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[Fact Man]

The first incident happened when the Ferrari techs pushed Massa's car off the track. I thought that techs/engineers are not allowed to touch the car if it stalls on track once the race starts?

The other thing are the covers on the front wheels of the Ferraris. They usually are on the rear ones but today they had them on the front ones as well. This is what I read on Yahoo's F1 website:

"Some rivals complained at the time that the fairings came close to flouting the rules about moveable aerodynamic devices, because, undeniably, they spin in excess of 300kph with the motion of the wheels.

But, because they are fixed securely to the rim and therefore arguably do not move, the FIA ultimately gave the concept the all-clear. It is understood, however, that the clearance - and the concurrence of the rest of the field - was limited to use on rear wheels only, because the front wheels move when the car is being steered."

Any thoughts...

[Marco]

Cant see Ferrari taking that risk tbh if they werent sure of how the rules would affect them.

[ScuderiaFerrariTifosi]

Honestly, Ferrari shouldn't worry. I say that, because if the FIA let Mclaren use their flexing fishmouth wing, then how is it fair if the FIA punishes Ferrari for their cover?

On the topic of the Mclaren front wing, I think the least the FIA could have done with the Mclaren front wing is forced them to put a little reinforcement piece in the middle of the wing/nose of the car which would hold the wing in place.

[bud]

all wings flex to some degree or they will break. it doesnt mean its classed as a moving aero device. McLarens bi wing is used by majority of the teams. McLarens nose droops lower than most and have opted to have one wing instead of two wings going to the leading edge of the nose.

wheel covers on the otherhand are designed purposefully as an aero device on the worst drag part of an F1 car, the Wheel! which is moving which intern any device on the wheel is moving thus is a moving aero device.

[certom]

i interpreted this thing in this way, the rim covers are circles, and a circle remains a circle even when it moves with the wheel...

[7UpJordan]

The other thing are the covers on the front wheels of the Ferraris. They usually are on the rear ones but today they had them on the front ones as well. This is what I read on Yahoo's F1 website:

I've noticed these as well occasionally on the Renaults as well.

[Stephen]

i interpreted this thing in this way, the rim covers are circles, and a circle remains a circle even when it moves with the wheel...

Totally, I do wonder how they're fixed though. Would they come off in an accident, or are they strong enough to withstand the forces and keep attached to the wheel tethers?

[bud]

i interpreted this thing in this way, the rim covers are circles, and a circle remains a circle even when it moves with the wheel...

and a bending wing remains a wing when it moves.....

Totally, I do wonder how they're fixed though. Would they come off in an accident, or are they strong enough to withstand the forces and keep attached to the wheel tethers?

they had helmet camera footage from the ferrari pit crew during a pitstop and it looks like they are screwed on

[Fact Man]

Yeh, I saw that shot during the race. I was surprised that none of the commentators mentioned anything about it!

If they are allowed to use them, than how come the FIA restricted their use to the rear in the first place. Why didn't they allow their use on the front ones at that time?

Also, how about the tech who touched Massa's car while it's on track?

[certom]

well, the engine was off, so they could move it...this is what has always been done..

[certom]

and a bending wing remains a wing when it moves.....

well...it is a bit more complicated

[Marco]

Brilliant image Bud!

[bud]

heres another image of who they got to test the device, afterall he used them back in the 80s!

[darwin dali]

The wheel covers were allowed on the rear wheels because they are in a grey zone re. moving aero devices, but not specifically allowed on front wheels with the explanation that the front wheels when steered do move and hence the wheel covers move as well - or so it goes according to Steve Matchett. The SPEED commentators did talk about the wheel covers (by the way, did you see that one of them broke at the pit stop?) and were wondering about the legality as they were about the pushing issue. So far nothing came of it and the consensus was that Ferrari surely must have studied the regs very carefully before mounting those wheel covers. I seem to remember that they also pointed out the wheel covers did NOT move (or not much) and remained stationary even though the wheel was spinning at 19000 rpms. Not sure about this and I will try to look for that at the next race.

[certom]

yes because you can see that after the mechanics mounted the wheel, on of them spinned the cover, so it's not attached completely to the rim...well, it's like the rim covers in need for speed underground 2, if anyone knows what i'm talking about