2014 F1 Mechanics/Aero; Design predictions to win the WCC/WDC. READ FIRST POST

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

McLaren roll hope, which is similar to what was used a couple years back by Mercedes.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

New RB10

 

[HKS racer]

Extremely interesting technical run through by James Allison (formerly on Lotus) on the F14 T:

Ferrari employed Allison because of youtube channel that's the truth.

 

[VolkswagenX]

I was no fan of the 1.6 T idea at first but after seeing a few clipse, I admit liking them more than the V8 sounds. (please don't kill me)

Still think most of the new cars look ugly and I don't like most of the rules for 2014. But 👍 for sound.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I was no fan of the 1.6 T idea at first but after seeing a few clipse, I admit liking them more than the V8 sounds. (please don't kill me)

Still think most of the new cars look ugly and I don't like most of the rules for 2014. But 👍 for sound.

Trust me many agree with you and I started looking at the 2014 engine rule change thread to see who changes position because it isn't a V8 anymore.

 

[HKS racer]

Newey "new front noses are dangerous, as well as batteries under fuel tank"

(SORRY for raw copy paste google translation)

Adrian Newey for a long snout required by FIA rules and adopted by most of the teams is too dangerous.
"If the old changes to the front had been made to ensure that in the event of an accident cars would take the flight, so it is likely that in a collision the car behind the one that raises above - said the genie Red Bull Autosport - E 'a shame that it's gone to find a solution so ugly. In my opinion the shape and sound of the cars have to play their role in F1. In optical security I do not think it has gone in the right direction, for example by choosing to put the battery under the fuel tank, because the package may have a sudden increase heat in the event of impact and make it difficult to rule the fire, not to mention the high voltage ".

Clare Rainis
28th January 2014

http://f1grandprix.motorionline.com/newey-i-nuovi-musetti-sono-pericolosi/

 

[Alex.]

Very interesting.

 

[Pezzarinho17]

Very interesting.

Stunningly clever when it is fully explained. http://somersf1.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/mclaren-mp4-29-upgrade-wishbone-wings.html is a good place, and Gary Anderson wrote about it for Autosport yesterday.

 

[Northstar]

Here is the designer of the McLaren setup.

Was wondering where he was.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

So it looks as if RBR and Mercedes (two best looking cars ironically) will have to change their nose designs as they are claimed to be "too soft", bravo yet again FIA.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...nasen-zwei-teams-muessen-zittern-8017161.html

 

[Cap'n Jack]

If true, it's possible that all the noses we're seeing at Jerez will be different in Bahrain/Melbourne, so hopefully it doesn't turn out to be a huge setback for either Mercedes or Red Bull. As a Mercedes fan, it's a bit worrying but at the same time it's another setback for Red Bull that I don't mind seeing!

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

If true, it's possible that all the noses we're seeing at Jerez will be different in Bahrain/Melbourne, so hopefully it doesn't turn out to be a huge setback for either Mercedes or Red Bull. As a Mercedes fan, it's a bit worrying but at the same time it's another setback for Red Bull that I don't mind seeing!

I agree, another setback in list of them already for RBR and just one minor one for MGP though I just wish it was solely RBR with the issue. I'm guessing Lotus bought themselves some time with their ugly prong, and that will probably be judged more so at Bahrain.

Also on the mechanical end of things...

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I do wonder how the Mercedes and Red Bull noses are considered "too soft" though. If it's the crash structure itself, then that would be a bit odd considering both teams have obviously passed the required crash tests. So maybe, and I'm really no expert here, it could be the vanity panels covering the structure itself. Mercedes are believed to have a nose of similar "prong" design to Lotus, only they've covered it up with a vanity panel, could this part not be up to safety standards? As for Red Bull, I really have no clue (but when does anyone ever have any idea on Newey's magic).

 

[Pezzarinho17]

Mercedes are believed to have a nose of similar "prong" design to Lotus, only they've covered it up with a vanity panel, could this part not be up to safety standards?

From SomersF1 blog, red outlines crash structure and green is vanity panel. The yellow pylons are 50mm further back than the nose tip.

After Hamilton's crash, the join between nose and pylons was toughened up so that is where the wing is probably referred to being too soft.

As for Red Bull, no idea as it seems pretty standard. Flexi-wings again?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Ah, thanks for that. I was aware of the false pylon but the picture I had in my head was that there would be a prong shape hidden by the "nose skin" itself.

