As for the Ferrari wing, don't the other teams have wings with upper elements that extend from outer to the nose but do not connect to the nose? I think the Ferrari just happens to touch the nose and the others do not so this flexing is more noticable. Anyway, whatever, they're bringing new wings to Australia I guess

 

Amen, brother

 

I was skeptical about the new qualifying format but, in general, I like it. More interesting to watch and it removes the artifice of having to determine the order of qualifying. I didn't like them determining qualifying order from the results of the previous race because one bad race result would mean going out early for qualifying in the next race and would usually lead to a second bad race.

What I don't like about the new format is that the details of the rules are extremely complicated. For instance, the top ten qualifiers have to start the race on their qualifying fuel load but the rest don't, which means that it's probably better to qualify eleventh than 10th. And then they have that 110% rule during the last session so that laps a driver does at less than 110% his quickest time don't count in the calculation when they put back the fuel used in qualifying.

Mark

 

It wouldn't be Formula one if there werent so many rules and complications.

Geesh! I think that the drivers can't even fart unless it is the third day that ends in aie on the fifth phase of the moon and only if Bernie says that they can!

 

I'm sure there are plenty of you out there wondering the same thing I am; is Renault using some type of launch control? There has to be a technical explanation for their clear performance advantage. Thing is, Renault has had these super starts consistently. Ever since the FIA banned launch control, no other team has matched their run to the first corner. Ferrari and a couple other teams have their dubious wings, but there is a lot of argument as to what clear advantage their getting from running such designs. There is NO doubt in anyone's mind that a warp speed start allowing a driver to jump 5 places on the grid coming into the first corner is a CLEAR performance advantage. If they have a legal explanation, that's all fine and dandy and I'll congratulate them on their ability to drive off the line like a top fuel dragster.

Cheers,

J

 

Being a relative newbie to F1, can you (J) or someone else explain what kind of launch control you are talking about?

I'm pretty happy with where F1 is now in terms of rules except the 2 race engine rule. I think that rule really takes the fun out of it for the fans especially in qualifying where, if the teams didn't have to run for two races, they could go all out in qualifying instead of conserving their lumps.

 

STLMINI:

I sent you a private message with an explanation. As for the rules, expect a lot of change in the next couple of years. By June of this year, the teams will have to submit their engine designs to the FIA for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 seasons. That one design will be their ONLY design. There's more; although the one engine rule per every 2 GP's will remain, the teams will also have to keep the same gear box for 4 GP weekends! Any team who has to make an engine or gearbox change will suffer a 15kg weight penalty instead of the 10 grid position penalty we see now.

However, the biggest , most controversial change in the regulations will no doubt be the decision to use one (1) tyre manufacturer.

The purpose of most of these changes is to control the incredible costs associated with Formula 1. But can they enforce these cost controls without killing some of the sports spectacle? I guess we'll just have to see.

 

not crazy about the engine rule and certainly not excited about the upcoming gearbox reg. this year's revsions are such an improvement over the competition stifling tire regs of last season.

this is supposed to be the world driver's championship . . . and I'd prefer to see the drivers not restricted by overly zealous restrictions.

re: Renault Launch control?

I just think Alonso . . . as Trulli . . . is consistently one of the best off the line. in regard to Sepang . . . I think Fisico truly had the bit between his teeth and wanted that win.

 

Steve Matchett (sp?) has explained Renault's system a few times on Speed telecasts. I think it involves pre-loading the clutch. I have no idea what that means, but it certainly works. The biggest mystery is why the other top teams haven't been able to duplicate it.

 

I can see the logic in making the transmissions last longer. This means that the gears will have to be stronger as well as with the gearboxes. This would normally mean heavier and thus slower.

But the teams will find a way to make them out of EXPESIVETANIUM and PRICY COMPOSITES.

What they need to do is to put a freeze on materials.

Formula 1 has put limits on tire technology limiting rim size as to limit contact patch. They even mandated the stupid grooved dry tires. They could mandate cast Iron blocks, heads and transmission housings.

 

bee1000n: I too have heard that explanation on Speed but seriously, it's been way too long since they've had that specific advantage over the other teams. In F1, advantages like that typically don't last well over a season.

