Ferrari F2012 Development News Thread

Alonso confirms small updates on car in Brasil...hopefully these will work at last...

"There are 71 laps to go that will decide the final outcome: the efforts of several months will all come down to a very short space of time,” said the Ferrari man. “Then what will happen will happen and the important thing is that we do everything perfectly: then only luck can be out of our hands. We know that a place on the podium alone could be enough. I have confidence in myself and in the team and we will fight right to the end. We are honest with ourselves and our fans: we know we are not super competitive, but if we are still in the running, it’s down to the team which is the best of the lot. We will have a few small updates, but the others will have done the same, so the situation won’t change much. Maybe finding a good set-up can make the difference or the way the car suits the circuit. Would a win be revenge for 2010 in Abu Dhabi? No, I think it would just be happiness for us, as for 99% of the people, although maybe not for those at Red Bull… Ferrari is something special, with everyone giving 100% and even more, because they feel part of this family: not just in Formula 1 but also on the commercial side, because when they see a Ferrari drive by on the road, they know that a part of that car, even if it’s very small is made by them.”

http://www.ferrari.com/english/formu...-new-york.aspx

1. Small upgrades in Brazil ... but the opposition will not sleep, they' ll have something too, so, little gain here ( if not zero )
2. Rain chances, which will make these upgrades irrelevant

I still think what Alonso said on Sunday is the most reslistic option of what can happen: under sunny / normal conditions on Saturday, Ferrari will be somewhere between P5 and P8 with Vettel in the pole or near.

So, I believe in: 1 - rain lottery, 2- Red Bull mechanical failure.
And again, in sunny / normal conditions, Vettel will be champion.

This is getting a bit tiresome now, we know that whatever updates are brought to Interlagos are unlikely to make the required step forward, sad but true. The weather and lady luck will prevail and of course Fernando's ability will give us hope, but frankly it's in the lap of the gods as to who will triumph in the WDC.

Is it confirmed the rumours about Fernando's and Felipe's diffusers? Were they really running different diffusers? Will Alonso revert to an older rev. or will Massa run the new one?

It seems like all the articles on the web are based on the same source. Alguersuari should say that for AS and Felipe is quoted saying it during an interview for Marca.
I went through quite a few photos from sunday but could not find Felipe's diffusor. Fernando had definitely new one.
I think they will back to back test some parts including diff on friday and decide at the latest before FP3.

EDIT:
http://i46.tinypic.com/14cxtlz.jpg

Attachment 5062

Thanks to Jason @Crucial_Xtreme

we can close this thread :)

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Originally Posted by F1NAC

we can close this thread :)

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I'd say we should leave it up for a while as a general technical thread before 2013 :-G

There might be some analysis after the season about the car, stuff to discuss. Might as well put them here rather than creating separate threads.

I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. It was fantastic to learn about the development of the car and updates for the Ferrari.

I am more the person who reads then posts, and this thread was very interesting throughout the season.

I really hope that for next season there will be a similar thread. :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by Hornet

I'd say we should leave it up for a while as a general technical thread before 2013 :-G

There might be some analysis after the season about the car, stuff to discuss. Might as well put them here rather than creating separate threads.

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that is actually good idea :) i hope next year car will be in better shape and faster of course :) Forza Ferrari !!

Congrats to scuderiafan for this record (4800 posts)thread!!
Hope for a better one (more updates)next year!!

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Originally Posted by PURE PASSION

Congrats to scuderiafan for this record (4800 posts)thread!!
Hope for a better one (more updates)next year!!

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Too kind. When we get the first proper news for the car next year, some one else or I will create the 2013 one. How's about that?

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Originally Posted by scuderiafan

Too kind. When we get the first proper news for the car next year, some one else or I will create the 2013 one. How's about that?

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Can't wait !!

http://www.formula1.com/news/technic.../883/1029.html

http://www.formula1.com/news/technic.../883/1031.html

Looking at the front view comparison pictures, the RBRs rear wing seems higher and front wing lower than ours. I know they run higher rear rake, but thought the rear wing had be certain height, hence we had our extra gurneY flap banned the other year and thought the front wing had to sit at a certain height above the ground. :Hmm

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Originally Posted by Rob

Looking at the front view comparison pictures, the RBRs rear wing seems higher and front wing lower than ours. I know they run higher rear rake, but thought the rear wing had be certain height, hence we had our extra gurneY flap banned the other year and thought the front wing had to sit at a certain height above the ground. :Hmm

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The rear wing height should not exceed 950mm.above the reference plane not from the ground!!
The reference plane is the lowest part of the car except the plank.
Rake on the Red Bull makes it look taller.;-)

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Originally Posted by Dino

The rear wing height should not exceed 950mm.above the reference plane not from the ground!!
The reference plane is the lowest part of the car except the plank.
Rake on the Red Bull makes it look taller.;-)

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Knew they measure it from the plank. Just shows how much heigher rear wing seats now, nice way of getting around that 1, i know it there to help get the exhaust gases to seal the diffusser, just gets to me how RBR do it and seem get away with alot of border line things. :roll

What is very clear from that picture is how smaller the side pods on their car !!
More air to the rear wing and diffuser.
Also the tip of the nose is already giving some down force in a static position,and it has not started to flex yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dino

What is very clear from that picture is how smaller the side pods on their car !!
More air to the rear wing and diffuser.
Also the tip of the nose is already giving some down force in a static position,and it has not started to flex yet.

