Low noses criticized as unsafe

[Kiwi Nick]

Newey has come out saying that the new low noses cause more danger than they eliminate

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/f1-nose-safety-questioned-at-australian-grand-prix/

The safety of the new generation of Formula 1 cars has been questioned after a first lap crash at the Australian Grand Prix. The Caterham CT05 of Kamui Kobayashi hit the rear of the Williams FW36 of Felipe Massa after the green cars brake by wire system failed. This lifted the Williams onto the top of the Caterham putting the rear crash structure perilously close to Kobayashi’s helmet.

This is a situation predicted at the start of the season by Red Bull’s Adrian Newey.
“If the following car hits the back of the car in front square on then it will go underneath it and the driver will end up with the rear crash structure in his face which is a much worse scenario” the Red Bull man claimed at the launch of the 2014 Red Bull. “There are some accidents we have seen over the years that make you wonder if a low nose would have made it worse not better. Like all of these things it might be worse in some scenarios, but it may help in others. I don’t think the low noses will stop cars launching in all scenarios either, I think if the following car hits the rotating rear wheel it will get launched regardless, like Patrese and Berger at Estoril in 1992 or the two Minardis at Monza the following season, they were low nose cars that got completely launched. For me the low noses have introduced more dangers than they have cured.”

The FIA will change the regulations on nose design for the 2015 season after the look of the new cars was universally criticised.

[Hornet]

I think they need to raise the nose tip to somewhere in between this year's and last year's. The nose tip is supposed to impact whatever object they hit, not slide under it. I think they went overboard with the reduction.

[Kiwi Nick]

All they need to do is raise the nose (front crash structure) to the same height as the rear crash structure.

[brembo man]

Who from each team decided it's ok to send out the 2014 cars with an unsafe nose job? Lowerd to a dangerous point. Did the engenieers say let it go and lets see how it works out? F1, the height of advanced technology in racing.

[ALO]

I'd suggest they Extend crash structure from current height down to floor for both high low coverage.

[Winter]

...

[Winter]

How is tha FIA board chosen and more importantly, how can it be changed? Todd and co. are danger to the sport! And seems that thay are a danger to the drives too..
That "scooping" effect can not come as suprise to anybody!

[Gerard]

Winter,

How is tha FIA board chosen and more importantly, how can it be changed?
That is a step in the right direction. When the people who make unpopular rules, change the people. Quite frankly, I think the board has lost touch with what the supporters expect from F1. We want racing: Fast, without compromise, exciting, loud and with engines that run on liquid fuel not electricity.

[Kiwi Nick]

"We want racing: Fast, without compromise, exciting, loud and with engines that run on liquid fuel not electricity."

So, you want Aussie V8s or NASCAR! NASCAR had 2 very exciting races in California this past weekend, that went right down to the last corner. And they were very fast, and very loud, and they used lots of liquid fuel and tires.

[wisepie]

There seem to be so many issues with the new regs that F1 is at risk of becoming a laughing stock, whoever dreams up these ideas must surely have to have universal agreement from the teams that it's safe and in the interes tof the sport? I don't believe any such agreement would have been universal and I bet there will be a lot of changes made before this season unfolds.:roll

[Rob]

Low nose are ok. If they think still "unsafe" lower the rear crash structure. One of the main nose changes was for side impact, as noses were getting close to drivers head, and to stop the big flip like we saw with Webber at Valencia. But, that was extreme, as it was front wheel to rear wheel and flipping the car up. Saw same happen with Ralf Schumacher couple years back in Melbourne.

[WS6TransAm01]

Why not just put a bit rubber bumper all the way around the car? Full 360 around the car?

Might as well just have the driver sit in simulators or play the whole thing out on a PS3. That way there is not chance of getting hurt, other than a cramp in your thumbs every once in a while.

Come on guys, this is motorsports, yes its not the Thunderdome, but it will always be dangerous, if you try and remove every possible danger from the sport it becomes unrecognizable as a sport.

Some things make sense for sure, but this lower nose is ridiculous. It reduced the chance of the nose hitting the driver's head in a side impact, but now, for all we know, in a side impact it will flip the victim car upside down, and we see what happens with a rear impact. This is just a dog chasing its own tail, it will never win.

In the words of Denis Leary (Demolition Man) "I've seen the future, [of F1] you know what it is. It's made by a 47 year-old virgin in gray pajamas soaking in a bubble bath, drinking a broccoli milkshake and thinking "I'm an Oscar-Meyer Wiener"

[abbottcostello]

So none of these other versions of car racing have safety or performance standards & they all sound awesome... what are we hanging around here for?:-D

[WS6TransAm01]

So none of these other versions of car racing have safety or performance standards & they all sound awesome... what are we hanging around here for?:-D

They do, but they are rarely the overriding theme.

[Winter]

So none of these other versions of car racing have safety or performance standards & they all sound awesome... what are we hanging around here for?:-D

I'm afraid, that in near future you can ask that question without any sarcasm :-s

[mark p]

All they need to do is raise the nose (front crash structure) to the same height as the rear crash structure.

Or lower the rear crash structure? FIA would like this as diffuser would be split in 2 and the cars would get slower which seems to be their plan every year.

[abbottcostello]

Yeah, was being a little sarcastic there.
Seems NASCAR had a huge uproar from teams & fans alike when a restrictor plate was mandated, honestly don't know if they still have it.
Just read an article about how Indycar should make some rule changes to haul the series out of the dumper, citing F1's woes as an opportunity to steal fans, yeah really!
Right now F1 has some issues... with the noses not many like, plus... plus... plus! I think they will be proactive & make some in season changes, let's see how good they are at reacting on-the-fly!

[abbottcostello]

Just watched the youtube vid of Kamui at race start, lost his rt. front suspension when he hit Kimi, so car dropped down onto FW, so probably 30-50mm lower than normal, also looked like it may not have even been aligned with the rear crash structure on Felipe's car, so lifted it a little. Also noticed the nose was still intact, save for the vanity cover piece, remarkable! I'm not ready to condemn them yet on safety reasons.

[Aberracus]

Just watched the youtube vid of Kamui at race start, lost his rt. front suspension when he hit Kimi, so car dropped down onto FW, so probably 30-50mm lower than normal, also looked like it may not have even been aligned with the rear crash structure on Felipe's car, so lifted it a little. Also noticed the nose was still intact, save for the vanity cover piece, remarkable! I'm not ready to condemn them yet on safety reasons.

Good catch! And really, Caterham nose is not especially low or much submarine wise.

[brembo man]

How is tha FIA board chosen and more importantly, how can it be changed? Todd and co. are danger to the sport! And seems that thay are a danger to the drives too..
That "scooping" effect can not come as suprise to anybody!
You are right, Tod is 4 1/2 ft. tall so anything is high to him. We can't just let him pass! He is dangerous for sure.

[ALO]

Just watched the youtube vid of Kamui at race start, lost his rt. front suspension when he hit Kimi, so car dropped down onto FW, so probably 30-50mm lower than normal, also looked like it may not have even been aligned with the rear crash structure on Felipe's car, so lifted it a little. Also noticed the nose was still intact, save for the vanity cover piece, remarkable! I'm not ready to condemn them yet on safety reasons.

where's that video do you have a link?