2015 F1 Mechanics/Aero; Design predictions to win the WCC/WDC. READ FIRST POST

[GTPorsche]

The Lotus just got unveiled. Ferrari is on Friday, McLaren on Thursday. Hearing rumors that Sauber will be clad in blue and yellow for Felipe Nasr's sponsor Banco do Brasil. Rest of the teams either unveil over the weekend at Jerez or later.

 

[catamount39]

A link to or pics of the Lotus? Their experimental nose last year gave me hope.

EDIT: Holy **** this looks great!
http://wtf1.co.uk/lotus-unveil-the-lotus-e23-hybrid/

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Come on ladies post them up not just the link

Surprised they actually did a render of the diffuser or of one in general

 

[catamount39]

Ma Kindle (3 year old Kindle at that) couldn't download them.

This honestly is the best looking car so far. I can't wait for the Mclaren and the Ferrari.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117468

So Lotus has rehired many people cut from their staff last year, and if everything works out with the new PU then I have a feeling the refreshed team may be upper mid level again. Thus perhaps Force India and McLaren should be worried a bit. The only weakness I feel is the driver line up though.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

So here is what 850 hp looks like from a French Manufacture

Compared to this "under powered" version from last year... can you tell the differences?

 

[GTPorsche]

The exhaust is slightly longer... and bent a bit. Maybe a slight difference in the shape of the exhaust manifold/header, but the lighting makes it difficult to see if it is a change or not.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

The exhaust is slightly longer... and bent a bit. Maybe a slight difference in the shape of the exhaust manifold/header, but the lighting makes it difficult to see if it is a change or not.

Well there are a lot of inward changes more so than what you see on the outside, Renault tech chief has said there are noticeable carry over pieces which you can see here.

Also PM posted up this nice tid bit on the new McLaren.

Again, it's McLaren's perogative to decide what their colours are.

Anyway, changing the subject to talk about something other than hissy fits over the livery, here's a technical analysis of the car:

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2015/...ere-the-new-2015-mclaren-honda-is-innovative/

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Comparison between the SF15-T (top) and MP4-30 (bottom):

Look how tightly packaged the McLaren is.

 

[Pluxtheduck]

Looks like the McLaren has far more complicated front suspension in there too

 

[prisonermonkeys]

They have said that the focus has shifted from chasing peak downforce to maximising their available downforce. That area was causing huge problems last year because they just couldn't get the air pressure low enough or clear away the dirty air, so they have really focused on trying to get it all working as one, rather than individual parts.

 

[niky]

Comparison between the SF15-T (top) and MP4-30 (bottom):

Look how tightly packaged the McLaren is.

Surely that's not just down to perspective... That Ferrari has done bulky sidepods...

 

[sems4arsenal]

The cars do look a lot more alike than last year with subtle but noticable differences

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Surely that's not just down to perspective... That Ferrari has done bulky sidepods...

More likely McLaren have very slim sidepods compared to everyone else. Cooling was a major challenge for the teams in 2014 (especially Renault), so no doubt McLaren and Honda paid attention and used the data they gathered to find the slimmest, most effective solution to the problem.

 

[niky]

More likely McLaren have very slim sidepods compared to everyone else. Cooling was a major challenge for the teams in 2014 (especially Renault), so no doubt McLaren and Honda paid attention and used the data they gathered to find the slimmest, most effective solution to the problem.

If that is so... they could have their Red Bull moment.

Or they could not.

Here's to hoping it's the former.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

So the cars I feel so far are the ones to watch out for are this above with the tight frontal area.
The McLaren due to the tightly packaged rear end.
Lotus for seeming to flow the best out of any car seen.
Wiliams for having a great frontal surface area it seems with a well shaped package.

Now waiting for the two Renault powered cars sponsored by a drinks company.

 

[DK]

Reading this thread makes me glad I put an each-way bet on Bottas this season.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

If that is so... they could have their Red Bull moment.

Or they could not.

That's the thing that took everyone by surprise - nobody knew how much heat the power units would generate before the winter tests. All they had to go on was the data from the old KERS units, so solving that problem was a huge challenge. Red Bull got really upset at the Australian Grand Prix when their car was filmed with its bodywork removed, showing their radiator configuration; the local broadcaster realised that the radiators were made by an Australian company, and so showed it at every opportunity, blissfully unaware that they were pretty much advertising Red Bull's trade secrets to the paddock.

Anyway, everyone knows what level of heat is being generated now, so McLaren will be able to factor that in.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

James Allison discusses the changes to the SF15-T:

http://adamcooperf1.com/2015/01/30/james-allison-on-whats-different-on-the-ferrari-sf15-t/

Most importantly, he describes the major issue with the 059/3 power unit - namely, that they weren't able to get enough electrical energy from the turbo.

Elsewhere, Sauber have described the major areas for development of the C34 as improving slow-speed cornering and front-end stability at medium to high speeds.

 

[MHPALA]

Craig Scarborough's analysis of the SF15-T:

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

In other news RBR finally admit to what we knew and was their Hostage Adrian Newey was really telling us... GOOD BYE RED BULL RACING



Four men must fill the void of what one man has done...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

So, after seeing all of the cars, I can honestly say that these are the best-looking cars the sport has seen in years. I know people reminisce about the low, wide wings of the pre-2009 cars, but I always felt that they were overly-complex. I love the clean lines of the bodies and the tight packaging; they look like the cars that I used to draw as a kid.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

So why does the air intake for the STR look as big or bigger than the drives head... this car seems to have the largest and unlike other cars it also has two side intake/inlets for further cooling so what does this mean for the Renault PU I wonder...

Compare the two...for example.

Or to this

 

[niky]

I can't find the exact dimensions, at the moment, @LMSCorvetteGT2 , but I believe there is a limit to the size of the air intake on the roll hoop.

Looking at the STR scoop, it's split, so likely not all going to the engine. I don't know where the rest of that is going, though... be interesting to see where the air exits at the back of the car.

 

[GTPorsche]

Also in comparison, the sidepod inlets are the smallest I've ever seen, so the larger air intake on the roll hoop has to be compensating for that design.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I can't find the exact dimensions, at the moment, @LMSCorvetteGT2 , but I believe there is a limit to the size of the air intake on the roll hoop.

Looking at the STR scoop, it's split, so likely not all going to the engine. I don't know where the rest of that is going, though... be interesting to see where the air exits at the back of the car.

Well I pointed that out. Part of it is to the engine and the rest is probably the cooling to the ERS, the two on the side are probably for the intercooler and so on. This is supposedly the best car made by STR yet. So all that ducting worries me considering others have pulled back further on cooling inlets from last year, where these guys have gone more in depth.

@GTPorsche Yeah but many seem to be going with tighter rear packing which starts at the slimmer side pods that wrap to the back of the coke bottle. W06 has smaller side pods and yet less cooling and a split if you look close

 

[niky]

I was mentioning the top/bottom split, as well... but then, the Red Bull and Williams also have something like an auxiliary air intake under the main duct.

-

Looking at it this way, having more air coming from there allows for smaller sidepod vents, which helps the rear diffuser. And I like the idea of maximizing that air coming around the driver's head.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Here's, from what I know, the first image of the new for 2015 spark blocks in action:

 

[niky]

Ooh... ooh... can we have color-coded tire smoke next?

"Purple cloud at Turn One! Looks like Kimi's locked it up! Yellow cloud behind it... Lewis Hamilton taking evasive action!"

 

[prisonermonkeys]

McLaren appear to be taking the "it's easier to make a quick car reliable than it is to make a reliable car quick" approach.