 

[AnAL0G]

If true, it's possible that all the noses we're seeing at Jerez will be different in Bahrain/Melbourne, so hopefully it doesn't turn out to be a huge setback for either Mercedes or Red Bull. As a Mercedes fan, it's a bit worrying but at the same time it's another setback for Red Bull that I don't mind seeing!

I was reading earlier in the week that Newey has already said the new noses undermine the safety principle that led to the previous stepped nose incarnations. I wouldn't be surprised to see them changed.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Don't know how reliable the source is, but apparently (it's not in English so I have no idea) Motorsport-Total are claiming that FIA have declared all noses to be legal - including Mercedes and Red Bull. 👍

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

So Williams claims that the Mclaren rear design can be copied and massive changes wouldn't need to be made to do it as suggested otherwise. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but if testing (not the times) is anything to go off Williams seem quite confident in many areas.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Here's a really good shot of how the aerodynamics work at the rear on a 2014 Formula One car.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Okay well testing is done and the racing is a couple weeks from now and we will get a proper look at what these machines can do.

I will also update my "current" predictions I made back in early December some will change others are still dead on.

RBR: So I can say paying attention to F1 history has helped me here, because so far I've been absolutely correct on Red Bull and their campaign thus far with the RB10 (read my original prediction on post #3). Yes, yes it is just testing, but let's compare to others the team that was second last year did nearly a 1000 laps overall in testing and so did Williams but more on that further down. The point is RBR only did 320 which is 3 more than Marussia and the engineers over there can't be that good to gain enough info from that especially when parts of those laps weren't even at speed.

Mercedes: I feel that this is another prediction I am so far correct on and I'd say still the team to beat, I'm pulling for both drivers and am a long time Hamilton fan (as well as Rosberg now that I think about it). I think both have a strong car to win with and though there have been some bugs they have been addressed better than many other teams on the grid during testing, so that also adds to the strength they seem to have. Let's not forget they performed well in Bahrain and didn't have the same rear tire issues as we saw last year in season and testing most times.

Ferrari: What can I say perhaps I took a ride on the hype train with Ferrari, Byrne is back and this is true but after testing all I can say really is..."Okay...so what?"

They have many top tier engineers and it's only testing they did have some strong moments not nearly as many as Mercedes and other Mercedes powered cars but hey I'd say don't count them out.

Lotus: Still don't have hope for them and between my original post on the subject to now...it was diminished further with Boiller leaving the team so...

They have admitted they have issues and the irony is missing the first test probably hurt them, as well as poking fun at RBRs woes. The team with jokes probably doesn't feel so funny now after posting the image like they did, now that they're behind that team on the testing charts.

McLaren: I feel I was to obscure with McLaren and should have given such a big name credit, though I still am a bit pessimistic on the situation testing showed me otherwise on why my original prediction might be in the wrong. I feel Magnussen though is the one to watch and though I didn't even dare touch the hype train around him, I may buy a ticket especially if Melbourne shows me something.

Force India: I feel I was in the right direction but understated some, I think they'll do more that good, they're obviously on track with a good car and one that may be better than last years. They have a Merc PU and strong drivers probably the strongest duo to line up for them, which speaks well of FI's stature. Also their nose grew on me and I'd say they are in top 3 or 4 for best looking car. I think they'll be in the running for 6th or 5th in constructor at the very least.

Sauber: This is yet another prediction that I feel is still correct to have, I mean they went with Sutil and though not the Russian driver he is an average guy. However, this isn't the driver thread so back to the car, I don't see it being great, brake by wire issues continued, along with more minor bugs and a car that didn't see all that fast compared to other, though they had slight improvement over testing I have yet to see it be enough and I say it wont be.

STR: Really don't care, someone else can add their opinion on this one. <- Word for word repeat of my original...

Wait let me be fair they were probably the only Renault team to walk away quietly and not have as massive of issues as the others. I mean they still had issues but, I think they'll be making Sauber and Lotus cry early on and retain their normal constructor standing of 8th if not 7th.

Williams: My original post was a bit tough on Williams, and perhaps it is nostalgia like many fans that started watching F1 like me in the 90s as kids. However, I do recall saying I thought these guys would be a team that I predicted at the least finishing 6th in the WCC and I still strongly believe this more so after testing. I think this was on here somewhere or the F1 forums.

