Hockenheim testing

[gjalie]

testtimes Update: 12:29

1. L. Hamilton McLaren MP4-23 1:15.550 36 pit
2. N. Rosberg Williams FW30 1:16.099 +0.549 35 pit
3. A. Sutil Force India VJM-01 1:16.516 +0.966 43 pit
4. N. Heidfeld BMW Sauber F1.08 1:16.593 +1.043 30 pit
5. N. Piquet Jr. Renault R28 1:16.856 +1.306 43 pit
6. K. Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 1:16.970 +1.420 17 pit
7. S. Bourdais Toro Rosso STR3 1:17.135 +1.585 43 pit
8. D. Coulthard Red Bull Racing RB4 1:17.361 +1.811 25 pit
9. K. Kobayashi Toyota TF108 1:18.118 +2.568 29 pit
10. A. Wurz Honda RA108 1:18.798 +3.248 29 pit

[Ranger]

I think they should ban in-season on tracks that are in the GP calendar... it often makes the races a tad boring if you don't add rain.

Even Belgium last year was boring!

[Storm]

I agree with Malllen...you should not even be able to test on tracks which host GPs let alone just 2 weeks before the actual race!

[cosmicpanda]

I've often wondered if it was that which always makes Monza boring.

[Knock-on]

Well, Lewis tested with the new fin.

Wonder if they use it in the race.

[wedge]

I've often wondered if it was that which always makes Monza boring.

No. More than anything that's down to car performance differentials. It was the same with the old Hockenheim, huge car spread after 10 laps.

Anyway, Monza is once a year and therefore they have to test a low-downforce package. I'm not sure Paul Ricard has that sort of configuration.


Well, Lewis tested with the new fin.

Wonder if they use it in the race.

Are those things outlawed next year?

[gjalie]

Update: 18:14

1. L. Hamilton McLaren MP4-23 1:15.483 75 pit
2. K. Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 1:15.803 +0.320 63 pit
3. N. Rosberg Williams FW30 1:16.099 +0.616 87 pit
4. A. Sutil Force India VJM-01 1:16.516 +1.033 97 pit
5. S. Bourdais Toro Rosso STR3 1:16.533 +1.050 113 pit
6. K. Kobayashi Toyota TF108 1:16.570 +1.087 65 pit
7. N. Heidfeld BMW Sauber F1.08 1:16.593 +1.110 59 pit
8. N. Piquet Jr. Renault R28 1:16.856 +1.373 111 pit
9. D. Coulthard Red Bull Racing RB4 1:17.351 +1.868 67 pit
10. A. Wurz Honda RA108 1:17.825 +2.342 89 pit

[truefan72]

Well, Lewis tested with the new fin.

Wonder if they use it in the race.

i am not really sure what to think of the fin from a performance aspect.

Although it is ugly, that has no validity in a discussion of its practicality.

Renault and RBR seemed to have gained a bit of an advantage out of them but they seem to suffer in the wets or with windy conditions. I'd say keep testing them, but continue to race without them, until it is absolutely certain that they can give the cars a significant advantage over their closest rivals.

[SGWilko]

i am not really sure what to think of the fin from a performance aspect.


Cast your mind back to 1995. Which team used a car with an engine cover that had an anvil fin on it?

[aryan]

I've often wondered if it was that which always makes Monza boring.

That is certainly what makes Barecelona ususally a borefest.

[ArrowsFA1]

Well, Lewis tested with the new fin.
Toyota have got one now too :dozey:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69015

[555-04Q2]

The FIA must ban the new wing design. Looks cr@p :(

Cast your mind back to 1995. Which team used a car with an engine cover that had an anvil fin on it?

Mclaren.

Although I think you'll find that particular chassis was entirely made out of anvils.

[SGWilko]

Mclaren.

Although I think you'll find that particular chassis was entirely made out of anvils.

:rotflmao: Priceless!

Actually, Mr Wilko, I think you've stumbled on yet more unsavoury activity by Mclaren's design team.

The 1970 312 Ferrari had an 'Anvil Fin' on it's rear bodywork.

Somebody call the FIA, Mclaren are using Ferrari ideas!

[SGWilko]

Actually, Mr Wilko, I think you've stumbled on yet more unsavoury activity by Mclaren's design team.

The 1970 312 Ferrari had an 'Anvil Fin' on it's rear bodywork.

Somebody call the FIA, Mclaren are using Ferrari ideas!

Tut tut. Old habits........ ;)

Your day a bit slow today is it? That was a good find. :)

Tut tut. Old habits........ ;)

Your day a bit slow today is it? That was a good find. :)

My day has finished. Well, the day job has, but my other job as uncoverer of Woking's most dastardly fiends sadly never ends!

apart from Wednesday's, when I have to do the ironing. If only somebody could invent a non-crease cape!

