Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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Nicolai
Nicolai
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Joined: 14 Jan 2008, 15:01

Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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Hi,
I noticed that the new Ferrari and the new Mclaren both feature, what i would guess to be a small air intake in the tip of their nose cones.
There is a small hole in the tip with a mesh behind it.
My question is; what is the purpose? What could possibly need cooling in the nose cone?
Image

axle
axle
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Joined: 22 Jun 2004, 14:45
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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Nicolai wrote:Hi,
I noticed that the new Ferrari and the new Mclaren both feature, what i would guess to be a small air intake in the tip of their nose cones.
There is a small hole in the tip with a mesh behind it.
My question is; what is the purpose? What could possibly need cooling in the nose cone?
AFAIK - The Driver.
- Axle

manchild
manchild
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Joined: 03 Jun 2005, 10:54

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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Many teams have them for several years now. They are for cooling of driver and suspension/steering elements as well as all electronics that can be found from the end of the nose till the end of the cockpit. It can get extremely hot in cockpit if not ventilated.

DaveKillens
DaveKillens
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Joined: 20 Jan 2005, 04:02

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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Strangely, and interestingly, during the Michael Schumacher era the Ferraris never had intakes in the tip of the nose. Any supplimentary air was provided by a scoop in the top of the front chassis.
Racing should be decided on the track, not the court room.

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Iciano
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Joined: 07 Mar 2006, 19:00
Location: Ireland

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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I remember a B.A.R. mechanic calling it a 'donkey dick' on one of the F1 reviews froma few years ago.

bizadfar
bizadfar
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Joined: 03 Jan 2007, 15:51

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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look for Hungary 2005 pre race interview with Herbert.

He said the same thing as most here.

I also assume it reduces drag.

Also these were on the cars after a few races in 2007 already.

bhall
bhall
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Joined: 28 Feb 2006, 21:26

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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The nose intake was a feature of the Ferrari a few races into the season last year. It must not be necessary though, as Massa's car had the intake plugged while Raikkonen's was usually open.

modbaraban
modbaraban
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Joined: 05 Apr 2007, 17:44
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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Some examples:

248 F1
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RA106
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RB1
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RB3, RA107 (link)

F1.07
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Interesting how BMW.Sauber had no nosecone hole in 2007 then had one in 2007 and again got rid of it for 2008.
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Last edited by modbaraban on 15 Jan 2008, 18:21, edited 1 time in total.

Nicolai
Nicolai
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Joined: 14 Jan 2008, 15:01

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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Ah that explains it. Thank you all. I never noticed it on the old cars till now.

eidetic
eidetic
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Joined: 07 Jun 2007, 13:25

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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I'm no aerodynamicist, so maybe someone can help me out here. I've read some suggestions that the placement is also a place to get rid of stagnant air that "pools" at the front of the nose cone. So instead of air building up in front, it instead gets sucked inside. Any truth to this?

modbaraban
modbaraban
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Joined: 05 Apr 2007, 17:44
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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eidetic wrote:I'm no aerodynamicist, so maybe someone can help me out here. I've read some suggestions that the placement is also a place to get rid of stagnant air that "pools" at the front of the nose cone. So instead of air building up in front, it instead gets sucked inside. Any truth to this?
As far as I'm aware it's aerodynamically beneficial to clock the nosecone hole, as they do it when extra cooling isn't absolutely necessary.

Image
Image
(there's a hole, but it's blocked if you have a closer look)

donskar
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Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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Also notice that when the perforated nose is/was used the mirror on the driver's left is NOT identical to the other mirror. It is more sculpted on one side, rather than "smooth"

That anomoly/aerodynamic solution is particularly apparent on the F2007. I got a gorgeous Ferrari F1 calendar for Xmas and the photos there make the differing mirror shapes very apparent.

Any ideas why?
Enzo Ferrari was a great man. But he was not a good man. -- Phil Hill

mx_tifoso
mx_tifoso
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Joined: 30 Nov 2006, 05:01
Location: North America

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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donskar wrote:Also notice that when the perforated nose is/was used the mirror on the driver's left is NOT identical to the other mirror. It is more sculpted on one side, rather than "smooth"

That anomoly/aerodynamic solution is particularly apparent on the F2007. I got a gorgeous Ferrari F1 calendar for Xmas and the photos there make the differing mirror shapes very apparent.

Any ideas why?
I was under the impression that the bulge on one of the mirrors was due to the cockpit/rear facing camera mounting. Or at least thats what I was told a few months ago by someone on this forum. So if this is true, then there is no corrolation between the nosecone hole and the bulge on the mirror(s).
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megz
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Joined: 14 Mar 2007, 09:57
Location: New Zealand

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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It is indeed a camera, it was occasionally used on I *think* only on Kimi's car and on the warm down laps usually but I do know of a clip during French GP quali where Kimi goes off onto the grass and a replay was from that camera showing Kimi checking his mirrors before getting back on track :lol:

alleyoop
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Joined: 23 Apr 2007, 23:13

Re: Air intake in nose cone of F2008/MP4-23 ?

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according to italian newspaper Autosprint Ferrari is studying a very different nose cone intake to shape a better air flow around the car body.