Marussia: I feel they are doing good still and perhaps
just maybe they will be better than Lotus and get points. Wouldn't that be something? I for now will take a gamble and say they will in fact beat Lotus, they improved at the end of testing and will keep working up til Australia while Lotus on the other hand has to play catch up. However, before I get to big on these guys I still worry they didn't do enough running, yet Caterham with twice the laps tested 2 seconds slower in a car that should be no more than a glorified GP2 runner.

Caterham: Let me start by saying that I hope they keep Tony away from trees, because so far this is not very promising. Team has been called ugly, slow as a GP2 and has issues many to fix. It's great they brought in Kobiyashi and gave basically a free test run to Frijins that he didn't have to pay for...but um where's the work gone as they go into the fifth season of F1. That's plenty of time to have at least caught up to the coat tails of mid tier, I think I was right in them feeling comfortable at their current pace.

I was hoping attrition would help them but it is kind of hard to be helped by it when you're potentially one of the many to be plagued by it instead.

^*Note: Best Caterham picture I've seen or found yet actually looks somewhat cool at this angle.

 

[TenEightyOne]

So Williams claims that the Mclaren rear design can be copied and massive changes wouldn't need to be made to do it as suggested otherwise. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but if testing (not the times) is anything to go off Williams seem quite confident in many areas.

True, but to make it you gotta bake it, and that's not a quick job... or cheap, and that's why F1 prototyping is such a night mare. I saw one of this year's cars just about in full back in early 2013, very very impressive how far ahead of the game some teams were even then. I think I made a little squeaking sound, wasn't sure if anyone else could hear it so just stood veeeery still

I'd be interested to read a better translation of the "soft" noses, I presume it refers to flex of the panels around the crash structure, as several people said the chassis had already passed the imact test. We'd already expected this year that teams like IBR would try to extend their high-rake-bendy-car design to this year with one that flattens under load even more than last year's, maybe several teams have tried to exploit the front "squash" along the vanity panel?

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I could have sworn you already quoted me on that before word for word last month

 

[TenEightyOne]

I could have sworn you already quoted me on that before word for word last month

Can't see it... I was intrigued to see if I gave the same response that time?

You and I end up in a lot of the same threads, so we've probably chuntered with each other about something similar

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Can't see it... I was intrigued to see if I gave the same response that time?

You and I end up in a lot of the same threads, so we've probably chuntered with each other about something similar

Extreme deja vu

 

[MHPALA]

My contribution (suits this thread better) -

Mercedes tested new parts on the W05 (seems to be parts for extremely hot environments, I guess):

Side exhaust pods are larger than before

Mercedes is also using a new spec front wing, but it needs to be FIA crash test approved.

I'll post aero changes for the other cars later. I don't want to make a post stuffed full of pics.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

@MHPALA I'll help out, since you contribute well.

If you look at the rear of the engine covering of the Marussia you'll see tiny inlets for turbo cooling (look at picture above) these same inlets are on the Lotus as well. Though I can't see an extractor outlet for the hot air like Lotus have.

This along with the offset exhaust and skewed vertical wing structure

Look at the Merc compared to the others as well and you'll see different things going on with the smaller front suspension compared to the cars.

There is this as well with McLaren

RBR

This is what RBR does when they are struggling and need to DIY cooling on the fly:

^ Some real engineering right there

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/cars/red-bull-rb10/



Finally Williams with new side pods that take bits from the top runners for the past couple of seasons now in this seasons FW36

 

[MHPALA]

Missing the supposed Marussia comparison pic

Redbull was better off cutiing holes


F14T:

New front wing:

Ferrari has tested two versions of the new wing.

Not sure what is taped to the front. Others (f1technical forum members) say it is a device that measures the deflection of the front wing.

New sidepod design:

Reat changes:

Inside of nose:

They also tried using a monkey seat.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Some great work going on in this thread, fascinating to see, thank you

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

@MHPALA Use the Marussia picture I posted in my updated predictions and you'll see it right behind the T bar camera on the engine cover is an inlet like the Lotus.

Finally found a picture of one of these

 

[MHPALA]

@MHPALA Use the Marussia picture I posted in my updated predictions and you'll see it right behind the T bar camera on the engine cover is an inlet like the Lotus.

Ah! I see. I had to it from another view on account that it is more subtle than what Lotus has done.


Gotta stay cool.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/19181?sid=aaf0337f60a0b8c33c9d02bbe76d1e42

I'm guessing (not sure) that the larger side pods are somewhat hindering downforce since they have reported loosing some downforce.