Parc Ferme Question Re: Change in Climatic Conditions

[MikeFromCanada]

I'm just wondering what exactly is allowed to be changed in Parc Ferme conditions, if the FIA deems there to be a "Change in Climatic Conditions". i.e, a dry qualifying leading to a wet race. I was always under the impression if you know that race day is goig to be wet, a decision has to be made whether to run qualifying with a dry setup and compromise your race day set up, or vice versa.

I did some reading in the regs, and came up with this:

34) POST QUALIFYING PARC FERME
34.1 - if the FIA technical delegate is satisfied that changes in climatic conditions necessitate alterations to the specification of a car, changes may be made to the air ducts around the front and rear brakes and radiator ducts. These changes may be made at any time after the message “CHANGE IN CLIMATIC CONDITIONS” is shown on the timing monitors, from this point the choice of brake cooling and radiator ducts is free, subject always to compliance with the relevant Technical Regulations.

However the F1.com summary states this :

The only exception to this is when there is a "change in climatic conditions", for example a dry qualifying session followed by a wet race, or vice versa. In this case the FIA will give the teams permission to make further appropriate changes to their cars.

I guess my second question would be, when they say adjusting the ducts, I assume that would just mean the size of the ducts (to reflect the temperature changes)? Is that all they are allowed to change under this condition.

[WhiteBlue]

Obviously the most important change would be the change to wet tyres which also automatically increases the ride height because wet tyres have a bigger diameter. With 2010 rules drivers can also adjust the front wing.

Drivers can also set engine management to wet conditions and adjust brake bias, diff and clutch settings.

[lolzi]

With 2010 rules drivers can also adjust the front wing.

Drivers can also set engine management to wet conditions and adjust brake bias, diff and clutch settings.

I thought they could do all that whether there was a "change in climatic conditions" or not?

[Belatti]

Obviously they can´t change gear ratios, something that would give you some advantage if you could.

What I wonder about is spring/damper setting changes due to wet track.

I have talked to people working in touring cars that say that a good setup for dry is the same for wet but that the changes are made to have a car with slower response to driver inputs. In other words a more "forgiving" car.

I believe that because of the slower speeds achieved in the wet, the exitation to the wheels are different and the characteristic frequencies are different, so the good setup for the dry can be definitively improved.

[ESPImperium]

All they are allowed to change are some basic, and quick mechanichal settings, use the FFA on the front wing and install the Extra Wet tyres. You cannot put inters on, only if its not exactly cut and dried about weather do you do that from P11.

Drivers will be told what multimap setting to use for their engine, optomising it to its best, and change the diff settings, especially the entry and exit values on their steering wheel.

Teams cannot change wings, unless its like China 09 for dry quali and a wet race.

Extra wet tyres will automatically raise the ride height arround 4mm and 2.5mm for the inters so they can execute the water extraction they do to lift 80 Litres a minuite in the air for X-Wets. Also they can alter tire pressures as well.

They simply cannot change from 100% dry to 100% wet if its in the 30min before the race warning they get on the timing screens, in whitch they can change the settings, this is where the limitations come in. What do you change in 30 minuites. Not much, but enough to make a diffrence.