F1technical.net

Based upon the second practice times all of the 'ingenious 3' are right up on top of the charts. Unless there's something happening we don't know about, it's reasonable to assume this diffuser design definitely has an advantage over the rest.

i can't see how the 'upper chamber' of the diffusers would be fed from the front of the car, there would have to be a channels and so there would be a gap for the airflow beteen the internals and the floor which would cause a much higher CoM of the car as a whole, i just dont see it.
i think it may be a splitter and force more air underneath the car and possibly a compartment in which to put quite a bit of ballast. (they arent running a kers remember, although if they did this place would be the best place for batteries, forward planning anyone?)

Ferrari and BMW's new diffusers.





BMW is very narrow

Could it be that the "Innovative-three" have their gearboxes designed according to their diffuser-shape, why it becomes somewhat difficult for the others to just copy'n paste?
Another reason for Brawn not wanting the entire McLaren drive-train, which would seem to have been the logical way to go for a team in a time-squeeze?

Question: what's that yellow "ring" at both diffuser's design? I assume it is not a tow ring

sstanescu wrote:Question: what's that yellow "ring" at both diffuser's design? I assume it is not a tow ring

Its the opening so that the starter motor shaft can be connected to the gearbox for starting the engine.

joseff wrote:
I believe your interpretation would be illegal.

Agreed.... and I think you may be onto something with your explanation of what they might be doing.... only thing is though that those holes would have to either be completely vertical or sloping in (so the lower edge of the hole is further outboard than the top of the hole, otherwise you'd be able to see through the hole from beneath......

Must admit I did at first wonder if the upper portion got air from above the floor and acted a bit like an eductor... i.e accelerating air above the lower deck of the diffuser to suck more air from it.... but this alternative could be the answer!

OK, who's up for creating a 3D model to show us the arrangement (these shadey photos just don't give it away!!!)????

Longley wrote:When you look at these pictures from f1today.nl you can see where brawn and williams get the extra air for their diffusers

Not so easy to copy I think

Those do not feed extra air to the diffusers... if anything they provide more front downforce to balance the extra downforce created by the diffusers.

I'm not 100% sure the diffusers need that much extra air, there higher efficiency could just lower the pressure of the air that is already there, creating a higher pressure gradient and thus more downforce, just an idea, not 100% percent sure on that one.

xpensive wrote:Could it be that the "Innovative-three" have their gearboxes designed according to their diffuser-shape, why it becomes somewhat difficult for the others to just copy'n paste?
Another reason for Brawn not wanting the entire McLaren drive-train, which would seem to have been the logical way to go for a team in a time-squeeze?

I was thinking about that, too.
And maybe its like that: Toyota and Williams may have the same drive train and Brawn has got a different from McM one?

If thats the case, I understand why do the other teams complain: its difficult and takes tiem and money to redesign the drive train (gearbox+diff+KERS)
If thats not the case, the teams would have already changed the diffuser design...

The phrase "rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men" has never sounded that nice too me till now =D>

These are some of the good things (among other bad) that big rule changing brings to the sport.

It may have nothing to do with the gearbox+diff, but may have everything to do with the rear crash structure which must be tested by the FIA everytime it is changed. And that takes weeks if I remember correctly.

ISLAMATRON wrote:It may have nothing to do with the gearbox+diff, but may have everything to do with the rear crash structure which must be tested by the FIA everytime it is changed. And that takes weeks if I remember correctly.

Do the teams have to pay the FiA a fee to have the test carried out?

If so, maybe the appeal will be thrown out on the grounds that the FiA needs to claw back some of the money it's losing by backing down on the superlicense fee increase...

So, when do we expect McLaren to start buying Brawn Gearbox/Diffusor/Rear Suspension components? Force India as well?

Maybe an even trade for the Mercedes Engines?

Looking trough the sides of the Brawn diffuser I don't think there needs to be a hole in the floor, couldn't they just feed the upper deck of the diffuser trough the side channels as in this illustration?

So... is this the arrangement we're talking about?????

outstanding pic Machin, thank you