Lotus E21 Renault

[Richard]

Mostly this is because those ears are really bugging me, when people at other teams complain about the weight/CoG problems of running a vanity panel and yet here's a set of CF headphones twice as far from the reference plane.

I agree. It seems completely irrational to keep them if they have limited benefit or perhaps no function.

[beelsebob]

nets them a few tenths around Spa or Monza and a negligible gain elsewhere at most

Spa actually strikes me as the single worst circuit on the calendar for a passive f-duct. It has very high downforce requiring corners that are almost as fast as the straight.

[bhall]

What is the purpose of the bulb? A better car kinder on its tyres isn't really the answer we're looking for! Obviously anything that delivers a more drivable car is likely to be kinder to the tyres.

How does it compare to the vanes that some teams have under the nose? How does it compare to the snow plough?

I think...

The R29 used a "thing" to reduce pressure under the nose to negate the lift caused by the central section of the front wing. But, due to the profile, it appears its shape was largely only effective when the car was at zero yaw.



The bulbous shape of the E21's nose should allow for the same effect even when the car's yaw rate briefly goes through the roof during cornering, because the shape it presents to oncoming airflow doesn't change drastically whether that flow is coming from the front or from the side. So, I'd call it a source of flexible downforce.




Of course, I might be wrong.

[oT v1]

Spa actually strikes me as the single worst circuit on the calendar for a passive f-duct. It has very high downforce requiring corners that are almost as fast as the straight.

Vettel was completing DRS overtakes through blanchimont last year, as long as its set for a higher speed than eau rouge it should be fine

[wesley123]

Spa actually strikes me as the single worst circuit on the calendar for a passive f-duct. It has very high downforce requiring corners that are almost as fast as the straight.

Vettel was completing DRS overtakes through blanchimont last year, as long as its set for a higher speed than eau rouge it should be fine

Then the advantage is gone mostly too, since it will only activate on 2 straights and only for the latter parts.

[beelsebob]

Spa actually strikes me as the single worst circuit on the calendar for a passive f-duct. It has very high downforce requiring corners that are almost as fast as the straight.

Vettel was completing DRS overtakes through blanchimont last year, as long as its set for a higher speed than eau rouge it should be fine

Right, but you don't for example want it activating in Pouhon or Stavelot, both of which are extremely high speed corners.

[Jonnycraig]

Vettel was completing DRS overtakes through blanchimont last year, as long as its set for a higher speed than eau rouge it should be fine

He wasnt using DRS.

[oT v1]

He wasnt using DRS.

yh just realised i might have messed that one up, and there probably wasnt even a DRS zone there. Must have stuck in my mind because he was overtaking in the slipstream of someone, got my reduced downforce mixed up :\

enough derailing, sorry folks

[ringo]

Of course, I might be wrong.

Haha, yes because it can increase lift.
That is why you see such a big evolution between the current one and the past one. Also compare to the W01. I fell the current one is much slimmer and more precisely desinged for the corners and braking. I'm not sure what philosophy mercedes were using, but it wasn't the right road to go down at the time.
I feel this design could have som presure reduction properties still. The shape from the side and front is interesting.
It was the pressure recovery why the W01 philosophy was wrong, there was a pressure increase after the air passed the peak of the bump. It could be the case here as well, but i don't know.

Yes yaw transients was what was being considered. I don't know to what extent, but it's for drivablity for sure.

Turning vanes do the opposite. They increase downforce by isolating the conditioned flow under the nose from the unconditioned flow outside. They are basically end plates for the under nose. Kind of like a diffuser end plate.

[aleks_ader]

Lotus has confirmed upgrades to the front wing, rear wing and floor of the E21 chassis for this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2948 ... to-monaco/

[stefan_]

Monaco 2013 - Wednesday (22.05.2013)




via AMuS






via Jennie Gow

[oT v1]

Wrong observation on wheel nuts, pls delete

[Blackout]

60 000 pictures on the Ferrari the RBR and Hamilton's dog and 3 shitty pics on the E21...

[stefan_]

Wrong observation on wheel nuts, pls delete

Didn't see your original post but no, they aer not blown like WIlliams'.

Lotus / Daft Punk livery for Monaco

[Blackout]

Lotus is using robots now