When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
It's remarkable to see how many visual differences there are from season to season; much different than the spec aerodynamic series like NASCAR and Indycar.
And so the mystery continues: which approach is going to be best? I was really surprised to see the difference between Mercedes and the rest of the field .re guiding airflow inboard or outboard the front wheels.
Can you imagine how much has changed on the interior that we can't see?
It's remarkable to see how many visual differences there are from season to season; much different than the spec aerodynamic series like NASCAR and Indycar.
And so the mystery continues: which approach is going to be best? I was really surprised to see the difference between Mercedes and the rest of the field .re guiding airflow inboard or outboard the front wheels.
Can you imagine how much has changed on the interior that we can't see?
Have a good one,
Mike
Yearly aero changes are fine; powerunits not so much.
Yeah, I know the aero changes are relatively open in F1. I was thinking more about suspension, software, etc.
Have a good one,
Mike
I would like to see spec powerunits, while teams can have free reign over the rest of the car.
The discrepancy in power has made the last FIVE years nearly unbearable and makes being an F1 fan a challenge.
F1 has become more predictable, too much so, we all already know that the WDC will be at Merco or Féfé and the race has not yet started.
The takeover of the big companies because of their available resources strongly suggests the budget caped or risk seeing Williams and others like Tyrrell, Brabham and others disappear before. I know that international companies have the means to get around the budget capped through their subsidiaries, it's very easy, but you have to start with something, and free up creativity, allow tyre wars by limiting the types of tyres.
I always tell this true story, a bunch of mechanics friends build an F1 in a gas station in the Paul Ricard circuit area, it was the AGS F1 team from 1986 to 1991, it's something unthinkable today and hard to believe began like that...
The Ferrari SF90 under the microscope, from Nicolas Carpentiers, F1i Auto-Moto
Translation : "
"EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION, BUT...
At first glance, apart from its matte red dress and widened fins, the Ferrari SF90 looks like two drops of water to its predecessor. And this is no coincidence. Although it did not win the world title, last year's SF71H is far from deserving, with six wins and an average deficit of 0.2 on the Mercedes. In a sense, Brackley's victory was more that of a team and a driver than a car. Because only errors of strategy and piloting prevented the SF71H from crowning a world crown that refuses to accept the Raised Horse since 2007.
This is why the engineers at Maranello, like their colleagues at Brackley, have preferred to develop a concept that has proved its worth:
"Even though we didn't win the title, we really did some good things in 2018, and[the SF90] is a development of last year's car. This is not a revolution. We simply raised the bar and tried to be as extreme as possible."
"Some changes are obvious, such as the front spoiler, imposed by the technical regulation. But if we look at the details, we see that we wanted to be innovative. The engine hood is very tight, thanks to the work done on the engine installation."
In an attempt to refine the hood, the Italian engineers removed the two side vents (marked in dark blue), as well as the corresponding ventilation ducts, which took up space under the hood and widened it. On the Rossa 2018, these tubes supplied fresh air to the radiator to cool the FRC. It is not known at this stage if this exchanger has been moved elsewhere or if it has been resized to fit in a limited volume.
In any case, the pipes are positioned differently, lower, which improves the centre of gravity. Do they capture fresh air through the new, widened opening behind the pilot's helmet (see blue arrow)? Or, is part of the cooling taken care of by the radiators housed inside the pontoons (which seems likely, see next page)? We will have to wait until we can see the bowels of the beast in Australia, thanks to our exclusive images.
In the shape of a triangle (a shape that no other team has retained), the air intake is narrower than on competing single-seaters. By rearranging the accessories, it has enabled aerodynamic engineers to significantly refine the upper part of the hood, which reduces drag and lengthens the shark fin (whose role is to clean the air flow to the rear fin). This original choice illustrates the creativity of Maranello's technical department, which has been developing solutions for two seasons now.
It should be noted that the cover had nevertheless to be widened at its end, to allow the two wastegate evacuation pipes to pass through.
All the packaging has been redesigned, including the battery (located under the fuel tank), which has lost weight and volume (the 2018 model had particular shapes).
MORE COOLING IN THE PONTOONS
Like the 2017 and 2018 single-seaters, the SF90 continues to use the upper side impact structure to shape its pontoons. Invented in Maranello on the SF70H and adopted last year by Red Bull, Haas and Williams, this design - which Renault and Toro Rosso retained this season - clears as much as possible the space under the air intake of the pontoons. Called "undercut", this area fulfils a decisive aerodynamic mission. By simplifying a lot: the more air passing under this opening, the more the flow is energized and remains attached to the surface (read our more detailed explanation on these pontoons/sidepods in the article about the Renault RS19). Schematized by a white line above, the carbon beam loaded to absorb lateral impacts (mandatory element, to the standards dictated by the FIA) serves, by being fairinged, as a base at the air intake.
