Last-minute ban spoiled Red Bull’s 2012 start – Newey

Jan.18 (GMM/Inautonews.com) Adrian Newey has confirmed reports an eleventh-hour ban by the FIA was a serious setback to Red Bull’s 2012 preparations.

It emerged in recent days that, just as the reigning champions were preparing to test debut the ultimately title-winning RB8, F1′s governing body banned Newey’s solution to the new blown exhaust clampdown.

“It set us back further than we thought,” Briton Newey told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“When we looked at the new rules, we thought the effects would be less severe, especially because we thought we could compensate well.”

However, the FIA said Red Bull could not use its proposed 2012 exhaust solution.
“So because of the lack of time we went to the first test with a conventional exhaust in the engine cowling,” said Newey. Frantic work behind the scenes then began on a so-called ‘Coanda’ solution.

He revealed that the banned 2012 solution was a sophisticated sort of rear brake duct that absorbed exhaust gases.
“There was a loophole in the rules for the area behind the rear suspension,” said designer Newey. “So you could have something that collects the gases and transports them where you want them.”

The FIA quickly closed the loophole, leaving Red Bull scrambling for balance at the start of 2012.
“It was hard to find a balance, yes,” Newey confirmed. “We had understeer, oversteer, often booth simultaneously.”

He says often that the FIA’s constant crusade against innovation is frustrating.
“We should be careful that the rules don’t restrict the inventive spirit. The beauty of formula one is the struggle of man against man but also machine against machine.

“There is something for every interest. The more stringent the rules are, the faster we move towards ‘GP1′. Do we want that?

“I’m surprised how many of my colleagues at the meetings of the technical working group make the case for more restrictions. It’s as if we are letting the turkeys vote for Christmas.”






So now we know why Seb was struggling a bit at the start, the original design was banned last minute which screwed them over. Ferrari might have a better start to the season, but so will IRBR

 

Does it explain why Webber was better?

But to contiinue banned things setting back teams, Im sure Ferrari and lotus were hit by the ride-height control system they were built around.

 

People and journalists were saying Seb was dependant on the blown diffuser to win races, considering the RB8 was meant to be designed around that system still, balance was considerably affected which would affect any driver on the grid. Webber had spent many years in cars like that before he joined RBR so he was less affected by the balance issues and so wasn't destroying his tyres like Seb was at the time which were making things worse for Seb. You need good balance to work those Pirellis, considering Seb was the best the previous year with the balance he looked for, 2012 was a whole new learning curve and now being required to start from scratch on how to drive with these Pirelli's more so than anybody else on the grid.

If IRBR didn't bother about the EBD layout anymore and focused on something else new like the coanda effect earlier on like McLaren did, they would of suffered less since they would of balanced the car better with more time in hand to improve rather than just having a month after a kick in the balls from the FIA.

I looked at it in great detail, mostly China when Newey said the rear layout Seb was using was actually less aero effective than the version mark was using and that it was never actually designed to be used. I always suspected it had nothing to do with aero, but that balance and the tyres were the main problem with Sebs weaker start to the season.

 

Surprised that this hasn't come out sooner.

 

Pretty much what you have confirmed.

If the car is not glued to the road he struggles, whereas Webber was able to drive around the problem better.

 

Indeed but the problem was balance, not because of the rear not being planted enough. I've read stories of Sebs past that he actually didn't enjoy the amount of aero downforce F3 was giving him in comparison with the car, but he was dominant in Formula BMW when the downforce was lesser to an extent than F3. It's probably why he is so good in the wet, the less aero needed to drive the car fast the better for him.

Considering F1 cars are getting slower and less aero dependent, maybe it will go into Sebs hands rather than against him...

 

To be honest I think Vettel does race better with the BD. If the car sticks, he is a perfectionist on track, thus it is kind of an advantage to him. Thus why he was so perfect in 2011.
But to be fair he has the consistency and race craft to match it.

2013/2014 will be a whole different ball game.

 

2013/14 we'll be able to see better when there is a complete change in the concept of F1 cars. As EMSC says it will be a whole different ball game (but not football in case Cosi is reading )

If he carries on with the new generation of cars as he has with the current lot, then all questions will be answered.

Lets face it, he's overtunred the notion that he cannot overtake, cannot come from behind to win etc etc. He has answered the critics on most points so far, so to do it again will be no issue to him.

Heil Finger!!!

 

Good comment ASC: I agree with Manny as well, F1 is a funny old beast. For all we know we are the verge of seeing Hulkenberg dominate for the next 10 years with these V6's, maybe even Pic since you only had to see how nobody focused on Seb until he got pole at Monza and rule changes the year after.

But I do have a gut feeling Grosjean will somehow be the man to beat come 2014 with his Le Mans experience and other racing series he will have an early advantage.

And yes ASC, let us not mention the sport which should have no name in fear of our lives!

Heil Cosicave!

 

It will be harder to challenge next year for RB, but I think the spectrum of drivers challenging won't be as vast as last year. I don't see Vettel struggling too much to be honest.

 

Mclaren had the fastest car towards the end of the last season and considering the car this year is an evolution from last season's then I see them being the team to beat. I actually think it will be like 2010 all over again in terms of the close races and multiple of drivers competing for the championship. A battle between Lotus, RBR, Mclaren, Ferrari and hopefully Mercedes will be epic.

 

RB5=Not DDD designed (2nd)
RB6=One dominant mother when designed around DDD (1st)
-------------------------------------
RB8=Not coanda exhaust designed (1st)
RB9=???


Should be an epic season though!

 

Hope so. If Lotus continue to build on their 2012 progress and Mercedes chuck out anything half-decent for Lewis, then could have 5 teams at the front as genuine contenders.

Sauber and Williams also showed they can throw a spanner in the works every so often just to mix it up a bit too.

This is the benefit of having techinical regs that don't change a huge amount. We have had the same basic regs since 2009 so the development potential has got less, so the smaller teams have caught up over time.

I can see 2014 having some big gaps between the haves and have nots.

 

Webber only seemed 'better' because Vettel was knobbled in Malaysia by the cucumber and his alternator die on him in Valencia

 

If you saw the autosport report you could see Williams actually has a very good development rate for a good portion of the season considering their size.

 

True that, any other time Seb was in front until those incidents.