Yes, but Red Bull is the only one that has a vent in the middle of the step - what do they know that the other teams that are copying them don't? It is interesting how all the other teams have taken the "if you can't beat 'em, copy 'em" route, and Big Mac is going a different way..... Stay tuned, we'll know more in a few weeks.
Newey says that vent is just for cooling...something. Might be the drivers, might be KERS or he might be lying...
A duct like that creates downforce... Notice in NASCAR they will have strips of tape on the front grills at the fast tracks, removal of a strip of tape will help understeer, but it does create more drag. The addition of this tape during set up gives them another option during the race to adjust the handeling with...so to go out on a limb, I'd bet this Red Bull cooling duct can be opened and closed in increments.....2cents
You mean it's a moveable aerodynamic device? That's a no-no..... :biggrin5: I'd say it's a variable cooling device, as in sometimes you need more cooling and sometimes you need less....... :devil:
Or, he said everything - "this is why we'll be starting mid-field at best" Or, maybe he's sandbagging? You're right, he didn't say anything really! :mad2:
GMM newswire.... After step noses and clever exhausts, the latest buzzword in the Jerez paddock is Lotus. The former Renault team is turning heads with its new black and gold E20 car, which has been consistently the quickest 2012 car throughout the opening test of the preseason. "I am one of the happiest guys in the world right now," said Romain Grosjean on Thursday after easily outpacing Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. The reigning GP2 champion was also quicker than the 2012 McLaren, driven for the first time on Thursday by Lewis Hamilton. "The Lotus looks quite impressive," stated Hamilton. "At the moment they are quicker and more consistent and there are more question marks about us, Ferrari and McLaren," said Sebastian Vettel. After watching the action trackside from a corner, Force India's Nico Hulkenberg told Auto Motor und Sport that the E20 is "A missile with an incredible amount of grip." "The Red Bull and the Lotus make the best impression," agreed 1982 World Champion Keke Rosberg, who is also at Jerez. Lewis Hamilton described Grosjean's best time — 1.18.4 — as "very good," while Red Bull's Mark Webber wanted to know what compound of Pirelli tire was fitted to the Lotus. Told it was the medium, the Australian admitted: "Then it was a very good lap." Grosjean smiled and said: "The car is easy to drive and predictable everywhere, especially in the fast corners, and when you go over the limit it is easy to get back." Said Webber: "If Grosjean can do those laptimes then we will all have to watch Kimi (Raikkonen)." Yes Webber is correct in saying that the one to watch will be Raikkonen... ...The Iceman Cometh!
A bit long and thinky for a racing thread but a good read IMO. The Bahrain controversy is sounding much like just more of the same from last year, here's one view of whether F1 should go there this year. Why this year's Bahrain Grand Prix should not be taking place (Guardian.co.uk)
A few kids having a go at the Police? Really? Damn. Would someone please fire this guy? I honestly don't get why the FIA has kept him on.
I don't think the FIA have much to say in the matter of Bernie's employment. If I understand the relationship the only way they could get away from Bernie is to drop their sanctioning of the F1 series and instead sanction another in which his company isn't involved. Even if that happened (and it won't) Bernie and his pals would still own the F1 rights and could carry on much as they do now. On the other hand, under the current sanctioning situation I think the FIA can decide to pull the Bahrain GP.....
Interesting. I didn't realize that. I assumed Bernie was a functionary of FIA and had serious personal investment in F1 hence he was there. Well that answers that. He's still a usless carbon mass anyway.