This one seems slightly wider than on last year's car, as can be seen by comparing the yellow arrows above. A sign that the Scuderia designers have moved the cooling from the engine hood to the pontoon area, in order to refine the hood as much as possible? We will have to wait for other images to find out for sure.
It should be noted that the blown mirrors of the SF71H have not been retained at this stage.
FERRARI CURVATURE VS. MERCEDES STRAIGHT LINE
At the front, the fin has a sinuous profile. Seen from the front, the upper flap draws a sloping curve: it rises to about a quarter of the length (to the letter "M"), then drops further and further as it approaches the lateral drift.
This drawing tries to slide the air flow to the outside of the car, towards the curved end of the daggerboard (where it will be energized by the vortex created there), in order to regain some of the outwash effect lost because of the new technical regulation.
This line, highlighted in blue above, is found on other F1 cars, to varying degrees. The Alfa Romeo's fin offers the most extreme interpretation (the upper flap is even cut out to sharply accentuate the descent). The Renault's fin presents a kind of compromise between this downward design and the upward track found on the Mercedes, among others.
We could therefore distinguish two schools among the fins before 2019: on the one hand, a sloping design by Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and, to a lesser extent, Renault; and on the other hand, a flat, slightly rising track by Mercedes, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams and Haas. It is common, at the beginning of a new regulatory era, for teams to explore different solutions, which may converge over the seasons.
VERTICAL ALIGNMENT
At the rear, as expected, the wastegate exhaust pipes were placed above the exhaust pipe and aligned vertically. While the positioning of the exhaust is very much governed by the regulations, the location of the wastegate tubes offers a little more freedom. This configuration, which the team tested at last year's German Grand Prix, can be justified in several ways.
It is a priori contradictory with the desire to refine the engine hood (which could have been further thinned if the pipes had been located lower, on either side of the exhaust pipe). However, this may be due to the rearrangement of the radiators and other engine accessories under the hood. As an engine and chassis manufacturer, the Scuderia can alter certain aspects of the architecture of its V6 according to the aerodynamic needs of its chassis (while Alfa Romeo and Haas must adapt to it without necessarily knowing the reasons for such choices).
The double pillar supporting the rear spoiler is retained, while the DRS's fairing has evolved in shape from that seen on last year's Toro Rosso STR13.
Preceded by a double T-wing, the rear spoiler has toothed fins. Designed by McLaren in 2017, this concept was adopted last year by Renault, Mercedes and Ferrari - who used it in races only in Singapore and Sochi.
The six curved slats direct the air flow inward to bring high-pressure air into the interior under the main plane. This would reduce support and, more importantly, drag by weakening the vortex produced at the intersection of the vertical drift and the upper flap. The curvature of the lamellae could regulate the pressure level and minimize the loss of support while reducing drag.
A continuation of the SF71H, the SF90 nevertheless differs from it in certain fundamental aspects (including the engine hood), including undoubtedly invisible innovations (we are talking about a fairly innovative rear suspension). Will this be enough to make the Raising Horse gallop again? "
All last week, there were rumours about Williams who couldn't keep up with the deadlines to get the FW 42 on track on time!
It is confirmed: Williams could not perform his shakedown scheduled for Saturday and will not be at the 1st test day on Monday. 2019 is already off to a bad start for Williams, which bodes ill for the future. The teams that have missed some of the winter tests in recent years are HRT and Marussia and we have seen how this tragic comedy joke ended. Williams' obstinacy to want to make everything when she can have Merco's know-how is in stark contrast to Haas' pragmatism. I did some research on their sponsor Rokit, it looks like a shady company...Hoping that the capped budget will arrive in time to save this venerable company, I regret Franck Williams and Patrick Head. If Claire hadn't been her father's daughter, she would have been fired a long time ago !
Barcelone 18 to 22 Février
Each day, the teams will be on track from 9am to 6pm, with a break from 1pm to 2pm. The Williams pilots' driving program is likely to evolve...
The Williams pilots' driving program is likely to evolve...poor Williams, poor Sir Franck...
Ricci RBR Renault
not a week without news of the 2 disappointed lovers of her bed partner. Today, Ricci is the one who clearly says, as we all knew here already, that Baku was the catalyst for his retirement from the ultra-caloric can that was harmful to the health of teenagers and especially for himself Ricci ! The team blamed both pilots and asked them to apologize to the factory staff, the pet, the darling Crashtappen had been cleared of the accident, as he was wrongly shared...Ricci acknowledged that the way Red Bull handled the collision with "Maxou" (Maxoo in English, it's a nice nickname...you know now I like the nicknames...lol) in Baku last year played a role in his decision to leave the team for Renault.
