This drawing shows Mercedes clever 'double DRS' system in its entirety. Air is sucked into holes in the rear wing endplates (left inset) which are exposed when the DRS system is activated. Using similar channelling (highlighted in yellow on car profile) - but in reverse - to that utilised two...»
Following new rule restrictions, exhaust positioning has taken centre stage in the build-up to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. At the opening winter test in Jerez, Ferrari chose to send the hot exhaust air in a wide and low direction towards the rear of the car (main image, yellow arrows),...»
Following an FIA clampdown designed to eliminate blown diffusers, teams have had to rethink exhaust positioning this year. Sauber's solution sees the hot exhaust air directed in a wide and low direction towards the rear of the car (yellow arrows), between the tyres and the diffuser. It relies on the...»
After an FIA crackdown forced teams to reconsider how they position their exhaust exits, Red Bull initially placed the RB8's quite far back so the air was efficiently directed towards the beam wing and centre of the car. But, at the final pre-season test, designer Adrian Newey surprised everybody...»
With the FIA placing tight restrictions on exhaust-exit positioning for 2012 in a bid to eliminate blown diffusers, teams' solutions in this area and how those solutions influence their cars' aerodynamic set-ups is already a real talking point of the new Formula One season. McLaren's engineers have...»
Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey has seemingly designed the RB8's rear suspension so it can be aerodynamically influenced by the air flowing from the newly-positioned exhaust exits (see yellow arrows). All the suspension's components (red arrows) - even the driveshaft - feature...»
It's been 11 years since pull-rod front suspension has been used in Formula One racing. Back then it was the Gabriele Tredozi-designed 2001 Minardi. This season it's the 2012-spec Ferrari. Interestingly, both then and now one of the drivers at the wheel is Fernando Alonso. This drawing compares the...»
Like Sauber, Red Bull have seemingly been inspired by the 2008-spec Ferrari, which featured a vent on its chassis to improve aero balance. In line with current FIA regulations (holes in the nose's lower section were outlawed after 2008), Sauber's solution appears on the top of the C31's chassis,...»
McLaren is the only team thus far not to choose a stepped nose for their 2012 car, with the British squad opting to keep the whole front end of their chassis lower to comply with the new regulations on nose height. In contrast, Ferrari have increased the height of the F2012's chassis to 625mm above...»
For 2012 McLaren have radically changed the shape of their sidepods. The unique L-shaped design of last year's MP4-26, which split the airflow (see blue arrows), has gone. In its place is a horizontal, square shaped solution (see main drawing), reminiscent of that introduced by the team at...»
In Jerez Sauber evaluated a chassis vent similar in style to the one Ferrari used on the F2008's nosecone back in 2008. At the time it was a significant innovation, allowing airflow from under the car to pass to the top of the chassis to improve the car's overall aero balance. But the solution was...»
In order to optimise airflow under the car, Ferrari are now exploiting the maximum permitted chassis height of 625mm (10), hence the F2012's nose (1) is actually higher than that of its predecessor, the 150° Italia, even with the much-talked-about step. The wing pillars (2) are very wide and similar...»
The new Ferrari is so radically different to its predecessor that it represents a completely fresh start for the Scuderia in terms of the fundamental parameters of the car's layout. The wheelbase is at least 8cm longer and there is now pull-rod suspension at the rear. Introduced by Red Bull back in...»
As this artist's impression from renowned technical illustrator Giorgio Piola shows, the 2012 Ferrari is expected to bear very little resemblance to its predecessors and appears to be the first of a new generation from Maranello. In line with recent trends, the rear suspension is now a pull-rod...»
In order to increase safety, for 2012 the FIA has decided to lower the height of the car's front section, primarily to lessen the chance of one's car's nose intruding into the cockpit of another in the event of a side-on collision. As can be seen in this diagram, the height of the chassis...»
For 2012 the FIA has effectively banned blown diffusers by placing new restrictions on the positioning of exhaust exits. These can no longer be on the floor immediately ahead of the diffuser (red cross), but must instead be further forward and higher (black arrow). Furthermore, as seen here the...»
As part of moves to outlaw blown diffusers, the FIA has imposed new restrictions on the positioning of exhaust exits for 2012. There can only be one exit on each side of the car and it must fall within the yellow dotted line shown here. In practice this is a box 700mm long (between 500mm and 1200mm...»
As part of moves to outlaw blown diffusers, the FIA has imposed new restrictions on the positioning of exhaust exits for 2012. There can only be one exit on each side of the car and from an overhead perspective it must fall within the yellow dotted line shown here. In practice this is a box 700mm...»
The new restrictions on exhaust exit positioning for 2012 are likely to lead to much simpler exhaust systems relative to 2011, as highlighted here. The lower exits positioned on the floor are no longer allowed (lower half of drawing). Instead the exits must be located within a smaller, strictly...»
Last November at the young driver test in Abu Dhabi, Lotus (then Renault) evaluated this reactive ride-height suspension system. It's designed to help the car maintain a constant ride height under braking, which should boost stability and hence aerodynamic performance. An obstacle could have been...»
