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The article makes it seem like all teams add more rear downforce as the season progresses. I don't follow F1 - is this true about the increasing downforce and

by na85 8y ago

The article makes it seem like all teams add more rear downforce as the season progresses. I don't follow F1 - is this true about the increasing downforce and if so, why is that so? Is it simply that the drivers get more comfortable pushing the limits?

clouddrover 8y ago
> is this true about the increasing downforce and if so, why is that so? The regulations have changed this year so the teams can't use the same aerodynamic designs they had last year. The idea of the new aero regulations is that they will promote overtaking, but it also means the cars will lose downforce: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.aero-changes-to-promote-overtaking-approved-for-2019.153os6PCPsI0SaQSsE0cQ6.html https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.aero-changes-to-p... https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/20555 https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/20555 They'll regain some (and maybe even all) of the lost downforce through new aero approaches that are allowed under the new regulations. The designs will be developed and refined as the season progresses.
CaliforniaKarl 8y ago
I’m by no means an expert—or even an expert amateur—but I’ll try until someone with more knowledge comes in! All of the technical regulations are set in advance of the season (this year’s is https://www.fia.com/file/78015/download/26184 https://www.fia.com/file/78015/download/26184). The teams are only allowed to test their cars during a fixed number of “test days”, so they do a _ton_ of simulation pretty much all the time (https://arstechnica.com/cars/2017/04/formula-1-technology/ https://arstechnica.com/cars/2017/04/formula-1-technology/). The chassis (the tub that the driver & engine sit in) doesn’t change much over a season, so the time will be occupied by the team finding ways to move and re-shape things like front and rear wings, so as to increase downforce. Downforce is king because it allows you to make sharper turns at higher speed without understeeting (where the front refuses to turn) or oversteering (where the back refuses to stop turning). And the technical regulations are really finicky about many areas of the car. And in many ways, the three “free practice” sessions before qualifying are as much about in-season development as they are about getting used to the track. Yes, as drivers get time in the real car, they begin to understand where they can push. But also the engineers are seeing how the car is responding during real-world conditions, to feed that into the simulation.
Devthrowaway80 8y ago
My understanding is that the wash from old designs would reduce downforce for cars that follow, which in turn would slow them down and make it harder to overtake. This made for less interesting racing. The new regulations are intended to promote overtaking. Teams of course are trying to maximize downforce within the new regulations.
- foobar1962 8y ago
  > My understanding is that the wash from old designs would reduce downforce for cars that follow, which in turn would slow them down and make it harder to overtake. This made for less interesting racing. My understanding is that to reduce drag, the intakes for cooling air (engine and possibly intercooler) have been minimised to the point where they are sufficient for clean air but insufficient for turbulent air. The engine loses power.
  - Devthrowaway80 8y ago
    No changes have been made to the intake, it's the aero package. From the horse's mouth: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-rules-and-regulations-what%27s-new-for-2019.2DIt7TEs9YqI8IY6mEcwsM.html https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-rules-and-regu... "What’s the change: A wider, higher – and much simplified – front wing Why has it been made: To help chasing drivers follow the car in front more closely - and in turn increase the possibility of overtaking."

by na85 8y ago

clouddrover 8y ago

> is this true about the increasing downforce and if so, why is that so? The regulations have changed this year so the teams can't use the same aerodynamic designs they had last year. The idea of the new aero regulations is that they will promote overtaking, but it also means the cars will lose downforce: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.aero-changes-to-promote-overtaking-approved-for-2019.153os6PCPsI0SaQSsE0cQ6.html https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.aero-changes-to-p... https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/20555 https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/20555 They'll regain some (and maybe even all) of the lost downforce through new aero approaches that are allowed under the new regulations. The designs will be developed and refined as the season progresses.

CaliforniaKarl 8y ago

I’m by no means an expert—or even an expert amateur—but I’ll try until someone with more knowledge comes in! All of the technical regulations are set in advance of the season (this year’s is https://www.fia.com/file/78015/download/26184 https://www.fia.com/file/78015/download/26184). The teams are only allowed to test their cars during a fixed number of “test days”, so they do a _ton_ of simulation pretty much all the time (https://arstechnica.com/cars/2017/04/formula-1-technology/ https://arstechnica.com/cars/2017/04/formula-1-technology/). The chassis (the tub that the driver & engine sit in) doesn’t change much over a season, so the time will be occupied by the team finding ways to move and re-shape things like front and rear wings, so as to increase downforce. Downforce is king because it allows you to make sharper turns at higher speed without understeeting (where the front refuses to turn) or oversteering (where the back refuses to stop turning). And the technical regulations are really finicky about many areas of the car. And in many ways, the three “free practice” sessions before qualifying are as much about in-season development as they are about getting used to the track. Yes, as drivers get time in the real car, they begin to understand where they can push. But also the engineers are seeing how the car is responding during real-world conditions, to feed that into the simulation.

Devthrowaway80 8y ago

My understanding is that the wash from old designs would reduce downforce for cars that follow, which in turn would slow them down and make it harder to overtake. This made for less interesting racing. The new regulations are intended to promote overtaking. Teams of course are trying to maximize downforce within the new regulations.

foobar1962 8y ago
> My understanding is that the wash from old designs would reduce downforce for cars that follow, which in turn would slow them down and make it harder to overtake. This made for less interesting racing. My understanding is that to reduce drag, the intakes for cooling air (engine and possibly intercooler) have been minimised to the point where they are sufficient for clean air but insufficient for turbulent air. The engine loses power.
- Devthrowaway80 8y ago
  No changes have been made to the intake, it's the aero package. From the horse's mouth: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-rules-and-regulations-what%27s-new-for-2019.2DIt7TEs9YqI8IY6mEcwsM.html https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-rules-and-regu... "What’s the change: A wider, higher – and much simplified – front wing Why has it been made: To help chasing drivers follow the car in front more closely - and in turn increase the possibility of overtaking."