- 06 Sep 10, 18:13#213821Overtaking Working Group decided to fit the 2009-spec cars a wider front wing, thinking it would be more tolerant of turbulence while in the draft which, in turn, would improve overtaking. Except that the new wing is almost the same width as the full width of the front of the car, measured to the outer sidewall of the tyres. And the carbon-fibre weave used in them is not very tolerant of contact.
I thought the new too-wide front wing would be more disastrous than it has been. For one thing, it did not bode well that three cars had to have their front wings replaced before completing a single lap at the inaugural 2009 grand prix. It was enough a problem throughout 2009 that I thought they would scrap the uber-wide wing for 2010. I reckon that would have been too costly a revamp (to both the FIA and to the FOTA) so, a year and half later, they still are living with the OWG's mistake. But the drivers have adjusted to their wingtips' perilous location simply by giving the other cars a wider berth, particularly at the front.
The net result is that if the new wing makes the overtaking easier, you'll never see it because the drivers have had to grow too protective of their noses. The reason for the whole "team orders" fracas at Hungary was not that Alonso wasn't capable of overtaking Massa, it was that Alonso saw the insanity of risking his front wing by dicing for the lead with a slower teammate. Especially at the TilkeDromes, the only overtaking manoeuvre with a reasonable risk is outbraking the car you are pursuing (once you edge ahead, your nose is "safe") or simply waiting for him to make a mistake.
That, IMHO, is why there have been so few driving duels in 2010. Unless they are markedly faster, or their opponent puts a wheel wrong, most drivers will content themselves with coming a certain second rather than throwing the dice and risking losing a dozen slots over the difference.
"I'll bet ya a hundred and five thousand dollars you go to sleep before I do."
--Dobbsie