DrDiff: As far as cost cutting is concerned, you're right. If they freeze certain materials, as they have with certain engine components made out of beryllium alloys and such, they can effectively cut down SOME of the costs. But if they go down that road, we must ask "How dumbed down does the sport need to get?". Keep in mind, this is the pinnacle of motor racing on four wheels.

I might be crazy, but I think if they left F1 alone for a while, the economics of the sport would sort itself out. While teams are willing to spend the money, let them have at it. One thing is for sure, just because you have the wallet doesn't mean you're gonna win. Take a look at Toyota.

One positive rule change is this one: starting in 2008, there will no longer be the mandatory $48 million deposit for new teams. Instead, it will be a "meager" 300,000 Euro buy in fee. This will make it a bit easier for smaller teams to join I should say.

 

Methinks the biggest point of contention with upcoming rules is the FIA's proposal to use a common ECU for all the engines. Not only would auto-delete programing for launch control (sorry Renault the truth is told) be a thing of the past, but so would each and every manufacturer's ability to invest untold millions in programing (R&D for the production automobile??!!- nice try boys). Really except for the Ferrari paddle shift manumatic (now the fav' of poseurs and boy racers in their Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes, BMW and in its only really civilized form Audi's DSG) and maybe a tire upgrade or two, I haven't seen too much F1 technology trickle down to the hoi poloi of late.

 

Launch control or not . . .

whatever. I just don't think that anyone can categorically claim that Renault has been getting off the line quicker stricty due to whatever technical advantage. I'll be very interested to see how many drivers Alonso beats off the line next year.

My point is this. Lauda's Ferrari was superior to Hunt's McLaren at Paul Ricard in '76. Lauda out-dragged Hunt into turn one. Sure, the Ferrari's power helped, but it still required the driver's ability to dump the clutch without too much wheelspin and deftness climbing through the gears.

It's great to acknowledge that Renault may have achieved a technical advantage, but hopefully not at the expense of giving credit where it's due.

 

I agree. The penalty for having an engine blow up during the weekend should be--having the engine blow up! That's bad enough without the artificial 10 place grid penalty. I also have to think that it must be hugely expensive for the engine manufacturers to try to produce engines that'll last for two race weekends. I bet that, as opposed to building multiple engines, saves little or no money.

I'm also not a fan of this year's very restrictive engine technical regulations. Things like the vee angle, the height of the center of mass, and the cylinder spacing are mandated by the rules. I'd rather see more freedom for technical creativity.

Mark

 

Geez . . . what is Ecclestone up to now? Are we really going to lose Suzuka?

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.a...35373&PO=35373

 

I may not totally agree with them but there seems to be a ton of hillbillys here in the states who see the pinicale of motor racing on four wheels as 1950 chassis and engine technology. That is very dumbed down racing!

IMHO the FIA could help by mandating a spec for each gear in the tranny to be 2 inches wide. This would physically enlarge the transmission and mandate specific aluminum aloy for the case construction. This woud add wight and slow the cars down. It would also mean a stronger tranny that lasted longer. Heck if they were that wide, they might even have the tranny last a half a season!

Also do away with hydraulically actuated valves and make them put twin cams back in the heads. That would slow the engines/cars down with out dumbing them down too much. I doubt we could ever get a stick shift (H-pattern or smg) back in the cars. Honestly we do not need to rev to 20K RPMS to put on a great show. They might not sound the same but the FIA doesn't give a hoot what they sound like. IF they did they would never have went from a V10 to V8's I would also take the opportunity to put a rev limiter into the cars that would cut the power when the engines hit a specific RPM.

Another thing I have constantly preached would be to eliminate all the winglets on the body and go to a single element wing on both the front and rear. I would allow an interchangable wickerbill on the trailing edge of both the front and rear wings. but one element only.

I would not mind a Japan GP at Fuji and a Pacific GP at Suzuka!

 

Neither would I, provided that Suzuka remains.

I took the article to suggest the move to Fuji was not contingent upon the Pacific event.

Either way . . . I freaked!

 

Lovin' this Melbourne Quali . . . !

Good stuff.

 

Indeed...congrats to master Button.

Should be a great race tonight!

 

Renault va le faire encore une fois !