chrisc90 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:29 pm
I can’t see how the suspension will stop their straight line speed deficit.
They designed the car around the concept of running as low as possible.
That lead to couple of things.
- a simple floor edge, because once you get low you can use simple structures to seal the floor.
- everything related to the tunnels and defusser was designed for running close to the ground (this has a knock on effect for everything in close proximity).
- a suspension system optimized mechanical and aerodynamically for running low to the ground.
When the concept didn't work, they had to implement a sting of marginal fixes, that each came with consequences.
first and foremost they had to raise the ride height. when they did that, they lost downforce from the underside of the car as a whole. To try and limit the loss of df from the floor they had to develop more complex mechanisms of sealing the floor edge.
To gain back downforce, and probably to help aerodynamically balance the car, they had to generate more df than they originally planned to from the wings. hence, why they ran such a high df rear wing (and got more drag as a consequence) all year compared to their competitors.
by raising the ride height, they most likely pushed the suspension system into a smaller section of it's design envelope. on some weekends it might have even been on the verge of being out (or was out at certain points in the lap) of its envelope. This has can cause several less than ideal mechanical issues. It can also cause negative aero effects, because the teams take into account what wishbones & push/pull rods to the air flow.