[Tech Issue] Stepped-noses and double DRS banned for 2013

[Marbot]

Stepped-noses have been banned (sort of) and double DRS has also been
banned for 2013.

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/184473/...rs_banned.html

2013 Technical Regulations:

http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/7EE7D5392A94A532C1257A850051A2C9/$FILE/2013%20TECHNICAL%20REGULATIONS.pdf

2013 Sporting Regulations:

http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/25823CA4432F6548C1257A85005177ED/$FILE/2013%20SPORTING%20REGULATIONS.pdf

[Bononi]

Great news, those noses are just plain ugly...

[IceMan_PJN]

I want to know what this "special panel to hide the stepped nose" will look like.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by IceMan_PJN

I want to know what this "special panel to hide the stepped nose" will look like.

Hopefully seemless and strake/tabless!

[Bononi]

Or maybe another ugly device...

[JamesH]

Never understood the problem with stepped noses.

It's just a car designed to go fast round a circuit. It doesn't need to look good.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by JamesH

Never understood the problem with stepped noses.

It's just a car designed to go fast round a circuit. It doesn't need to look good.

It doesn't but it's much better if it does !

Anyway, it didn't stop them to make it ugly.

[Marbot]

Also for 2013. Confirmed calendar and a new Concorde agreement to be completed by the end of October.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102925

[Pingguest]

Regarding the double drag reduction system I wonder why any further rule thickering was necessary. Mercedes-Benz has proven the system not to be very successful.

[bjohnsonsmith]

So they'll still have stepped noses but they'll just be hidden; that's one way of doing it.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

Regarding the double drag reduction system I wonder why any further rule thickering was necessary. Mercedes-Benz has proven the system not to be very successful.

That may be just a drawback with the Mercedes way of doing things. There's more than one way to skin a Cat.

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by Marbot

That may be just a drawback with the Mercedes way of doing things. There's more than one way to skin a Cat.

Quite true, even the possibility that it could be made to work means money would be wasted by the teams proving it couldn't!

Also the wheels were in motion on this one before anyone new for sure this year's Merc wasn't going to develop into a great car because of this "advantage" so it probably made sense to finish the job and get it in the regs.

[ASCII Man]

Originally Posted by IceMan_PJN

I want to know what this "special panel to hide the stepped nose" will look like.

I would hope Alain Prost is not involved in any panel involving noses...

[Sodemo]

Why couldn't they have written the nose rules to mandate a continuous angle down to a specific point? A cover to hide the step? Sounds like a solution a 5 year old would come up with.

Then again, I have to remind myself that this is the governing body that thought keep raising the front wing was a great idea, and grooved tyres and narrow cars.

[bjohnsonsmith]

The McLaren doesn't have a stepped nose, so they'll save themselves some money not having to make any cosmetic changes.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Why couldn't they have written the nose rules to mandate a continuous angle down to a specific point?

If you mandate that rule, then all of the teams that don't have a McLaren nose, have to spend a huge amount of money on designing a completely new chassis. All very well, if you want to give McLaren a head start.

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Then again, I have to remind myself that this is the governing body that thought keep raising the front wing was a great idea, and grooved tyres and narrow cars.

Actually, that was the response of the FIA due to a lack of other ideas to slow the cars down from the teams.

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The McLaren doesn't have a stepped nose, so they'll save themselves some money not having to make any cosmetic changes.

Indeed. Which goes back to my first point and the reason that this cover is all that the FIA could come up with regard to changing the rules and forcing teams to spend a fortune on making and developing a chassis specifically designed for a lower nose.

Also bear in mind that these 'covers' are completely optional and won't be used unless they provide an aerodynamic advantage. So stepped noses are likely to remain in vogue for at least another year. The 2014 regs have more definitive regulations for mandating lower noses, although it remains to be seen as to what engines will push them through the air.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Also bear in mind that these 'covers' are completely optional and won't be used unless they provide an aerodynamic advantage. So stepped noses are likely to remain in vogue for at least another year. The 2014 regs have more definitive regulations for mandating lower noses, although it remains to be seen as to what engines will push them through the air.

Oh, that's a funny rule after all...

[Eurosnob]

I know I'm old. I can remember when F1 was all about new ideas and technologies.

How long until they ban engines & tyres - or red paint, I've heard that makes them go faster.

You kids, off my lawn. Now.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Eurosnob

I know I'm old. I can remember when F1 was all about new ideas and technologies.

But they were still very noisy and some of the cars look liked they had been styled and designed by five year olds.

Oi! Get yer filthy hands of my desert!

[Bononi]

Now ban red paint it's not such a bad idea...

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Eurosnob

I know I'm old. I can remember when F1 was all about new ideas and technologies.

How long until they ban engines & tyres - or red paint, I've heard that makes them go faster.

You kids, off my lawn. Now.

[fredd1]

[QUOTE=Sodemo;3144216]Why couldn't they have written the nose rules to mandate a continuous angle down to a specific point? A cover to hide the step? Sounds like a solution a 5 year old would come up with.

I'm still naive enough to believe that the numerous hideous results really stem from lack of imagination in 'wrapping' the end result. To get from the high point to the sharp end can't be that difficult to achieve aesthetically?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by fredd1

I'm still naive enough to believe that the numerous hideous results really stem from lack of imagination in 'wrapping' the end result. To get from the high point to the sharp end can't be that difficult to achieve aesthetically?

What is aerodynamically correct isn't always aesthetically correct. As we have seen with such things as X-wings, etc.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by Marbot

What is aerodynamically correct isn't always aesthetically correct. As we have seen with such things as X-wings, etc.

Almost a law in F1...

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Bononi

Almost a law in F1...

Indeed. The thing with F1 cars is that they are not trying to just be aerodynamically efficient at high speeds, unlike the many cars that attempt to break the land speed record. They also have to be aerodynamically efficient at lower speeds i.e. they must also be able to go around corners quickly.