RacingManiac wrote:
You are not going to have 3 month of work completely wasted, you just need to modify your design. You are still using the same engine, you are still using the same suspension parts, and god help you if you decided to start designing your 4wd KERS and active aero on your first ever F1 car as the FIRST thing you do, because you'll have bigger problem.
Is refueling on or off for next year? Does anyone know? I've heard it both ways. Is Cosworth limited to 18k? The first question is a major, major design consideration that affects everything: wheelbase, aero, suspension geometry, etc. Designing a car around 60 gallons of fuel requires a completely different concept than designing one around 20.
And if Cosworth has to run 18k RPM, most of these guys are probably on the phone to Toyota, BMW, Renault and Ferrari. The Cosworth makes a lot less sense if it's hobbled and without the money to bring it up to date.
I agree about the KERS, none of the new teams would have been running it next year anyway.
Anyway, the point was that the chassis mold is relatively inexpensive considered on its own. The design work that it represents costs a lot more.