Valterri immediately set a time, the 1st on the Catalunya track, the others did not have time because 1st red flag for Alfa, Kimi planted his C38 in the gravel of the T5... it starts well. Digest in end of the morning if you want
After 1h of track :
Temps à 10h15 (heure française)
PosPiloteÉquipeTempsTours
1 Vettel Ferrari 1:20.920 20 laps
2 Räikkönen Alfa Romeo 1:20.945 10 laps
3 Pérez Racing Point 1:21.850 6 laps
4 Sainz McLaren1:22.348 10 laps
5 Hülkenberg Renault 1:24.365 9 laps
6 Bottas Mercedes1:24.381 13 laps
7 Verstappen Red Bull 1 lap
8 Grosjean Haas no time 3 laps
9 Kvyat Toro Rosso no time 7 laps
it seems to be going badly with the can sellers : Maxoo talk to Jos, his father, and doesn't seem ready to take the track.
At 12h :
RBR Maxoo, engine stop in the pitlane, Hass RoGro, team demùand to stop because of a failure of pressure (fuel). Ferrari seems very easy and solid, V4 does the show with the best time in C3 compound, Toto said, the best for Merco will be in the end of the we, no performance hunt at the moment but Féfé started very strong as last year.
The FW42 is now under tarp, maybe a very bad surprise, no start before wednesday, all the parts have not yet arrived (so I guess they are in the manufacturing process)...oh là là ça craint/it's sucks !
Vmax (Top speed) Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) : 320 km/h ; Sergio Pérez (Racing Point-Mercedes) : 319 km/h ; Carlos Sainz (McLaren-Renault) : 318 km/h ; Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) : 314 km/h ; Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) : 314 km/h ; Romain Grosjean (Haas-Ferrari): 307 km/h
The Honda PU holds up and performs well, a surprise for me !!!
Indeed, we are one and a half months away from the Brexit no deal, hard Brexit and I do not think there are any other prospects because the UK parliamentarians are deeply divided and the EU will not go back on this pre-agreement. I share Toto's concern because I had already talked about this perspective and it will be very difficult for the teams to get in and out of both equipment and people as smoothly as it is now: in order to restore the borders, France is recruiting 700 customs officers ! Ferrari and Alfa (Sauber) will have an advantage in terms of logistics and the movement of people. Investments by foreign car brands are falling sharply in the UK and financial companies are moving offices to continental Europe.
It's remarkable to see how many visual differences there are from season to season; much different than the spec aerodynamic series like NASCAR and Indycar.
And so the mystery continues: which approach is going to be best? I was really surprised to see the difference between Mercedes and the rest of the field .re guiding airflow inboard or outboard the front wheels.
Can you imagine how much has changed on the interior that we can't see?
Have a good one,
Mike
Apparently Renault have said that the only thing they carried over from 2018 to the 2019 car is the steering rack... So that's a lot.
I added an element and destroyed all the report of this afternoon. Sorry for those who hadn't read. Sorry for my mistake, was in a hurry to prepare the dinner.
In summary,
And lunch is end but V4 hs hungry ! first in track, impressive. This pm, new driver : Ham V, white teeth/Ricci.
Temp 18° C, sun.
From Pirelli the windows for optimal working on the tyres.
This morning, Renault runned without the DRS, so -0,8 s gap in comparison with the others. Same test without DRS this pm.
Ferrari with Vettel has been driving continuously, 169 laps without any problems, Féfé is reliable and efficient and without the explosive C4 tyres used by RoGro and Kvyatt. Merco continues its program by testing its parts without paying attention to the others. Toto gave us an appointment at the end of the week and next week to test the performance. This is critical not only for Williams but also for Racing Point, Perez 30 laps and in the box.
Pirelli introduced very shiny tires on the tread, it is not an aesthetic effect that is sought but rather a new manufacturing process with a chrome casting that was necessary to make the tires very smooth on the tread and avoid cracks, advantage for us fans, we will immediately see the new tyres.
BARCELONA day 2 am
Williams: Strong rumours from UK, poor management of production planning would be the reason for the delay. Worse, the wind tunnel figures suggest that the FW42 would be two seconds less efficient than its predecessor, which had already earned Williams the red lantern last year. It is rumoured that Paddy Lowe, Williams' technical director, is in the spotlight. Well, we should fire Claire too! They don't even talk about driving for tomorrow anymore!
STR Albon in the gravels, cold tyres : new rules : maximum heating blanket 80°C against 100 in 2018 for rear tyres.
Haas after1h10, on track now but in intermediates on a track totally dry ! just one installation lap and since, nothing.
