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[Jef Patat]

The undercut at the front though is much smaller, they've basically just shifted components forward.

I'm not convinced of that statement. I've not compared pics side to side, but I think the complete undercut has increased.

To go back to the complete idea of 'higher nose' design. Everybody is always saying: higher nose -> more air -> more air to the back -> more possibilities to create rear downforce. I never really got this, there must be an 'easy' path for that air to go to the back. The best result would be without a sidepod. The other opposite is with a sidepod without undercut, forcing all the air into the almost 'free' stream next to the car. So the more overall undercut, the more air you can take from the front to the back. In that way I think the most performance can be gained from a larger undercut, and not from another nose.

Or am I missing something?

[beelsebob]

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New:


The undercut is *much* smaller at the front.

You can also see the much larger undercut at the rear there – note the position of the pipework with blue stripes on the back of the radiator... the undercut on the now one tucks in right the way so that it's in line with that, on the old one it's a good 5-10cm further out.

[endless]

anyone knows whats the purpose of those laser sensors?

[Jef Patat]

The undercut is *much* smaller at the front.

You can also see the much larger undercut at the rear there – note the position of the pipework with blue stripes on the back of the radiator... the undercut on the now one tucks in right the way so that it's in line with that, on the old one it's a good 5-10cm further out.

True fact, didn't realise it was that *much* smaller.

[Coefficient]

The undercut at the front though is much smaller, they've basically just shifted components forward.

I'm not convinced of that statement. I've not compared pics side to side, but I think the complete undercut has increased.

To go back to the complete idea of 'higher nose' design. Everybody is always saying: higher nose -> more air -> more air to the back -> more possibilities to create rear downforce. I never really got this, there must be an 'easy' path for that air to go to the back. The best result would be without a sidepod. The other opposite is with a sidepod without undercut, forcing all the air into the almost 'free' stream next to the car. So the more overall undercut, the more air you can take from the front to the back. In that way I think the most performance can be gained from a larger undercut, and not from another nose.

Or am I missing something?

Yes you are, under floor flow that is fed by everything ahead of and via the Bib Splitter. The flow underneath is the daddy here and getting that flow extraced as quick as possible through the diffuser is the golden egg. The flow over the floor and around the sidepod is trying to help suck the under floor flow out. High nose feeds the bib splitter and under floor with a higher volume of less turbulent air.

[RichardF1]

anyone knows whats the purpose of those laser sensors?

Sky Sports feed said it was to measure rear ride height?

[vikram_d]

Sky Sports feed said it was to measure rear ride height?

Thanks. I was wondering what those lights were. Never realised they were laser sensors.

[ian_s]

you mean they arent there to blind the drivers of cars behind?

[bonjon1979]

anyone knows whats the purpose of those laser sensors?

Sky Sports feed said it was to measure rear ride height?

I'm dubious about that - they seem to be directed rearwards. Maybe they're lighting up the tyres so the can see them more clearly with a camera they've got under there? Does that seem too far fetched?

[simieski]

I'm dubious about that - they seem to be directed rearwards. Maybe they're lighting up the tyres so the can see them more clearly with a camera they've got under there? Does that seem too far fetched?

unlikely. I believe they use a thermal imaging camera mounted on the side of the roll hoop to monitor the tyres during testing. There is a picture of this on the previous page.

[Lurk]

Old:

New:


The undercut is *much* smaller at the front.

You can also see the much larger undercut at the rear there – note the position of the pipework with blue stripes on the back of the radiator... the undercut on the now one tucks in right the way so that it's in line with that, on the old one it's a good 5-10cm further out.

Looking at the fan, I'm starting to think that the front undercut is smaller because the whole sidepod was narrowed...

Is the curved rear wing main flap a new feature? (I'm not talking about the wing itself but the fact that it looks curved - could be a lens deformation though)

[Hangaku]

unlikely. I believe they use a thermal imaging camera mounted on the side of the roll hoop to monitor the tyres during testing. There is a picture of this on the previous page.

I disagree. If they are trying to understand the tires, it would be beneficial to know where on the circuit they are taking the biggest battering. That can't be achieved with thermal imaging alone. Also, I believe the thermal camera were floor mounted? Or has that changed since all this exhaust gas palava?

[Owen.C93]

Looks like the tweaked the RW endplate fins as well. CBA to find pictures yet though.

[f1rules]

they have, i think

http://f1zoom.fx1.nl/?year=2012&race=ge ... 348&view=1

[Piraxian]

anyone knows whats the purpose of those laser sensors?

According to Mclaren on twitter "It's a fluoro sighting strip - to help with placing the rear jack."

https://twitter.com/thefifthdriver/stat ... 9749168128