F1 considers moveable aerodynamics

Eurosport - Thu, 08 Jan 14:02:00 2009

Formula One could return to a golden age of slip-streaming and wheel-to-wheel racing under a radical change to the technical regulations being mooted by the sport's rulers.

FORMULA 1 Monaco circuit - 0

FIA president Max Mosley, in a letter to Formula One Teams Association chairman Luca di Montezemolo, said the current lack of overtaking remained cause for concern.

"We intend to seek FOTA's help to investigate the use of moveable aerodynamic devices," wrote the Briton.

"If sufficiently radical, these could give a car following another car a performance advantage by virtue of being behind.

"In a primitive way, this was the case in the 1960s when a car would get a 'tow' and lose lift and thus be faster in the wake of another car.

"The result was wheel-to-wheel racing at the so-called slip-streaming circuits, for example pre-chicane Monza.

"Using modern technology, moveable aero devices could be used to give a car more downforce and less drag whenever it was in turbulent air.

"This would produce wheel-to-wheel racing on all types of circuit. It would however require significant (possibly automatic) moveable aero devices."

Moveable aerodynamic devices have been banned for years, largely for safety reasons, with the regulations stipulating that "any specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance ... must be rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car".

However the teams' reading of the regulations has led to frequent controversy and accusations that they were bending the rules.

The 2006 season saw charges that some teams, notably Ferrari, were using so-called 'flexi-wings' to improve performance.

That same year, champions Renault had their 'mass damper' system, which levelled out tyre vibrations and kept grip levels consistent, outlawed because the FIA ruled it constituted a moveable aerodynamic device.

F1's rules have changed already for this year, with a return to slick tyres and new aerodynamics regulations along with the optional KERS system that gives cars an extra burst of power by recovering energy generated by the brakes.

"It remains to be seen whether these plus an extra 80bhp from KERS will help overtaking," said Mosley.

"There are also proposals for changes to the sporting regulations such as wholly or partially reversed grids, allocating leading grid places by lot, giving the world championship to the driver with most wins and so on.

"Arguably, however, none of these deals with the problem that once the faster car gets past, it tends to drive away. So none of these proposals is conducive to close, wheel-to-wheel racing."

Reuters

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  1. We got bored with you very quickly mungo. You never­ say anything of any worth, just did a little search and­ found

    From Rob The Racist, on Fri 11 Sep 5:47PM

  2. We got bored with you very quickly mungo.

    From Rob The Racist, on Fri 11 Sep 5:46PM

  3. somebody please report these morons like Bernard or­ Timo Glock

    From Abbinator, on Sat 10 Jan 12:27AM

  4. I thought the FIA had outlawed wheel-to-wheel racing! ­ After all, if you out brake yourself into a corner, or­ defend your position with vigour you get a drive­ through penalty...

    I do think things like active­ suspension, mass dampers and variable geometry aero­ parts would bring a lot to the sport - but how are the­ teams supposed to develop these new technologies when­ they aren't allowed any more in-season testing?

    From Mark, on Fri 9 Jan 2:50PM

  5. Marion - Every time I come on this site you say the­ same rubbish on every article. Go and get a life and­ leave the big boys and girls to talk about sport...

    From doubletalkinjive76, on Fri 9 Jan 2:09PM

  6. "they have all been insulted by the idiotic­ JBolan"

    J Bolan, huh? So we have a name for this­ pest now. John Bolan? Jim Bolan? Can we find an­ address too and go round there en masse with a friendly­ petition?

    From Adam L, on Fri 9 Jan 2:04PM

  7. jonny_maverick1
    I'm with Bill mac on this one.
    The­ "person" who normally posts this inane,­ puerile but generally innocuous garbage is also capable­ of quite vile insults and other nasty acts such as ID­ theft and getting post removed just because they­ don't agree with the content.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Fri 9 Jan 9:42AM

  8. I have a friend who works for mclaren in woking and she­ yes she who works on the mechanical side is over the­ moon as she has just got a big bonus for all her hard­ work who said there is a recession they think they will­ romp it next year dream on

    From simon w, on Fri 9 Jan 9:16AM

  9. Bernard, who cares about this and that, Hamilton won,­ end of. He is clearly the best driver at the moment. I­ dont really follow F1 too much so im saying this from a­ non biased view. I dont follow any team.

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Fri 9 Jan 9:04AM

  10. Maybe he was hoping by forcing Hamilton into the dry on­ wet tyres, he'd come off :P

    From Darren, on Fri 9 Jan 1:33AM

  11. Why don't people get over it and accept that­ Hamilton is champion whever we like it or not!

    From david, on Fri 9 Jan 12:27AM

  12. bill mac you are lucky i keep getting invalid comment

    From jonny_maverick1, on Thu 8 Jan 11:32PM

  13. testing testing

    From jonny_maverick1, on Thu 8 Jan 11:31PM

  14. The Formula 1 Season is now over. The 2009 season­ starts on March 29 with the Australian GP.

    From Only Human After All, on Thu 8 Jan 10:41PM

  15. In fact jonny_maverick1 the only time time that Marnio­ etc doesn't post a standard script is when he is­ insulting someone. Just ask MGA, F1Junky etc, they have­ all been insulted by the idiotic JBolan aka marnio­ etc.
    Not only that it is extremely tedious to see the­ same post month after month posted on these pages. Now­ I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you­ are new to these pages and are not yet hacked off by­ this idiot.
    You also said "Makes a change from all­ the sycophantic Hamilton fans......" which I also­ find insulting, so perhaps you have some growing up to­ do?

    From BigBill, on Thu 8 Jan 8:39PM

  16. How sad to see the contents of some of the comments,­ maybe those of you are getting the quality of racing ?­ in F1 you deserve. As an oldie, who used to go to at­ least 3 GP's a year both the quality of the racing­ and so called fans has declined so much over the years­ i'm glad I now have little intrest

    From ARTHUR, on Thu 8 Jan 8:25PM

  17. Marion, is it something you inject or drink that makes­ you so sociably retarded.
    Are you and Bernard having an­ incestuous relationship?
    You both prove that relatives­ shouldn't marry and have offspring.

    From marktsparky65, on Thu 8 Jan 8:18PM

  18. should go back to driver controlled turbo boost with a­ set limit of fuel...turn it up to overtake or defend­ your lead..use it to much you run out of fuel!!! easy..­ also it would bring stratergy back into back into the­ race.. what you think????

    From quinn.patrick, on Thu 8 Jan 8:13PM

  19. and that kep telling the teams to cut costs? what is­ the research and deveolpment of these parts going to­ cost ?

    From piers, on Thu 8 Jan 8:01PM

  20. that realy is marions picture

    From piers, on Thu 8 Jan 7:58PM
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