Ham V 10h38 passes harder tires C2 (C3 =>C2) and it progresses, by - sec, long runs.
Article by Nicols Carpentiers on the teams' deviation of the new regulation which prohibited the use of fins on brake scoops in order to divert the flow: the teams have still found a way! "Until last year, aerodynamic engineers used the front brake scoops to cool the discs, but mainly to divert the air flow. This is no longer possible, as their drawing is strictly framed..... Except that engineers have found a way to still place fins, as on the McLaren MCL34 and Mercedes W10 (see yellow arrows), which share a pivot that raises the upper suspension arm (white arrow). (Nicolas Carpentiers F1i Auto-Moto)
11h30 Leclerc very close to the time of V4 yesterday, L 1:18.247, V4 1:18.161 Ricci DRS broken , he is in the gravels. End of session and he didn't return on track, 27 laps only.
Technical analysis by Nicolas Carpentiers F1i Auto-Moto : ''HAAS Originality at the back of Romain Grosjean's Haas VF-19: its diffuser is doubly curved (see yellow arrows). Red Bull had introduced a simple curve last year at the French Grand Prix, which was taken over by Ferrari in particular.''
FIA called to suppliers for a standardised gearbox, 7 gears, between 2021 and 2024.
Last edited by BKorsaire; 02-19-2019 at 07:44 AM.
Reason: Time table
Prost, Renault advisor, declares that the team is short of parts and that the real RS 19 will be available on Monday. Which would explain why the team has returned to a more conventional front wing in my opinion. GP simulation for Hulk this pm after the rear wing failure of the Aussie this am.
Leclerc is already impressive, like its SF90. If you see green light instead of red at ends of the rear wing or the gearbox, it's Albon, special light to announce to the followers it's a rookie in front of them
RBR, Gasly off track, 'tanké' in the gravels after he hit the wall of tyre, gearbox hurted probably. Red flag. He was pushing to the limits Fittilpadi just following Kmag in the seat.
A lot of rumors about Williams people saying Kubica has problem with his sponsor...Williams the bad theater continues ? ...
Positions at 16h52 heure de France
Pos Pilote Équipe. Temps. Tours
1 Leclerc. Ferrari. 1:18.247. 133
2 Magnussen. Haas. 1:19.206. 59
3 Giovinazzi Alfa. 1:19.312. 76
4 Norris McL. 1:19.489. 94
5 Gasly. Can 1:19.814. 92
6 Ricciardo Renault. 1:19.886. 28
7 Hamilton. Merco. 1:19.928. 74
8 Bottas Mercedes. 1:19.947. 57
9 Albon Toro Rosso. 1:20.0461 17
10 Stroll. Racing . 120.433. 66
11 Hülk. Renault. 1:22.601. 72
Absolute best time for Norris in the S1 ! In C4 tyre, the 1st red soft.
End day 2 Leclerc 157 laps, 2 Merco's pilots 163
My impressions : Féfé started very strong, it runs like a clock (French expression) the car is well balanced unlike Merco, Ham was several times out of the limits of the track by closing the DRS. With Valterri, we saw the car slide towards the sausage as an under-turn (Idon't know the good word in english...) but Merco seems cool for the moment.
Williams: with the new rumours about Kubika it is getting more and more worrying; we learn more and more that the plane that will carry the real FW42, because the one currently in the box is a masked FW41, this plane will land tomorrow at 5am in Barcelona, which means that the car cannot be assembled tomorrow morning to start the morning session but rather in the afternoon and even if everything is fine...Williams is dying like HRT and Marussia?
Last edited by BKorsaire; 02-19-2019 at 12:28 PM.
Reason: Live to 18h00 French hour, news.
This is really looking very bleak. Honestly, I can't see them finishing the season without a miracle at this point.
Poor Kubica....after this, his career will be over.
Williams: with the new rumours about Kubika it is getting more and more worrying; we learn more and more that the plane that will carry the real FW42, because the one currently in the box is a masked FW41, this plane will land tomorrow at 5am in Barcelona, which means that the car cannot be assembled tomorrow morning to start the morning session but rather in the afternoon and even if everything is fine...Williams is dying like HRT and Marussia?
Originally Posted by D K
I fear for the worst with Williams
This is really looking very bleak. Honestly, I can't see them finishing the season without a miracle at this point.
Poor Kubica....after this, his career will be over.
I hate to say it but I agree with both of you. Really don't want to see Williams fade away, but this is sounding more and more dire.
OTOH, sounds like Ferrari is off to a good start. Problem is, they had good starts the last 2 seasons, but just couldn't keep Mercedes behind them past mid-season.
02-15-2019, 03:16 PM
