This is only my opinion, but the 'r-flap' or r'-wing' generated an outwards flowing vortex, which combined with the trailing edges on the wing elements and the under-chassis turning vanes to increase its rotational velocity. This then flowed around the side of the sidepods, further energised by the barge-boards and turning vanes. It ended up flowing directly across the gap between the tyre and the diffusers edge.JDC123 wrote:Why have teams (Red Bull, Mercedes etc) dropped the L shaped inner cascade on the front wing this year. Wasn't it to induce a vortice used to seal the floor in front of the rear tyre?
A diffuser on its own will form an inwards flowing vortex, however the strong outwards flowing vortex generated by the front wing and turning vanes cancels out this rotation, and could even conceivably feed into the diffuser.
For 2014 the significant reduction in the beam wing and narrower dimensions of the rear wing have a knock on effect to the diffusers efficiency, essentially decreasing its performance potential and therefore the inwards flowing vortex that is generated by the diffusers edge is of much less intensity. Therefore teams must feel that the outwards flowing vortex that is still generated by the front wing is sufficient to cancel out this effect at the diffuser.