Quote:
Originally Posted by rusnak
The irony is that none of the noses add any crash structure. The rules were written for added safety, and yet the crash structure is further back, where it has always been.
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The rule makers are continually trying to keep an imbalance of rear down force on these cars. Last try was regulating a large frontal square are for the front wings. Team's ended up pushing the noses very high to scoop more air under the car, and spreading the wings out as far as possible to bear nearer the tires.
The purpose of this new nose rule - is reduce rear downforce. By narrowing the side pods, more airflow is needed there for cooling as you have less radiator space, then, by lowering the nose, you create a conflict of trying to get air both under the car for front lift/rear downforce, and through the car for cooling.
Most teams, are simply trying to minimize the aerodynamic impact of the new lower nose regulation by trying to get a cross section that still produces front lift and pushes air under the car.
There are also rules on the size of the nose, and each team is pushing those rules to the minimum size they can get.