2012 Ferrari F1

[BReif61]

Could someone enlighten me on the advantage of the stepped nose? My first gut instinct would be that a smooth nose would be the best, unless maybe that step deflects the air up and over the drivers helmet?

[rusnak]

Formula 1

[Reg]

Well in this case I hope these guys are not at the back for making a nicer looking car.

[rusnak]

McLaren's front chassis seems to be a lot lower, which is why the nose is not stepped. IMO, the action is at the rear. If the rear floor and exhaust are deemed legal, then McLaren have got a great starting design to recapture downforce. Maybe they'll add the front pod extensions that Ferrari have.

[svandamme]

So this is a safety thing, for Tboning?
i thought that risk was fixed with carbon fiber monocoques
Didn't they have mandatory destrutive tests each year, just for that?

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Formula 1

Thanks for the link. Definitely looks like Mercedes did a better job of pulling it off, aesthetically at least.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by svandamme

So this is a safety thing, for Tboning?
i thought that risk was fixed with carbon fiber monocoques
Didn't they have mandatory destrutive tests each year, just for that?

A few years ago a side intrusion panel was introduced to reduce the risk of cockpit penetration in a side impact with another cars nose or rear crash structure.

The reason the nose has been lowered was the current trend of going with a high nose there was a danger the nose would be very close to the going over the top of the cokpit opening which would increase the chances of hitting a driver in the head.

This explains the new nose regulations quite well http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/2012-nose-height-regulations/

For aero reasons there is a huge drive to increase the free volume under the chassis front to help smooth out the air flow to the radiator ducts and floor. As aero has the biggest effect on car performance everything else must take 2nd priority.

The downside of a high nose is you have just increased the centre of gravity of the car at the front which when you include the weight of the chassis, inboard suspension, pedals and drivers legs can be around 40kg. I guess McLaren think the C of G change would cancel out the aero gains so have gone for a low nose.

In F1 form follows function as car performance is everything.

[herr_oberst]

F1 cars have been hideous for a long, long time.
Having said that, the Ferrari destroys the notion that Italians make the best designers.

[rusnak]

McLaren now say that parts of their 2012 challenger were plastic mock-ups in order to hide the real detail changes, which wont be seen until Jerez and Australia.

[Deschodt]

They are all like that.... Caterham, Renault (sorry, Lotus), Force india (might not even make the grid as they owe money to everyone), Ferrari, Red Bull, Sauber, Toro rosso...
Kind of amazing all the designers went the same way, if you think about it... I am thinking "duck billed platypus."

Only exception is McLaren, thank god, and we haven't seen the williams yet !

PS: There is hope the McLaren will remain good looking... This stupid looking step nose is the result of new lower nose height regs and aerodynamics, and possibly the need for the drivers to "see" that fugly giant front wing too. Macca already had a lower nose last year so maybe they are integrating this nice slope into the Aero package differently... The only car to ever pull off a step nose, IMO, is the Alfa GT ;-)

[MarkRobinson]

I wouldn't believe Ferrari involved Pinanfarina in it's F1 aesthetic design.

[tchanson]

Tim

[rusnak]

I think the stepped nose is not too bad, and probably is the most efficient (high nose) option, given the step, which preserves air flow over the top of the car. McLaren's design is looking more wing-like to me, which would increase drag and lift. I think they'll have to go with a stepped nose too.

Newey's design doesn't look too bad. Much better than Ferrari's.

[motion]

Do not like!!!

[Reg]

The JR Red Bull (STR) looks better in some way. Must be the color as it is darker. Sauber sure needs some sponsors to fill out the car.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by TimT

Form follows function.

More like; this form follows the twisted and convoluted rule book.

[rusnak]

It will be hard to say until Jerez, but I think McLaren might have made another turkey.

Some others:

[tchanson]

New Williams:





Tim

[KNS]

Makes me glad I stopped watching F1

[enzo1]