Does anyone know how Ferrari are getting round this regulation with their exhaust? They clearly have bodywork within that cone sweeping the exhaust gases down towards the floor.
Not sure about this, but my impression is that the air from the sidepods exits slightly before the exhaust exit, so when the exhaust gases come out, they are met with this downdraft of air from the sidepods which pushes the exhaust flow down. This wouldn't require any bodywork to be beyond the end of the exhaust, so may circumvent the issue?
It depends what they're doing with the chimney fairings. please log in to view this image In this picture the bodywork doesn't intrude on the cone area. But they had this area completely sealed to begin with, and I thought they only cut a section out as a temporary fix to overheating issues. Scarbs says that the last 10cm of the exhaust aren't visible, so presumably they've covered it again. I can't find any pictures of it from the Barcelona tests.
Ferrari F2012 - pull-rod front suspension http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2012/0/937.html ---- It's been 11 years since pull-rod front suspension has been used in Formula One racing. Back then it was the Gabriele Tredozi-designed 2001 Minardi. This season it's the 2012-spec Ferrari. Interestingly, both then and now one of the drivers at the wheel is Fernando Alonso. This drawing compares the traditional push-rod suspension (left) with Ferrari's pull-rod layout (right). With the pull-rod layout the springs and dampers are positioned lower in the chassis, which reduces the front suspension's centre of gravity. Also, in the case of the F2012 the pull-rod link (right-hand black arrow) is angled almost horizontally, which may help aerodynamically. But there are drawbacks to this arrangement. Even though in theory the pull-rod link can be thinner than a push rod, its extreme angle here neutralises any potential weight gain. Furthermore, because the pull rod is mounted to the top wishbone, greater loads are applied to the wishbone, which hence has to be stronger - and heavier - than it would have been. ----
Well there's a sure-fire path to victory. I thought Red Bull used a pull-rod suspension design as well? Or was that just the rear suspension?
Wasn't that the year Minardi didn't score a point for the first time in ages!? Red Bull's was just the rear push-rod.
Apologies, correction, he designed the 2000 minardi Incidentally however, step nose??? please log in to view this image
At the risk of being wrong I always assumed 2012 would be a test year for Ferrari, it was a massive team overhaul that needs time to gel.
That's disappointing, given that Newey came up with his new exhaust in a month. Well at least they'll have time to get it all working properly - Domenicali says that with the launch-spec exhaust, "the tyres overheated and the performance was unstable" - but it also "showed good potential".
It does appear that Ferrari will start the season behind Mercedes. I'm hopeful that it won't be too far behind and that in the first few races Alonso will be able to make the difference but scrapping for fifth and sixth while Red Bull fly off into the distance leaving McLaren in a (second place) field of its own isn't what I want to see. Still, it's another long season and there's at least plenty of scope for improvement.
Scrapping for fifth and sixth place? If Red Bull, Mclaren and Mercedes are all a good two tenths in front of Ferrari then they'll be more likely to be fighting over the latter end of the points with Renault and Force India. I think Ferrari will become an unstoppable juggernaut in the latter half of the season if they hook it up right. Of course, if they don't, then we could be in for a VERY interesting close-season.
The Byrne floor was designed to work around the original exhaust position. The Mugello update should put Ferrari at the front.
That's a big assumption, they are going to have to find a lot of time as by then the teams ahead of them will have added pace to their cars too. I wouldn't rule out Ferrari being able to do what McLaren did last year between testing and Melbourne, unless they are resigned to not having a competitive car until Spain. I wonder how long Alonso will stay with ferrari if they carry on having issues developing their car and are on the back foot at the beginning of each season? If the second Red Bull seat came up and Horner showed interest in him do you think he'd be tempted?
Not really F2012 news but... Bianchi makes his Formula Renault 3.5 debut Bianchi and Perez both being in with a chance for stealing Massa's seat, potentially mid season may make this more of a thing.
