Mclaren rear wing, new loop hole??

[Rob]

The pre-season questions posed over McLaren's unique rear wing concept smacks of the fuss made over Brawn's double diffuser last year - but what's it all about, and will it make such a difference?

There's no smoke without fire, and the fact that several teams have called for a clarification over the design treatment at the rear end of the new McLaren means the team has simply created a clever concept or discovered a new loophole that others failed to spot.

Last year, Brawn got the jump on their rivals by spotting a gap in the regulations that allowed the double diffuser - and while their concept met the letter of the law, other teams felt the design pushed the spirit boundaries to the limit. Brawn broached the subject previously, trying to ban it because he knew what would happen, but he failed and so he ran with the double diffuser and they became standard equipment.

McLaren's innovation, it seems, is a similar matter. They have cleared it with the FIA once already, but just as happened with the double diffuser, the design is under investigation as the teams head to the opening race of the year.

But what have they done?

The design, according to popular perception, revolves around the concept of aerodynamic stall.

Racecar wings work because the shape forces air to flow faster under the element than it does over the top, creating a pressure differential and a downwards force. Steeper wing angles create more downforce but only to a certain point, after which the flow underneath separates from the surface and becomes turbulent, slowing down and ruining the downforce. To stop this, the rear wings on an F1 car use two elements with a gap between them to allow air to merge in and regenerate the underside flow, allowing it to flow at greater angles before it separates and stalls.

With high downforce, however, comes high induced drag that slows the car down - and it is here where McLaren's concept is understood to be focused.

It appears the McLaren has a flow channel in which air enters at the top of the airbox above the driver's head and travels through the inside of the engine cover all the way into the upper plain of the rear wing, where it exits through a slot gap at the rear. In theory, this would inject additional air into the underside flow on the rear wing, allowing the air to stay attached on the steeply angled wing.

If the flow through this gap could somehow be stopped at high speeds on the straights, then the underside flow would become turbulent and the drag would drop. If this is, indeed, the concept, the only way it could be done is without a moveable aid (as these are banned), and without that any design that enables it to work only on straights and not on high speed corners would be a real design innovation.

And the big gain to all of this?

With refuelling banned, fuel efficiency is a real focus this season - and with drag having to be overcome by fuel-sapping engine power, if the drag can be reduced the engines can run leaner and fuel will last longer. And that could be a crucial factor in race strategy.

Of course, it could be much simpler that that, but until the teams work out the concept behind it, their only solution is to protest and see if they can get it outlawed...

[Tifosi]

I'm pretty sure this will all turn out to be something and nothing, although it is fun to have McLaren as the focus of illegality claims at the beginning of the season for a change instead of us.

You can bet it will depend on the outcome of the first race as to whether or not Mr Horner continues his crusade of blaming us for the fact that Adrian Newey thinks that the McLaren rear wing is illegal!

[DonXabi]

But at least IF it is deemed legal, it should be something that could be implemented on the F10 more easily that getting caught without a DD like last year?

[Curbs]

McLaren wing declared legal by FIA
http://en.espnf1.com/bahrain/motorsp...ory/10755.html

McLaren's controversial rear wing design has been declared legal by FIA officials in Bahrain.

The FIA agreed to look at the wing after Red Bull's Christian Horner admitted it had been causing "a bit of fuss" in the paddock. The FIA's Charlie Whiting had intended to check the design at McLaren's Woking headquarters last week, but after flight delays from Brazil opted instead to leave the inspection until the day of scrutineering for the season opener.

It is believed McLaren's system involves an air inlet on the upper left monocoque top, which is opened and closed by a trigger activated by the drivers' knee. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport quoted an FIA official as describing it as a "simple but brilliant trick".

[chris.gotfunk]

So, I read a little interview of Christian Horner. He explained that the little inlet on top of the chasis in front of the driver is the key. The drivers can cover up a hole inside the cockpit thus changing the airflow over the car and rear wing. That was the issue?

"Although it is not clear how exactly the drivers are doing this, it is believed that they use their legs to help cover a hole in the cockpit tunnel - which changes the air pressure inside as it flows through the car and out the rear - before influencing the rear wing.

If the wing stalls on the straight, it produces less drag - therefore providing the drivers with a straight-line speed advantage.

This vent solution gets around the banning of moveable aerodynamic devices because no part of the car moves – and the driver is not classified as bodywork."

The whole interview can be read here- http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81998

[Curbs]

Renault criticises FIA's McLaren decision

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82006

Renault has hit out at the FIA's decision to approve the radical F-duct vent system on the McLaren that has caused controversy in the build-up to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The FIA has given the green light to the complex McLaren design concept, which sees the drivers close off a vent in their cockpit to help stall the rear wing for extra straight-line speed, even though some outfits feel it is breaching regulations.

Although Red Bull Racing has been the main critic of it so far, Renault has now spoken out and hit out at the FIA's stance - which it fears will spark a development arms race in Formula 1.

Renault managing director Bob Bell told the BBC: "It is fundamentally clear that the McLaren wing design is totally illegal – and they have driven a cart horse through the sprit of the rules and regulations.

"They have opened up another arms race; it's going to cost everybody a lot of money. The governing body needs to be a lot stronger with these things."

