[007MCoupe]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

As a study of aerodynamics, I really dont get these noses. Id love to see the CFD data on these things to figure out what they actually accomplish. I just see loads of drag

THIS!!! I've been thinking this the whole time!!

[gary88]

Neat comparison between the two extremes of noses.

[STIto335]

Originally Posted by 007MCoupe

That RB8 'toaster slot'...I bet it directs air down onto the wing attached to the underside of the corner to get even more downforce on the front end somehow. By far the best looking step-nose out right now.

I hope McLaren stick with the smooth nose!

I really hope your not a betting man.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by 007MCoupe

THIS!!! I've been thinking this the whole time!!

and obviously the step does some bad things aerodynamically. If it didnt than red bull wouldnt have the nostril to reduce the extreme in the step. You can also see the other teams curving the nose around that point to smooth out the airflow.


It may not account for much. But in a sport where 2kg can mean a win or a lose its a glaring fault in the design to me.

[STALKER]

When did Ferrari switch from BBS to OZ wheels?

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by STALKER

When did Ferrari switch from BBS to OZ wheels?

Good eye, didn't even notice that.

That would be new this year, they ran BBS last year.

[E90SLAM]

Wow!!! Didn't noticed the BBS are gone either!!! Great eye STALKER!!!

I am sad now, given I'm a BBS whore...

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by E90SLAM

Wow!!! Didn't noticed the BBS are gone either!!! Great eye STALKER!!!

I am sad now, given I'm a BBS whore...

Yeah strange, it looks like most of the top teams are now OZ.

McLaren still running Enkei's.

[raisemyrent]

I said this last winter break and now I can officially say it again: I dreamed that Formula 1 was back on!

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by 007MCoupe

THIS!!! I've been thinking this the whole time!!

I thought nose part was primarily designed with two things in mind? One for directing smooth sailing of the wind throughout the whole car(how wind travels throughout the car is the key, not how it impacts at first) and second for the downforce?

[abisson]

So why does every team has the same type of nose, aside from McLaren?

And in general, how does this idea get transmitted to every team? One must have the idea and then what.. it is copied?

[STALKER]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Good eye, didn't even notice that.

That would be new this year, they ran BBS last year.

Originally Posted by E90SLAM

Wow!!! Didn't noticed the BBS are gone either!!! Great eye STALKER!!!

I am sad now, given I'm a BBS whore...

It was not too hard to spot, especially since for the last years they wheels had the built in brake cooling vanes.
Guess they wanted to show Italian pride, since OZ is an Italian company.

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by STALKER

It was not too hard to spot, especially since for the last years they wheels had the built in brake cooling vanes.
Guess they wanted to show Italian pride, since OZ is an Italian company.

True, but the step-nose was catching the attention...

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by abisson

So why does every team has the same type of nose, aside from McLaren?

And in general, how does this idea get transmitted to every team? One must have the idea and then what.. it is copied?

I was wondering this myself. I find it absolutely fascinating that there is a single set of parameters that goes out and each year the cars and up looking almost completely identical, despite the shroud of secrecy. Don't they feel weird when they work sooo hard to keep their ideas a secret only to arrive at day 1 of practice to see every other car looking exactly like their own?

[UltimateBMW]

Taking the typical 2011 spec'd car, and applying the new rule ends up with a picture like this. It's really not too surprising to me they all look similar in this area.

[gary88]

Short video of the new Mercedes, has the stepped nose.

[M3_WC]

^
Someone needs to get a zoom lens.

[007MCoupe]

Originally Posted by STIto335

I really hope your not a betting man.

LOL why is that? I said I HOPED they kept it. I mean even if it's for one race just to see who got it (more) right. (if that's what you were even referring to...)

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

and obviously the step does some bad things aerodynamically. If it didnt than red bull wouldnt have the nostril to reduce the extreme in the step. You can also see the other teams curving the nose around that point to smooth out the airflow.


It may not account for much. But in a sport where 2kg can mean a win or a lose its a glaring fault in the design to me.

YEah I'm in no way anywhere close to being knowledgable on everything downforce, it jsut seems that having that nose way up like that (on the ferrari) would create drag.

Like how Red Bull sloped their nose down in the front, Ferrari's got theirs just sticking up, and that step with the number looks like even more drag-material! IDK, they get paid the big bucks to engineer these things, but to me it seems counter-productive to have the step so sharp with a blunt face like that.

[007MCoupe]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

Taking the typical 2011 spec'd car, and applying the new rule ends up with a picture like this. It's really not too surprising to me they all look similar in this area.

And this is where I'm a little fuzzy on the rules...Why couldn't the teams just follow that horizontal dotted line and just bypass the step altogether?? McLaren did it (for how long is a different story...).

[007MCoupe]

I might've missed it, but does anyone have torrents or anywhere to watch the practice sessions? I need my fix! lol

[gary88]

Vipbox usually streams them live, sometimes they won't have english though.

Also speed streams it live on their site in HD with no commentary, just engine sounds and team radio. Sometimes nice to just watch that with live timing on the side.

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by 007MCoupe

And this is where I'm a little fuzzy on the rules...Why couldn't the teams just follow that horizontal dotted line and just bypass the step altogether?? McLaren did it (for how long is a different story...).

There are a few things I'd like to point out that might help some of what you are saying. First of all, F1 cars are heavy downforce and downforce = drag. So adding drag isn't a big deal if you are getting downforce from it. Though they do try to optimize.

Secondly, the purpose for the high front nose is to keep the air below it clean for the rest of the body work. Thusly, they put the nose as high as they can to basically get it out of the way. They also house the front suspension, steering rack, and internal reservoirs in the nose. So these components all take a certain amount of space. Think of it as, the top of the nose is so high because they need the bottom of the nose to allow a certain area of clearance.