[SGWilko]

My day has finished. Well, the day job has, but my other job as uncoverer of Woking's most dastardly fiends sadly never ends!

apart from Wednesday's, when I have to do the ironing. If only somebody could invent a non-crease cape!

Ironing on Wednesday's eh, sounds almost like a Monty P song...

'on Wednesday's I go shopping, and have buttered scones for tea'!

Please don't tell me you wear your undies over your tights..... :) ;)

Ironing on Wednesday's eh, sounds almost like a Monty P song...

'on Wednesday's I go shopping, and have buttered scones for tea'!

Please don't tell me you wear your undies over your tights..... :) ;)

I don't wear underpants full stop. Unlike Mister's Dennis & Whitmarsh, I have nothing I wish to hide!






Well, apart from a long criminal record for revealing myself in public, but if that's the price of truth and justice, it's a price worth paying.

[aryan]

The FIA must ban the new wing design. Looks cr@p :(

No, arbitrary bans are discriminatory and not good for the sport.

What they should do, is put hard limits on the amount of downforce a car can generate at a certain speed, and be done with it. Now, let the teams generate that downforce however they want (ground effect... whatever).

Not to mention that in my ideal F1, restrictions on engine would also be lifted, and the only regulation would be on the type of fuel, and how much fuel a car can consume. Then let them build turbos, wan.kel, or whatever engineers can come up with.

Alas, these simple notions are too hard for FIA and FOM to grasp.

(had to put that dot in wan.kel to get past the lame filter)

[wedge]

But the regulations are arguably far too strict from a designers point of view and it has been aero that has had the huge gains in racing.


What they should do, is put hard limits on the amount of downforce a car can generate at a certain speed, and be done with it. Now, let the teams generate that downforce however they want (ground effect... whatever).

How would the FIA enforce this?

That would mean the track owners will have to install a full scale wind tunnel just for scrutineering! Bernie could pay!

[555-04Q2]

No, arbitrary bans are discriminatory and not good for the sport.

What they should do, is put hard limits on the amount of downforce a car can generate at a certain speed, and be done with it. Now, let the teams generate that downforce however they want (ground effect... whatever).

Not to mention that in my ideal F1, restrictions on engine would also be lifted, and the only regulation would be on the type of fuel, and how much fuel a car can consume. Then let them build turbos, wan.kel, or whatever engineers can come up with.

Alas, these simple notions are too hard for FIA and FOM to grasp.

(had to put that dot in wan.kel to get past the lame filter)

Agreed, but first we had multiple front and rear wing designs, then "winglets" all over the chassis and now the aptly named "shark fin". Where will it end :?: F1 cars are looking weirder and weirder every day.

[SGWilko]

What they should do, is put hard limits on the amount of downforce a car can generate at a certain speed, and be done with it. Now, let the teams generate that downforce however they want (ground effect... whatever).

Look what happened when ground effect was banned. Teams employed a system to lower parts of the bodywork with a handle, and raise it again for scrutineering.

You will never be able to police it. How do you prove the aero load of a car out on the track?

[Shifter]

Agreed, but first we had multiple front and rear wing designs, then "winglets" all over the chassis and now the aptly named "shark fin". Where will it end :?: F1 cars are looking weirder and weirder every day.

Here in the USA all our open-wheel cars are spec. Which stinks. Bring on the weirdness, I say! Nobody said F1 cars have to look pretty. In fact, the regulations that raised the front wing off the ground is the most ugly part, because when you look at it, you just KNOW it's sitting too high.

[555-04Q2]

Here in the USA all our open-wheel cars are spec. Which stinks. Bring on the weirdness, I say! Nobody said F1 cars have to look pretty. In fact, the regulations that raised the front wing off the ground is the most ugly part, because when you look at it, you just KNOW it's sitting too high.

I dont know. I'm a purist when it comed to racecar designs. I hate it when manufacturers start making the cars look ugly with all the aero bits. The new wings and winglets all over the chassis are also helping create turbulence behind the car, one of the major problems affecting successful passing in F1 :(

[ShiftingGears]

I dont know. I'm a purist when it comed to racecar designs. I hate it when manufacturers start making the cars look ugly with all the aero bits. The new wings and winglets all over the chassis are also helping create turbulence behind the car, one of the major problems affecting successful passing in F1 :(

Yep. Which is why 2009 is looking promising!

[555-04Q2]

:up: I hope it is :)

[jens]

For me Formula One cars are never "ugly" as such. I have always liked creativity and as long as cars develop further and further, I'm happy.