He added: "I think that it is ridiculous in this era where we are all trying to save money. We are restricted by the number of people that we can bring to the track, with mechanics working ridiculous hours at night to prepare the car.

"Now we have just opened another arms race that will cost us all a lot of money. It's just a nonsense. I think the governing body needs to be more responsible in decisions like this."

Despite his unhappiness about the matter, Bell said it was unclear if his outfit – or another rival – would consider a protest against the McLaren.

"I honestly couldn't comment on that at this stage," he said. "It's obviously not out of the question that any team could protest at this stage."

[DonXabi]

Like them or not you have to say that McLaren have exploited rules to the fullest - and maybe beyond, at least in spirit - but this should be something other teams can re-act to far quicker than the DD.

Now the season is up and running it appears that the other teams have seen the workings of the McLaren a little more and understand how it works, it wont be too long before the F10 has something similar - unlike last year when they didnt have a DD and couldnt do anything much about it.

[Rob]

Rivals resigned to copy McLaren design

March 12th 2010, 11:29 GMT

Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn thinks he and his fellow competitors have no option but to resign themselves to developing complicated venting systems in the wake of McLaren's ingenious device being approved by the FIA.

The F-duct vent system on the McLaren, which helps stall the rear wing for a straight-line speed boost via the driver covering a hole in the cockpit, has been the subject of intense controversy in the build-up to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Some teams are unhappy that the FIA has deemed it legal - as they believe it is effectively a moveable aerodynamic device. However, the governing body has adopted the stance that the driver cannot be treated as a moving part of the car.

Brawn, whose team stole a march on the opposition 12 months ago when it ran double diffusers, has ruled out taking the matter any further and instead says his focus will be on bringing the concept onto his own W01.

"We will have to get on and make our own version of it now," said Brawn. "It wasn't clear what the situation was, but we have had clarity from the FIA about how they want to treat it, so we are all off running in that direction."

Details of what McLaren was up to were unclear before the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, but close analysis of the car by rival teams has produced more information about the design idea.

Brawn said about his own team's view on the matter: "We had an idea that they were doing it - we didn't understand how they were doing it. But now we do."

Although Brawn is relaxed about the matter, Lotus technical chief Mike Gascoyne is still unsure why the duct system has been approved.

"I still believe it's a moveable aerodynamic device because the configuration of the [car's] aerodynamics are changing," he explained. "Whether the driver is doing with it his knee or not, they [the aerodynamics] are not the same all the time so therefore it must be a moveable aero device.

"We know what the rules are...but it is a pretty silly interpretation."

Gascoyne felt that the decision opened up the possibility of an F1 arms race to develop ever more complicated interpretations of the system – which will prove costly and ultimately only serve to level the playing field.

"Everyone is going to go and do it, no one will have an advantage, we will go and spend loads of money – and for what? It will be worth two or three tenths, everyone will go and get it – so it is a complete waste of time. Vintage F1!"

[mad_ani]

Rivals resigned to copy McLaren design

March 12th 2010, 11:29 GMT

Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn thinks he and his fellow competitors have no option but to resign themselves to developing complicated venting systems in the wake of McLaren's ingenious device being approved by the FIA.

The F-duct vent system on the McLaren, which helps stall the rear wing for a straight-line speed boost via the driver covering a hole in the cockpit, has been the subject of intense controversy in the build-up to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Some teams are unhappy that the FIA has deemed it legal - as they believe it is effectively a moveable aerodynamic device. However, the governing body has adopted the stance that the driver cannot be treated as a moving part of the car.

Brawn, whose team stole a march on the opposition 12 months ago when it ran double diffusers, has ruled out taking the matter any further and instead says his focus will be on bringing the concept onto his own W01.

"We will have to get on and make our own version of it now," said Brawn. "It wasn't clear what the situation was, but we have had clarity from the FIA about how they want to treat it, so we are all off running in that direction."

Details of what McLaren was up to were unclear before the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, but close analysis of the car by rival teams has produced more information about the design idea.

Brawn said about his own team's view on the matter: "We had an idea that they were doing it - we didn't understand how they were doing it. But now we do."

Although Brawn is relaxed about the matter, Lotus technical chief Mike Gascoyne is still unsure why the duct system has been approved.

"I still believe it's a moveable aerodynamic device because the configuration of the [car's] aerodynamics are changing," he explained. "Whether the driver is doing with it his knee or not, they [the aerodynamics] are not the same all the time so therefore it must be a moveable aero device.

"We know what the rules are...but it is a pretty silly interpretation."

Gascoyne felt that the decision opened up the possibility of an F1 arms race to develop ever more complicated interpretations of the system – which will prove costly and ultimately only serve to level the playing field.

"Everyone is going to go and do it, no one will have an advantage, we will go and spend loads of money – and for what? It will be worth two or three tenths, everyone will go and get it – so it is a complete waste of time. Vintage F1!"

Indeed ingeneous idea from Mclaren....hope Ferrari adapt it too...as less drag === less fuel used..esp at top speed on the straights...Last yesr the flyaway races were too quick to bring in a new diffuser and ferrari didnt do too well post Barcelona...but Monaco suited them relatively well...3-4 after brawn...but rest of the season was a lacklusture apart from Spa as Ferrari started delevoping the '10 car!