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They are alot more smaller, but we went for more vertical rads, that maybe bit of our downfull there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by scuderiafan

Too kind. When we get the first proper news for the car next year, some one else or I will create the 2013 one. How's about that?

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Great idea :thumb

It shouldn't be long if Ferrari announces the new car in early February. Till then we can have any technical discussion here

http://www.imageshur.com/pictures/26...45be93324b.jpg

http://www.formula1.com/news/technic.../883/1029.html

Ferrari and the RB side by side.
Quite a difference in design I must say. The RB's sidepods are much lower, their nose is quite developed
in the slot, the step area. RB constantly worked on the front as we saw w/the rubber nose.
I think the front step was forgotten by many teams. The 2 cars that had the different steps or
front nose', ended up being the fastest, RB and Mac.
Are they going to use the stepped nose in 2013?
Overall, the RB looks closer to the ground, generating more DF, where as the Ferrari looks so much higher..generating more lift?
Id like to see a pic of the mac on the left of the Ferrari showing all 3 cars for comparison.

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Originally Posted by Nova

Ferrari and the RB side by side.
Quite a difference in design I must say. The RB's sidepods are much lower, their nose is quite developed
in the slot, the step area. RB constantly worked on the front as we saw w/the rubber nose.
I think the front step was forgotten by many teams. The 2 cars that had the different steps or
front nose', ended up being the fastest, RB and Mac.
Are they going to use the stepped nose in 2013?
Overall, the RB looks closer to the ground, generating more DF, where as the Ferrari looks so much higher..generating more lift?
Id like to see a pic of the mac on the left of the Ferrari showing all 3 cars for comparison.

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I'd agree that the RedBull front was so much more developed.

It seems Ferrari were too focussed on getting the rear right, but it just wouldn't happen. shame, but this cannot happen with the F2013.
Although I kind of expect it will, or some other simulation problem. Just so I won't get my hopes up again.

F2012 was hideous.

Only beautiful Ferrari's win. Maybe they're beautiful because they're winners, though.

lol, mabey, actually, the F2012 is beautiful except for the nose. The thing is comparing the cars..since the front of the RB is so radically different,
it does other teams no good to copy their rear, as the design and airflow phylosophy is so different beginning at the front. Remember the tethers
that were exposed a few years ago when a RB had crashed? Theres a lot going on at the front of the RB that others are simply blowing off.
I would like to see the F2013 designed w/more downforce and the suspension, since it proved NOT to be an advantage, reverted.
Who knows what problems we may have averted if we used the tried and true suspension.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nova

lol, mabey, actually, the F2012 is beautiful except for the nose. The thing is comparing the cars..since the front of the RB is so radically different,
it does other teams no good to copy their rear, as the design and airflow phylosophy is so different beginning at the front. Remember the tethers
that were exposed a few years ago when a RB had crashed? Theres a lot going on at the front of the RB that others are simply blowing off.
I would like to see the F2013 designed w/more downforce and the suspension, since it proved NOT to be an advantage, reverted.
Who knows what problems we may have averted if we used the tried and true suspension.

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I disagree. The suspension has been one of the best things on the car. It has given good airflow near the wheels, and the apparent weakness was untrue as it didn't fail one on the car.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nova

lol, mabey, actually, the F2012 is beautiful except for the nose. The thing is comparing the cars..since the front of the RB is so radically different,
it does other teams no good to copy their rear, as the design and airflow phylosophy is so different beginning at the front. Remember the tethers
that were exposed a few years ago when a RB had crashed? Theres a lot going on at the front of the RB that others are simply blowing off.
I would like to see the F2013 designed w/more downforce and the suspension, since it proved NOT to be an advantage, reverted.
Who knows what problems we may have averted if we used the tried and true suspension.

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No reason to revert it the suspension, there's a reason why every team, or almost every team is using pull rod now. Its not meant to give a huge overall advantage, downforce still plays a major role. So you can't look at the car performance and say if its doing good or not.

It terms of suspension performance, pull rod and push rod offers no difference. However push rod suspension is located below the gear box rather than above it. Any weight that can be shifted below rather than putting it higher up is an advantage.

Well the Ferrari had more trouble getting heat to the tires than just about everyone, I would hazard a guess that the suspension
may be one of the reasons. And just what gains have there been? I dont call being the 4th fastest team any type of gain, and I would
def suspect the susp as being one of the reasons.
When u watched in car of the RB and Mac, even Sauber..did u see the driver fighting with the car? No, but when we watched incar
Alonso he was fighting it the whole way..no where near as settled as any of the aforementioned cars. I think that susp is as developed as it can be.
Plus, if there are few rules changes next year, and we finished with the 4th fastest car, we should be looking at all alternatives. Susp being one of them.

good riddance to this thread and car. I hope its forgotten it cost us a championship. 4th best car of the season is pathetic for a team like Ferrari. I have no faith for next year and to be honest im quite scared as to what they will create.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by albert

good riddance to this thread and car. I hope its forgotten it cost us a championship. 4th best car of the season is pathetic for a team like Ferrari. I have no faith for next year and to be honest im quite scared as to what they will create.

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ferrari will be much closer to red bull next year. we were 4th best this year because we were too radical. ferrari had a bit of a "punt" with this years car. next year i think ferrari will roll up with less agressive side pods so we can develop that area through to the diffuser and exhausts a bit more like red bull were able to do. the front suspension will be copied by other teams, this was a good move by ferrari... remember, we dont need the out right fastest car, we need a car thats close to the front and bullet proof. alonso will handle the rest ;-)