The Official 2013 F1 Thread. Spoilers possible!

[wxwax]

Ross Brawn knows driver feedback. One suspects that of all Michael Schumacher's strengths, a good working relationship with his engineers was within shouting distance of the top of the list.

Read Brawn's words about his first test with Hamilton, after Hamilton said the car had less downforce than last year's McLaren. Think Brawn's ready to retire again?

"I think we have made it very clear to Lewis that he is part of the solution. You have a choice in a team, are you the problem or are you the solution?

"He is part of the solution to get us where we want to be. He knows that and he understands that and I think he is relishing that.

"It is correct that he gives his reference points and helps us understand what we have to focus on. Some of it we knew already and that is why we restructured the aero group. I welcome that approach. It needs to positive and constructive but criticism of the right sort is helpful to a team, it drives you forward.

"He is very straightforward. In many ways he is very simple and straightforward. He tells us what he thinks and he is never short of detail in telling you what he thinks and, of course, you learn what level of detail you need to go to.

"He is interested in everything about the car. He is interested in the fact the stickers might not be put properly on the bodywork. He has got a very good eye for detail. I think he is going to be a very involved member of the team, which is what we wanted.

"He is clearly a very talented driver but Formula One is about so much more. There are a lot of highly talented drivers who don't have the rest of it, but I think he has got the rest of it as well."

[RedRocket]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

these teams are good at selling themselves

That was pretty cool. Thanks

[A. T. T-W]

Originally Posted by RedRocket

That was pretty cool. Thanks

Agreed. Great to see the effort that goes into making one small carbon-fibre component.

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by wxwax

Ross Brawn knows driver feedback. One suspects that of all Michael Schumacher's strengths, a good working relationship with his engineers was within shouting distance of the top of the list.

Read Brawn's words about his first test with Hamilton, after Hamilton said the car had less downforce than last year's McLaren. Think Brawn's ready to retire again?

Given Ross is probably the best tactician in F1, Hamilton winning him over is major. We'll see if they can build a consistent car but I'm betting they win a few races this year.

[g®eg]

be interesting to see how Merc does.
I suspect they will match last year with one win, and Hamilton will get quickly frustrated by seeing Button & Perez doing well.

in other news...



and that would be.... Rory Byrne
bodes well for the prancing horse no?

[g®eg]

good bit on passive drag reduction systems



article link HERE

[g®eg]

speaking of Lewis & Merc...

classic....

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by g®eg

and that would be.... Rory Byrne
bodes well for the prancing horse no?

I'm sure Byrne will help.

However, I think Schumi's success at Ferrari was the result of two things.

First, a team of men who were more than the sum of their parts. Call it chemistry, synergy, whatever you like, the group that Michael assembled excelled.

Second, the exclusive relationship with their tire supplier. It gave Ferrari a huge edge.

When Montezemolo fired Schumacher and all the Anglos in an attempt to take the team back for the Italians, he made a ridiculous blunder that he's been trying to fix ever since, one hire at a time.

I tend to think it will be a long time before Ferrari will assemble another team the likes of Schumacher, Todt, Brawn, Byrne et al.

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

Given Ross is probably the best tactician in F1, Hamilton winning him over is major. We'll see if they can build a consistent car but I'm betting they win a few races this year.

When I read those quotes, I didn't sense that Hamilton had won him over. The opposite, more like Hamilton was a huge pain in the ass. That's why I posted it. It's always better to hear than to read. Words like "be a part of the problem or the solution" look very passive-agressive on paper. But I could be wildly wrong, they may have sounded completely different in person.

[g®eg]

I tend to think it will be a long time before Ferrari will assemble another team the likes of Schumacher, Todt, Brawn, Byrne et al.

true dat!

and a nose comparo....

[g®eg]

a bit more on coanda

[Fajita Dave]

Originally Posted by g®eg

true dat!

and a nose comparo....

It looks like Lotus and Force India put an upside airfoil (flat on top, rounded underneath) into the nose cone to help with downforce. Oddly enough the RedBull nose cone is an airfoil that would lift the nose off the ground . I'm not really sure how all of that works since the air never really "reconnects" like it would at the trailing edge of an airplane wing.

[g®eg]

Originally Posted by Fajita Dave

It looks like Lotus and Force India put an upside airfoil (flat on top, rounded underneath) into the nose cone to help with downforce. Oddly enough the RedBull nose cone is an airfoil that would lift the nose off the ground . I'm not really sure how all of that works since the air never really "reconnects" like it would at the trailing edge of an airplane wing.

the theory on the pelican nose:

The Pelican nose is used to alter the flow characteristics under the nose when combining with the turning vanes the two condition the airflow to the Sidepods and Bargeboards more effectively.

who knows if it works....
I guess it'd be a safe bet to say "if Newey isn't doing it then it can't be good".. but that would be like quitting before the race

[Codewheeney]

Originally Posted by g®eg

a bit more on coanda

That was fantastic, makes me miss Engineering School.

I did some looking, and I can't seem to find out if Vortex Generators are legal in F1 (other than references to the barge boards). I wonder if they'd help keep the exhaust flow attached to the body work? Is the Coanda affect more efficient?

JC

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by g®eg

a bit more on coanda

Fascinating. I'd thought the coanda was all about the bumps. I hadn't realized that the exhaust cutout was the true source of it, nor that those flat plates were to stop side air from disturbing the flow.