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[Big Azza]

So now I look forward to an exciting race with an EVEN playing field for a change.

(This was meant to be part of the first post)

[spankyham]

Maybe it's just the camera angle but it looks like the winglets eitherside of the nose are being rotated as if they were connected. Could this be some kind of quick release locking mechanism?

As Bud points out, bodywork is designed with a certain amount of flex or else it would likely fail. The flex here appears excessive but I suspect this may be due to the nose being handled in a way in which it is not really designed to be handled. My understanding is that the nose of an F1 car would be pulled down under load (as it is designed to work) however, it is being lifed and twisted in the clip.

Doubtless it'll be looked into at some point by some technical geniuses who will provide a suitable explanation, or Eddie Jordan will spend half of the BBC coverage guessing and getting it totally wrong.

Just for clarification, the bodywork and its ability to flex is covered in the Technical Regulations (a copy available here). To summarize the key points are "Must be rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car (rigidly secured means not having any degree of freedom)." This is further defined with test that prohibit in this area vertical movement of more than 20mm and horizontal movement of 1 degree under 1000N load. With the added proviso that if movement is seen and these tests don't prove it then "In order to ensure that the requirements of Article 3.15 are respected, the FIA reserves the right to introduce further load/deflection tests on any part of the bodywork which appears to be (or is suspected of), moving whilst the car is in motion."

On the movement that can be seen on the RB nose, the material is clearly not designed to be rigid. Carbon fibre would shatter long before it flexed like that.

I read on a technical forum that someone else indeed thinks this may be a sort of mass damper - I said earlier that made sense to me.

Lastly, there are some rumors going around that there is already a request to the FiA about this seeking clarification.

[bud]

composite materials can be very flexible spanky, it depends on the layers and how its heated in production. And how can a nose cone be a mass damper when that concept works with the suspension setup?

Do you think a nose cone is solid? its a thin layer of carbon fibre composite wrapped and moulded into shape. given enough force the movement seen is quite normal, the liquid affect look is merely the light reflecting from the clear coat.

1.jpg

the line points to the part that is attached to the nose cone, this part was damaged on track and causing the nose to be so loose.

[spankyham]

composite materials can be very flexible spanky, it depends on the layers and how its heated in production. And how can a nose cone be a mass damper when that concept works with the suspension setup?

Do you think a nose cone is solid? its a thin layer of carbon fibre composite wrapped and moulded into shape. given enough force the movement seen is quite normal, the liquid affect look is merely the light reflecting from the clear coat.

1.jpg

the line points to the part that is attached to the nose cone, this part was damaged on track and causing the nose to be so loose.

I see your point, but, for me, the flexing is just too much to be explained. That will be a good thing if this really has been referred to the FiA - at least there will be a ruling. I certainly can see how such a flexible nose would act as a mass damper. This video demonstrates it pretty well IMO.

[youtube]fuCdZLQOrAw[/youtube]

[bud]

I can't see how external bodywork can act as a mass damper, we would be seeing the movement of the nose quite easily.
As we have seen before, the concept has been incorporated in the suspension setup, can't see it bring incorporated into aero externally.

[spankyham]

Just following on from my post above, if this were true one should be able to see an image of the tip of the nose moving up and down while stabilizing the floor and main chassis of the car ..... e voila

[bud]

The side mirrors are also moving I still think the movement is tolerable, it passes all tests so nothing more can be asked so I still think this is reaching, you've been on their case for 3 years now,

What other rumours are floating around Ferrari forums?

[vlad]

LOL, as soon as Ferrari starts with "observations" and conspiracy theories, expect something REALLY illegal from them.

My prediction is that Vettel will start the race from pit lane again, and then be forced only use his reverse gear and 3 wheels, but still win the race. Yet unfortunately, that still will not be enough to disprove the doubters, so then I expect him to have an alternator failure, get out and push the car for a few laps until he rolls over the finish line.

Also, the FIA should introduce new rules and ban the safety car, because that will obviously give Vettel some form of advantage. And on track overtaking should be banned so that nobody has any accidents that could also give Vettel an advantage... And to ensure Vettel doesn't gain some sort of advantage from a lucky pit strategy, he should also be penalised with 2 drive through stop/go penalties, because it's now illegal to benefit from other peoples misfortune, or your own, even though most of the accidents at the last race happened behind Vettel.

One of the best and funniest posts I've read lately!

[andrew]

What other rumours are floating around Ferrari forums?

Apparently, JR was never shot. He's alive and well and brewing Red Bull, but don't tell anyone. It's a secret.

[spankyham]

The side mirrors are also moving.....

That's actually a good point, but it speaks more in favour of my point (that damper effect is working here) than against it.

I still think the movement is tolerable, it passes all tests so nothing more can be asked so I still think this is reaching

Fair enough if you feel this is tolerable, and yes it does pass all the tests to date, however, the current FiA regulations (quoted/sourced in my earlier post) do provide that where there is obvious movement and the current tests are inadequate then the tests can be changed to locate and prevent that movement. At the least the FiA should do that IMO.

you've been on their case for 3 years now

I'm flattered that you find my posts entertaining enough to keep reading for three years.

What other rumours are floating around Ferrari forums?

Apparently there was a men's F1 fan forum held recently and the audience was full of McLaren and Red Bull fans. The entry rule was "your member" had to be 4 inches to get in .... the Tifosi were barred from entry as they refused to fold it in half for anyone

[The Second Coming]

What other rumours are floating around Ferrari forums?

Apparently, JR was never shot. He's alive and well and brewing Red Bull, but don't tell anyone. It's a secret.

JR is alive and well. Haven't you seen the new season of Dallas? Most of the characters are back, a little long in the tooth but just as evil. I think the upcoming sea...emm...did I reveal too much? Sorry...where we?

I'm just saying...

[scotty]

This latest flexi wing stuff is old news - i think the FIA already investigated this several races ago at Suzuka. Nothing came of it, so might as well just move on.

The mass damping stuff is a bit of a stretch btw. The wing would never work in the same way as the true mass damper system Renault used either.

[spankyham]

This latest flexi wing stuff is old news - i think the FIA already investigated this several races ago at Suzuka. Nothing came of it, so might as well just move on.

Suzuka was not about the nose - plus reports out now saying the FiA has been queried about this since this video from AD appeared.

The mass damping stuff is a bit of a stretch btw. The wing would never work in the same way as the true mass damper system Renault used either.

Be interested in why you think the fwing-nose couldn't work as a mass damper?

[What's Burning?]

The tip of that nose (in the rumble strip vid) is moving at least two cm. If not for the mass damping effect which it obviously has, there is also and more likely a primary effect which is that it lowers the entire front wing by that same 2cm. Mass damper or not , that would be a hell of an advantage.

To me, it seems as if the entire front structure is laminated with some type of magnetic ferrofluid that would stiffen and loosen according to a given voltage amount. It is F1 after all.

The above is simply a wild guess on my part but something has to account for what we're seeing, it's not a trick or a reflection of light or magic. It's moving in a very advantageous way no matter how you slice it.

[Jabberwocky]

but it is springing back 2cm the other way as well which would be a disadvantage