2010/2011 winter testing

[mep]

An important thing to note is that the diffuser really only generates rear downforce. The front downforce isn't really affected

That’s wrong.
The diffuser is sucking the air from below the car therefore the air under the car is flowing faster.
Fast airflow => reduced pressure under the car => force generated under the floor.

So the downforce generated by the diffuser has its center of pressure somewhere in the middle of the car. If you reduce the amount of force by the floor the Center of pressure of the whole car moves therefore you have to adjust the front and rear wing to get your CoP back in the place where you want it to have.

You change one thing => you have to adjust the rest.

[mith]

I think it's worth mentioning that reducing downforce will have impact on car's tyres usage.

[raymondu999]

Fair enough. I stand corrected. By the way, does anyone know when pre-season testing starts? I'm assuming that after we've completed the Pirelli tests, there's no F1 action until then, right?

[FLC]

They (Pirelli) have another test planned to take place next month in Bahrain with DLR in the TF110, if I'm not mistaken.
Official F1 testing begins Feb. 1st at Valencia.

[autogyro]

Why do F1 fans have to wait 16weeks without any TV coverage.
Why cant they cover the testing and do some other decent coverage in the break?

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

That’s wrong.
The diffuser is sucking the air from below the car therefore the air under the car is flowing faster.
Fast airflow => reduced pressure under the car => force generated under the floor.

So the downforce generated by the diffuser has its center of pressure somewhere in the middle of the car. If you reduce the amount of force by the floor the Center of pressure of the whole car moves therefore you have to adjust the front and rear wing to get your CoP back in the place where you want it to have.

You change one thing => you have to adjust the rest.

=D> Thanks mep. Very well explained for us lesser technical posters.

[gridwalker]

Why do F1 fans have to wait 16weeks without any TV coverage.
Why cant they cover the testing and do some other decent coverage in the break?

The BBC season review was on TV earlier this afternoon

[mach11]

Hey all,

Pirelli have given a report on their first full grid test of their tyres...

Did the teams add weight to simulate the K.E.R.S system for next year during the test sessions????

I think the teams cannot consider the 2010 tire data anymore and will have to go back to 2009 to compare the Bridgestone and Pirelli tyres...

[raymondu999]

Why 2009? I don't see what benefits comparing 2009 to 2011 would bring over 2010 to 2011... And I think we would first need to see which teams are running KERS/not

[forty-two]

Why do F1 fans have to wait 16weeks without any TV coverage.
Why cant they cover the testing and do some other decent coverage in the break?

I'm totally with you on this. While I admit that it's likely that MOST people (meaning people who aren't F1 Fanatics) would probably not watch a preseason test session on TV, but I for one would.

In fact, if finding a slot on the TV schedule was tricky, I'd be quite happy to be able to watch a live stream online if only FOM would provide one. I could even live without any commentary.

I guess FOM would have to employ a camera crew, OB unit etc. but I think the hardcore fans would love it!

[gridwalker]

Ditto : so would I (even if just to see the ingenious test rigs that McLaren like to use on their machines).

Hell, if I was happy to go along to Silverstone to sit in the sun and watch the cars go by with a few thousand others during test sessions where times weren't publicly available, surely there would be a market for timed test session streams (particularly if stint lengths and driver by driver timing charts were available).

[satlan]

I remember from previous testing periods there being a twitter account that combined news from multiple sources and put it all neatly in 1 page. Does someone remember who did those and if they're gonna do it again in 2011?