2009 Grand Prix of China - Race Thread
#27
Posted 17 April 2009 - 03:10 AM
are most teams running new diffusers?
It looks like Hamilton only, no-one else
#28
Posted 17 April 2009 - 03:28 AM
i don't think lewis has the rear diffuser but he has a new front end aero package..
#29
Posted 17 April 2009 - 03:29 AM
looks like mclaren have found some pace
i don't think lewis has the rear diffuser but he has a new front end aero package..
http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/74511
McLaren fits interim diffuser for China
By Craig Scarborough Friday, April 17th 2009, 02:01 GMT
McLaren has become the first team to take advantage of the final green-light for double-decker diffusers in Formula 1 by fitting an interim version to its car in Shanghai already.
The team has added a small winglet beneath the crash structure and above the dipped centre of the diffuser which is likely to be the first step of a major development push in this area.
The change for China is far from being a full double-decker design, which is expected to appear in subsequent races and is more akin to Toyota's narrow diffuser extension.
By adding this flap, the revised diffuser is now both taller and longer. The flap rises more than 90mm above the 175mm maximum and extends around 40mm behind the permitted 350mm length.
But as the flap sits within the 150mm exclusion area for the rear crash structure, it is perfectly legal.
McLaren appeared with a new diffuser in its last test before the season started. It had a lower centre section, which was expected to be in preparation for a double-decker design, once the protests had been cleared up.
In its current guise the diffuser is a small improvement over the version run in the last two races, but scope still exists for a full double-decker conversion soon.
This fuller conversion may require changes to other parts such as the rear crash structure and rear suspension, as well as the aerodynamic parts upstream of the diffuser such as the front wing and bargeboards.
Other teams have been developing these diffusers in expectation of the FIA court of appeal ruling with Renault possibly introducing its version of a double-decker diffuser this weekend.
Most teams are expected to fit the design by the Spanish Grand Prix, although Red Bull Racing may have to wait until as late as either the Monaco or Turkish race before its version is ready.
#30
Posted 17 April 2009 - 03:40 AM
#31
Posted 17 April 2009 - 03:42 AM
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:37.334 + 22
2. Button Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:37.450 + 0.116 18
3. Barrichello Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:37.566 + 0.232 19
4. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:37.672 + 0.338 23
5. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:37.752 + 0.418 20
6. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:37.764 + 0.430 19
7. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:37.860 + 0.526 24
8. Glock Toyota (B) 1:37.894 + 0.560 21
9. Alonso Renault (B) 1:38.089 + 0.755 19
10. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:38.195 + 0.861 24
11. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:38.223 + 0.889 23
12. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:38.274 + 0.940 20
13. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:38.307 + 0.973 26
14. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:38.319 + 0.985 18
15. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:38.418 + 1.084 20
16. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:38.456 + 1.122 21
17. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:38.460 + 1.126 19
18. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:38.463 + 1.129 18
19. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:38.730 + 1.396 25
20. Piquet Renault (B) 1:38.825 + 1.491 20
All timing unofficial
7 of the top 8 are running DD diffusers.
#34
Posted 17 April 2009 - 05:00 AM
#35
Posted 17 April 2009 - 05:02 AM
#38
Posted 17 April 2009 - 06:07 AM
http://www.justin.tv/vip_racing seems to work better for me.
indeed. quality looks a bit better too. thanks - sharing is caring! :biggthumb:
#40
Posted 17 April 2009 - 06:10 AM
I'm not near a tv currently.speedtv covers the practice2 session..
#43
Posted 17 April 2009 - 06:26 AM
a few quick ones.. he's on the S Softs too.. so much for fred's speculation of the tires not lasting more than 2 laps.Trulli kicking out a quick one.
#44
Posted 17 April 2009 - 06:45 AM
Any thoughts as to the truth of this, Kerozen?This is not in any way, shape or form a double decker diffuser.
As I've said before, they have clearly been suffering from central diffuser stall which is why they kept reducing the expansion with volume-reducing packers. The next logical step is to put a slot into the surface to try to re-energise the flow slightly. The slot that you see there will just allow some air to bleed down off the top of the floor.
#46
Posted 17 April 2009 - 07:06 AM
not sure.. i'll need to think about it for a bit, and it's getting pretty close to sleepytime here. maybe i'll have a better answer in the morning. initial thoughts are that if you were already stalling then turning the flow further would only exacerbate the problem (like trying to pull up in an aircraft when you're already at stall, it's only going to increase drag...)Any thoughts as to the truth of this, Kerozen?
#47
Posted 17 April 2009 - 07:07 AM
fastest last year was in the 1:34s so let's hope Brawn are just running real heavy and McLaren real light
#49
Posted 17 April 2009 - 07:25 AM
basically the 'slot' diverts air from the underbody of the car thru the tunnel. this is similar to how a slat works. however the purpose of the slat is to use the diverted flow to control the boundary layer on the upper surface of the wing, delaying stall. with the diffuser however, the flow thru the tunnel is expelled into the freestream, so i'm not sure if it really is able to affect the boundary layer on the flow underneath the tunnel on the regular part of the diffuser.
now i havent compared side by side the new and the old diffuser, but maybe by adding this new tunnel they have been able to lower the top of the regular part of the diffuser, and that would have resolved some of the stall problems. but then it WOULD be working as a double decker diffuser, not a flow device to prevent stall on the regular diffuser.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users