How much are the "diffusers" worth

How much are the "diffusers" worth#97665

By FerrariFan63 - 27 Mar 09, 07:34

- 27 Mar 09, 07:34#97665

They've been saying that the trick diffusers on the Williams, Toyota, and Brawn are worth about half a second per lap. After seeing practice, I don't believe it's only half a second, it seems like a second a lap or more.

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97668

By Imissschumi - 27 Mar 09, 08:06

- 27 Mar 09, 08:06#97668

It is very interesting that the "diffuser" teams appear to be running away with free practice.
But am I the only one with just one braincell, and refuse to understand this??
Both Toyota as well as Williams have been testing, together with the other teams, multiple sessions with the "now questioned" diffuser.
Why, for flip sake, has none of the other teams logged a protest against it at that time???
The whole thing would have been sorted by now, legal or illegal, and it would have given everyone the time to be prepared ... :banghead:

I am probably to daft ... but then I have not got the millions they waste

It is almost GO GO GO

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97669

By bud - 27 Mar 09, 08:09

- 27 Mar 09, 08:09#97669

I'm sitting on the last corner and those teams look planted

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97671

By Imissschumi - 27 Mar 09, 08:14

- 27 Mar 09, 08:14#97671

You are a lucky bugger :clap:

I salute you :wavey:

It is almost GO GO GO

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97672

By f1usa - 27 Mar 09, 08:32

- 27 Mar 09, 08:32#97672

They've been saying that the trick diffusers on the Williams, Toyota, and Brawn are worth about half a second per lap. After seeing practice, I don't believe it's only half a second, it seems like a second a lap or more.

After watching Friday practice, all the other teams need to modify their diffusers. The extra downforce is needed in high speed corners for stability and control. The cars with modified diffusers may lap rest of field before end of race, that is their worth.

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97674

By FerrariFan63 - 27 Mar 09, 08:54

- 27 Mar 09, 08:54#97674

KERS is also a disadvantage it seems.

And the slowest two Mercedes engined cars are the McLarens!

Qualifying will give us a better idea where the teams are.

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97685

By zurich_allan - 27 Mar 09, 10:36

- 27 Mar 09, 10:36#97685

It is very interesting that the "diffuser" teams appear to be running away with free practice.
But am I the only one with just one braincell, and refuse to understand this??
Both Toyota as well as Williams have been testing, together with the other teams, multiple sessions with the "now questioned" diffuser.
Why, for flip sake, has none of the other teams logged a protest against it at that time???
The whole thing would have been sorted by now, legal or illegal, and it would have given everyone the time to be prepared ...

I am probably to daft ... but then I have not got the millions they waste

Because the teams couldn't protest until the intention was made by the teams to run the diffusers in question in an official race. In testing every team can run with various combinations of settings; for example McLaren spent the first few testing sessions using a hybrid 2008/2009 car with various aerodynamic aspects of the 2008 car still on it. Williams did this too.

For testing the teams could be using various devices (or even green paint anybody?) to assess different components of the car. This is perfectly legal ALL of the time unless said components are deemed to be dangerous on safety grounds.

So in short, the teams protesting HAD to wait until the three teams in question indicated they were going to actually use the diffusers at the 1st GP of the season. Prior to that, the protest would have been thrown out immediately.

Favourite racing series: F1, Indycar, NASCAR, GP2, F3, Formula E, Trophee Andros, DTM, WTCC, BTCC, World Endurance... etc. etc.

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97700

By Gert - 27 Mar 09, 12:55

- 27 Mar 09, 12:55#97700

So running "the" diffusers & without KERS is the way to go then the teams running with KERS & the old diffusers should be the slowest - ok, that's born out by McLaren'/BMW/Renault/Ferrari's times.

I can see people ripping the KERS out of the cars & bolting on the new diffusers, sharpish.

I wonder if there's any truth in the rumour that McLaren have some new difussers on their way from the UK right now.

Would be a damn good way to get the things banned...

I like my cars the same way I like my women & my music, fast & loud.

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97701

By Frosty - 27 Mar 09, 12:59

- 27 Mar 09, 12:59#97701

I heard the drivers with KERS will get a massive boost off the line compared to the drivers who do not have KERS allowing them to pass several non KERS cars.

Remember "competitive animals know no limits"

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97703

By bud - 27 Mar 09, 13:02

- 27 Mar 09, 13:02#97703

I wonder if there's any truth in the rumour that McLaren have some new difussers on their way from the UK right now.

Would be a damn good way to get the things banned...

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97706

By Gert - 27 Mar 09, 13:08

- 27 Mar 09, 13:08#97706

I heard the drivers with KERS will get a massive boost off the line compared to the drivers who do not have KERS allowing them to pass several non KERS cars.

I believe that is true but when you need to get past 10 - 15 other drivers in order to be in the points it's perhaps asking rather a lot of the system.

I like my cars the same way I like my women & my music, fast & loud.

Re: How much are the "diffusers" worth#97712

By Frosty - 27 Mar 09, 13:49

- 27 Mar 09, 13:49#97712

I heard the drivers with KERS will get a massive boost off the line compared to the drivers who do not have KERS allowing them to pass several non KERS cars.

I believe that is true but when you need to get past 10 - 15 other drivers in order to be in the points it's perhaps asking rather a lot of the system.

But what if you only have to get past 3 or 4 non KERS drivers to get to the front imagine if BGP and Williams are P 1,2,3,4 then say Ferrari P 5, 6 with KERS. Remember that video of the Ferrari vs McLaren practise start I think the Ferrari used KERS and the McLaren didn't that's how much of a difference I think it could make.

Remember "competitive animals know no limits"