MS's comments, and the F2008 design philosophy.

[timbo]

I guess they would evaluate where the biggest gains in performance may come. Right now F2007 seems to be suited to high-speed corners, and I think TC ban would affect it handling less than MP4-22 which seem to be optimised for slow-speed cornering. However, out of the same conditions (F2007 suited for high-speed corners) one can deduce so that its low-speed handling may become even worse, and it will loose too much time. So there's two way how they can develop their car - put even more focus on high-speed cornering (increasing their strength) or try to impruve handling in tight turns (controlling damage). If rumors of shorter wheelbase are true then they've chosen latter path.

[RH1300S]

I think Jersey Tom & Dumrick are on the money here.

I don't quite get the fuss over TC; a good car will use TC far less than a poor one as it will have more grip. AFIK a modern F1 car spends a large part of the lap running in a condition that is NOT traction limited due to fairly high mechanical grip and also immense aero grip. Isn't it also fair to say that most drivers that have arrived in F1 are probably capable of learning throttle control (that is one of easiest parts of driving a car).

Another thing they will lose with a standard ECU is engine braking management; which could be harder for the drivers to deal with.

So, I can't see why the design philosophy of the car will be greatly different, it will centre around getting the most out of the tyres as it did with TC - not centred around whether the driver's brain is engaged or not.

Wet races will be fun though

[Saribro]

I believe the question we are facing in this discussion is: "Is there any difference in chassis and dynamic design of a competition vehicle with TC and one without?"

I really believe there is not

I'm inclined to agree. I believe a lot of people are assuming way to much influence from traction control on car design. There would of course be changes to engine management and some setup tweaks to allow more gradual and finegrained control of powerdelivery, but nothing that would change design-"philosophy". If anything, it's the drivers that need to adapt their style more than designers changing their car.

[Belatti]

I feel I am the only one who understands what conceptual is trying to point here. He is talking about "Philosophy"

To answer his question, I think that F1 designers (a very high engineering level) have already archieved in their heads the info for designing a car for this or those conditions/rules and knows in what they should base.

Conceptual wrote:
Kinda means that RBR, STR, FI, BMW and SA may be all SOL in 2008!

Dont forget that Adrian Newey is the man behind RBR and STR, BMW was Sauber, SA has Honda support and.... well....yes... FI will do what it can.

[mini696]

There would be many things the team have to compromise on with the change to non-TC.

Compromises that would allow a better setup towards something particular (maybe front end grip) yet makes the car need to use the TC more often than is optimum.

As for using the 2001 Ferrari as a base, I doubt that would happen. The will continue the same line they are going along now, but... they will bring a sideline in referring to the 2001 car.

[mini696]

There would be many things the team have to compromise on with the change to non-TC.

Compromises that would allow a better setup towards something particular (maybe front end grip) yet makes the car need to use the TC more often than is optimum.

As for using the 2001 Ferrari as a base, I doubt that would happen. The will continue the same line they are going along now, but... they will bring a sideline in referring to the 2001 car.

[FLC]

I've already mentioned this in the Barcelona testing thread, but nobody really responded. One field in which Ferrari seem to have gone back to 2001 is maybe the steering wheel:



The arrangement is a little bit different, but they look pretty much alike. The big LCD is notably gone. Will be interesting to see if other teams follow this.
I also wonder if one can really be sure if this is the result of the mandatory ECU or did Massa and Kimi had a say? What do you guys think/know? Could this be just a testing version?

[mx_tifoso]

According to Ferrari's head engineer Luca Baldisserri:

The new car is an improved F2007 so you shouldn't expect a revolutionary design. We are building on our current championship winning car.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/11/ ... n-january/

As expected by most: Evolution rather than Revolution.

Regarding the missing LCD screen on the November testing version of the F2007, it depends on what information was shown on it. Maybe the previously shown info is no longer necessary, or they have found a new way to display it and/or inform the drivers. Although most likely it is too early to tell, lets wait until the December tests to analyze it more in depth. And according to some of the links posted below, the limited information that the new ECU provides does have an effect on the design of the new steering wheels for ´08.

Take a peek in this forum, where they are discussing the F2008 ECU and steering wheel. http://www.forumula1.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2302

And then this forum: F2008 development, with a good article and pic of steering wheel comparison. http://www.f1network.net/boards/read/s8 ... 61,page=10

[allan]

According to Ferrari's head engineer Luca Baldisserri:

The new car is an improved F2007 so you shouldn't expect a revolutionary design. We are building on our current championship winning car.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/11/ ... n-january/

As expected by most: Evolution rather than Revolution.

Regarding the missing LCD screen on the November testing version of the F2007, it depends on what information was shown on it. Maybe the previously shown info is no longer necessary, or they have found a new way to display it and/or inform the drivers. Although most likely it is too early to tell, lets wait until the December tests to analyze it more in depth.

Actually, i read it somewhere that all teams are using the same display, provided by mclaren. I think it makes sense, since if u look closely at the picture, the display screen(s) are pretty similar to those on the mclaren dashboard.