- 06 Feb 12, 00:51#289737
I would have thought McLaren would have evaluated different front end shapes before settling on their solution.
McLarens in recent years have had low noses, so there is a lot of data and experience to draw on, especially getting them light enough and passing the crash tests. The high noses ARE easier to engineer in that regard..
I gather the slow plough helped give them the windtunnel numbers they were after, to be confident to pursue their current solution. The snow plough helps give an idea of what they want that air under the nose to do, and where it goes....
As the front of the chassis itself is much lower, the car gets a straightforward benefit of a lower centre of gravity up front, with the drivers legs, and all the front suspension components, which is always a good thing. You'll note the suspension arms aren't as anhedral as others, which may see a benefit is how the car rides, we'll see.......
The Ferrari overall looks like a nice tidy overall package, if you get past that horrible nose. Pull rod front suspension helps lower the C of G, but th epullrods don't act through the best angle... The rear end looks extremely well packaged last year, which I think the'black' Lotus', and Williams were the standouts I think.
I also note that after many years( since 1995), Ferrari have switched back from BBS to OZ Racing wheels, which look tough, I think.....
The Force India looks pretty conventional in a sense. They still appear to have bulbous sidepods.
Only just seen one pic of the Lotus, but it looks functional. Again, nice nosejob. They do have a much lower tip than the Caterham & Ferrari, which helps it look more flowing. F1 cars always look good in black anyway....
McLarens in recent years have had low noses, so there is a lot of data and experience to draw on, especially getting them light enough and passing the crash tests. The high noses ARE easier to engineer in that regard..
I gather the slow plough helped give them the windtunnel numbers they were after, to be confident to pursue their current solution. The snow plough helps give an idea of what they want that air under the nose to do, and where it goes....
As the front of the chassis itself is much lower, the car gets a straightforward benefit of a lower centre of gravity up front, with the drivers legs, and all the front suspension components, which is always a good thing. You'll note the suspension arms aren't as anhedral as others, which may see a benefit is how the car rides, we'll see.......
The Ferrari overall looks like a nice tidy overall package, if you get past that horrible nose. Pull rod front suspension helps lower the C of G, but th epullrods don't act through the best angle... The rear end looks extremely well packaged last year, which I think the'black' Lotus', and Williams were the standouts I think.
I also note that after many years( since 1995), Ferrari have switched back from BBS to OZ Racing wheels, which look tough, I think.....
The Force India looks pretty conventional in a sense. They still appear to have bulbous sidepods.
Only just seen one pic of the Lotus, but it looks functional. Again, nice nosejob. They do have a much lower tip than the Caterham & Ferrari, which helps it look more flowing. F1 cars always look good in black anyway....
Last edited by bigpat on 06 Feb 12, 00:54, edited 1 time in total.
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