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Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

bbc.co.uk

91–100 of 154 posts

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#91
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Limiting on testing is just taking away the unique Ferrari advantage. Previously they just took their design out on their private racetrack next to the lab. Now they have to test as all the others: virtually in computer simulations. And for a short time on the track. It's much more interesting to do the simulations virtually. Some even do the windtunnel testing now virtually. But only the richest.

So how do you explain that now after each regulation change and until the next, one team wins every constructor and driver title? Previously, dominance was never that total, not even during Schumacher/Ferrari era (and Schumacher was way better driver than Hamilton). But since 2010, no competing team is able to catch up.

On paper it looks like Mercedes are dominant and have been since the V6 engine era. For sure the first couple of years they had a massive lead.

But the stats disguise the fight; the fact that Mercedes have won didn't mean their position wasn't earned, frankly they've had a fair slice of luck in several races. For the last two or three years one could easily argue that Ferrari had the means to take them on and beat them, but their campaigns have unravelled for various reasons. Many races they've had to earn that win and many seasons where there was a fight throughout.

The fact that Maclaren has vanished into obscurity despite originally having a Merc engine, and RedBull and Ferrari getting in others faces so often has actually allowed Mercedes to keep their head down and get on with bringing home their maximum potential points haul per race.

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#92
post #79
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd go with something more radical: a 2x5 meters max box, 100 kg of gas for the 300 km race, 600 kg minimum weight, 50 million budget maybe including the drivers (there is a very long line of them) and maybe a max downforce test if it can be made hard to cheat. Then let the teams do whatever they want. Somebody will optimize for the engine, somebody for the aerodynamics, somebody for the suspensions, somebody for the…

It could definitely be managed better, to optimize for what they seem to be trying to (sport + performance). Budget caps seems like a cop-out though, as eventually the budgetary rules inherit all the complexity in the current technical rules. I think some kind of FRAND forced tech licensing / transfer + shared manufacturing would be an interesting solution. Whereby a hyper-optimized solution by a leading team can be…

There is something like that in the engine market where some teams are customers of other teams (usually with last year's engine)

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Americans Cup (Sailing) has that similar appeal

It's a pretty rare event in comparison though.

F1 races are less common than other car races. The limited, exclusivity of the peak of sport is part of the appeal for fans and competitors alike.

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After spending years trying to put myself in a position to work in the sport, now I mostly just follow F1 for the politics and gamesmanship more than the racing itself. There are much more fun motorsports to watch, but rarely do they come so packaged with intriguing technical drama.

A few years ago I did a spec Job application to RBR racing I wasn't cheeky enough to mention the two DNF's (ran out of fuel) they had had the previous season, and how as a former Research Assistant / Experimental officer at a world leading hydro dynamics RnD org - I would have at least made sure the second one did not happen

Were I an interviewer, I think I would have actually really liked that one. It demonstrates real understanding of how human mistakes get made and prevented.

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#95
I see the formula one body always trying to change rules that effect car performance. The goal, more overtaking and competitive racing. My question is if they were to have more technology limitations meaning less area of improvement would that balance of 90% car 10% driver change for the better. Say 60% car and 40% driver. Wouldn't that make it more competitive?

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#96
Judging by yesterday’s race, the real key is just having your car finish the race (said in jest but there were nine DNFs in yesterday’s Austria Grand Prix and close to having a few more with Mercedes gearbox issues).

There is a ton of cool engineering in F1. If you are bored poke around https://www.f1technical.net/

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#97
post #2

There are a couple of aspects of Formula 1 that make it very compelling to watch (my opinion of course, take as you will): - Accessible aerodynamics (it's on the road in front of you, not up in the air) - Technological developments (e.g. this year, one of the teams has a steering wheel they pull toward/push away themselves to change the geometry of the front wheels) - Watching high-performing athletes demonstrating t…

> Technological developments (e.g. this year, one of the teams has a steering wheel they pull toward/push away themselves to change the geometry of the front wheels)

I’ve fallen out of love with F1 over recent years. Could you kindly expand on this tech? Does the push/pull change the toe or camber of front wheels, or something else?

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#98
post #2

There are a couple of aspects of Formula 1 that make it very compelling to watch (my opinion of course, take as you will): - Accessible aerodynamics (it's on the road in front of you, not up in the air) - Technological developments (e.g. this year, one of the teams has a steering wheel they pull toward/push away themselves to change the geometry of the front wheels) - Watching high-performing athletes demonstrating t…

Don't forget politics too. F1 has a long history of banning innovation due to politics;

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/10-craziest-technologies-...

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#99
post #56

If anyone is interested, the software team I work for is hiring! F1 is definitely an interesting challenge and a unique work environment. Find out more here: https://jobs.redbull.com/at-de/bicester-scuderia-alphatauri-...

I'm probably not up for a move to the UK, but if you don't mind, could you tell us a bit more about your job?

What sort of projects have you been able to work on? What's the work culture like? Do you find the actual technical problems you work on exciting, or is it more the domain that excites you (i.e. building and operating a racecar)?

Re: Formula 1 2020: The secret aerodynamicist – are capes the key?

#100
post #97
post #2

There are a couple of aspects of Formula 1 that make it very compelling to watch (my opinion of course, take as you will): - Accessible aerodynamics (it's on the road in front of you, not up in the air) - Technological developments (e.g. this year, one of the teams has a steering wheel they pull toward/push away themselves to change the geometry of the front wheels) - Watching high-performing athletes demonstrating t…

> Technological developments (e.g. this year, one of the teams has a steering wheel they pull toward/push away themselves to change the geometry of the front wheels) I’ve fallen out of love with F1 over recent years. Could you kindly expand on this tech? Does the push/pull change the toe or camber of front wheels, or something else?

It's the toe - the primary "advantage" is that they can warm up the tires on formation / restarts without having to scrub back and forth. That scrubbing motion wears especially hard on the rear tires.
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