Lotus E21 Renault

[Matt Somers]

The mount looks a bit longer, thats all.

I never said it is blowing something. That was strelok's assumption and I said 'why not ?'... after all the things we saw these last years ...
And yes it's thick and looks rounded. It definitley looks intriguing when compared to the usual anti flexing mounts.
Might be a big vortex generator. why not

I'm tired so can't say my posts will be coherent here but the several things that sprung to mind when I first saw it yesterday:

A) It could be blowing the front edge of the Tea Tray with a duct at the top end
B) It simply helps to augment the airflow to the Sidepods/Bargeboards that the Pelican Nose is already deflecting (Progressional upgrade)

Here's another angle of it:

[Matt Somers]

But why Lotus' ramp doesn't smooth into the floor like RBR's?

RBR's various versions of the tunnel last season saw them try differing tunnel/ramp lengths in combination with the length of the vertical strake. I think the most important thing to realise about Lotus' version of the tunnel are they haven't shrouded the halfshafts so are still trying to utilise the halfshafts for DF generation and their tunnel ramp doesnt blend into the floor suggesting internally they needed the additional space to make their current internal dynamics work with the tunnel concept.

[AnthonyG]

RB has the same winglet (dunno if its something from last year allready)

[Richard]

There are post-2009 rules stating that sidepod bodywork 50mm above the floor must meet tangential and minimum radius regulations. Hence the sharp edge of the tunnel'.

Thank you! I read the original comment as referring to the hight of the floor above the ground, a ride height mechanism!

That sharp edge really does help identify the tunnel, it certainly looks longer than the RB tunnel .... although who knows what will turn up at Melbourne.

[korzeniow]

But why Lotus' ramp doesn't smooth into the floor like RBR's?

RBR's various versions of the tunnel last season saw them try differing tunnel/ramp lengths in combination with the length of the vertical strake. I think the most important thing to realise about Lotus' version of the tunnel are they haven't shrouded the halfshafts so are still trying to utilise the halfshafts for DF generation and their tunnel ramp doesnt blend into the floor suggesting internally they needed the additional space to make their current internal dynamics work with the tunnel concept.

I don't know how step on the ramp would benefit in downforce from disturbed air from spinning halfshaft. For me it doesn't sound right. But maby you could explain more about this.

I think they wanted to improve the effectiveness of the tunnel and the step was the result of raising the ramp

[Matt Somers]

But why Lotus' ramp doesn't smooth into the floor like RBR's?

RBR's various versions of the tunnel last season saw them try differing tunnel/ramp lengths in combination with the length of the vertical strake. I think the most important thing to realise about Lotus' version of the tunnel are they haven't shrouded the halfshafts so are still trying to utilise the halfshafts for DF generation and their tunnel ramp doesnt blend into the floor suggesting internally they needed the additional space to make their current internal dynamics work with the tunnel concept.

I don't know how step on the ramp would benefit in downforce from disturbed air from spinning halfshaft. For me it doesn't sound right. But maby you could explain more about this.

I think they wanted to improve the effectiveness of the tunnel and the step was the result of raising the ramp

The ramp ending at the floor (RBR) will have the airflow at a lower point than the step to the floor (Lotus) meaning the airflow to the halfshaft is distributed further/higher along the floor (Tired so probs not my best explanation)

[Owen.C93]

I think you're way over estimating the importance of drive shaft downforce. And even then the more shapely floor around the tyre is a bit of a stretch.

[miguelalvesreis]

I'm tired so can't say my posts will be coherent here but the several things that sprung to mind when I first saw it yesterday:

A) It could be blowing the front edge of the Tea Tray with a duct at the top end
B) It simply helps to augment the airflow to the Sidepods/Bargeboards that the Pelican Nose is already deflecting (Progressional upgrade)

Here's another angle of it:

Can it be a version of Sauber's S-Duct?

[MarkedOne8]

They don't need to smooth the end of the ramp because that part is probably too far back to have effect on the exhaust gases, but that step on the ramp, comparing to RB, gives Lotus' ramp a bit more capacity. I don't which one' solution is better, but Lotus is, I think, playing on the capacity of tunnel.

As I said earlier, I'm pretty sure that the splitter support is actually a tube, it is hollow. I don't know if the rules are allowing any tubes to pass through the bodywork around plank area. These tubes would be sending the air from front to blow something at the back (diffuser, starting hole, whatever). Or maybe... tubes are not necessary, maybe it's purpose is to insert that extra air under the plank to increase the pressure so the diffuser effect will be higher when it extracts the air.

P.S. I'm not that type of guy who expects almost everything to be blown. I'm not RB/Newey fanboy etc.

[wesley123]

is it me or is the overal splitter in that area very fat? could it be that they house the ECU in it or something?

[MarkedOne8]

is it me or is the overal splitter in that area very fat? could it be that they house the ECU in it or something?

Technically I don't know, but visually it's pretty similar to RB's one.

It's not like F-Duct, it's not connected to the inner side of the cockpit. The driver's influence is forbidden. It's could be something like brother version of DRD, but in this case, the blowing target is different.

[tepek]

http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/me ... 204.32.jpg

Is it me or there is a tunnnel under the sidepod in the floor?

[Matt Somers]

I think you're way over estimating the importance of drive shaft downforce. And even then the more shapely floor around the tyre is a bit of a stretch.

Perhaps, if it's coming across that way but merely trying to show why Lotus have adopted a different solution. The most important reason for the shrouding of the halfshaft is raising the wishbone clear of the floor and not placing it under the halfshaft. This allows for a more unobstructed flow to the rear of the car - Source: Andrew Green, Sahara Force India (I was at the launch of the VJM06 and when asked that was his frank response)

[stefan_]

Jerez - Day 3

[korzeniow]

So, Kimi will be working on aero this morning