Quote:
Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith
I think IndyCar is a good indicator of lower downforce equals better racing.
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Somewhat, but F1 cars are expected to be fast too, not just to make good racing. Recall that Indycars are
slower than F2 around a road course. F2 makes good racing too, but are NOT considered fast enough to be the premier category.
The FIA have done the best job they can on the 2022 regulations, to not lose too much laptime (about 4-5 seconds per lap slower under 2022 regulations) YET
drastically reduce the impact of the wake on the following car.
It's not as simple as "less downforce" but rather the complete package of the measures to both clean-up the wake (such as the wheel covers to reduce dirty air from the wheels)
and lift the wake high up and over the following car. Let's trust the FIA's IMO excellent progress on the 2021 regulations!!!
2022 regulation simulation showing the uplift in wake by (1) having a tall but narrow diffuser, (2) not having rear wing endplates and hence produces a very strong counter-rotating vortex pair that pulls air upwards and above the following car...
2022 car:
https://www.f1technical.net/features/22288
Quote:
Originally Posted by S griffin
That said I think the new aero rule is a load of old pony and won’t make a difference
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The proof of the pudding is in the eating. All the engineering data shows that the new rule package
WILL reduce the impact of the wake on the following car.
Quote:
Originally Posted by S griffin
Yeah, it would have been better to reduce downforce.
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They
are reducing downforce... The 2022 cars will be slower and have less downforce.
The current philosophy of having a flat floor placed at an angle of attack to the airflow (by raking the
whole car, as the rules allow) is surprisingly powerful at generating underbody downforce (but of course very sensitive to turbulence). The 2022 ground effect tunnels will actually be
less powerful
but less sensitive.
