re: 2022 Formula 1 Season Thread

As much as I love all the technical information the aero guys are providing it really didn't translate that well in the flat bottom car era but is even more limited in the age of ground effects. The underfloor is such a big part of the picture now.

My gut is running against what some of the aero guys are suggesting with their data. I think the F1-75 will be better in low speed corners and the W13 better at high speed cornering. I also think the top speeds will be similar at the high-speed tracks. I have the ability to say anything I want without reservation because I openly admit I don't understand aero remotely well enough to have a legitimate opinion.

I am currently incredibly interested in aero as it pertains to race cars and generally take pride in the ability to assimilate information rapidly but the learning curve is damn near vertical for me when it comes to complex systems like an F1 car.

Barcelona test is underway.

RBR has decided they only need about 1/2 a sidepod...



Bybit paid 50 million to them for sponsorship, check out the rear wing decal...




Pictures are coming fast and furious another sidepod look




George is planning to cut some potatoes for the post-race fish and chips party.



LEC should be getting great reception on his radio with the dual wing antenna. McLaren has already figured out where they should be on track relative to Ferrari.



Next up more RBR sidepod madness... Newey madman or genius or both?




This is supposed to be a picture of the Alfa Romeo but I can't see it. AR has a pushrod rear suspension, I guess this is why they needed to design their own tranny case to house the Ferrari internals since the F1-75 is pullrod on the rear.







Don't have a picture yet but RBR is supposed to have a very unusual front suspension setup:


"Red Bull has a very interesting front suspension design with the front upper wishbone rear leg inboard end mounted much lower to the chassis than the forward leg. It also has pullrod-operated inboard front suspension components. The front wing has the full width slot gap between the first and second elements."


First arse shot




Gary Anderson is saying he is interested in seeing how the FIA deals with some of the concepts on the cars that while good for performance is not good for "raceability". Go figure they are trying to dirty the air behind them.


HAM checking out the competition




Well nobody is passing LEC after he drops this spike strip!



Different strokes for different folks



Current laps run

Total laps completed so far:

Verstappen -> 28 laps
Leclerc -> 23 laps
Russel -> 23 laps
Tsunoda -> 19 laps
Alonso -> 17 laps
Norris -> 16 laps
Vettel -> 14 laps
Latifi -> 8 laps
Kubica -> 4 laps
Mazepin -> 1 lap


Macca trying get get alien radio signals



Mark Hughes from trackside:
I'm at Turn 7/8 at bottom of the hill with the fast approach into the medium speed uphill corner and Charles Leclerc is super-aggressive and confident, pushing harder than anyone else here.

The cars look great here. Alonso on cold tyres was like a karter, all punchy inputs, car darting all over. But it’s all smoothed out as tyres warm by the second lap.

It looks like the cars are arriving at Campsa at the top of the hill faster than they were and so faster through it but a bit twitchy sometimes.

George Russell earlier on was not on rails there. Looks really impressive.


Headed back to bed for a nap before work but here are the current times, though they don't mean anything. This were from a while ago but the times are still in the correct order.

1. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1m21.718s, C2, 23 laps
2. Norris (McLaren) 1m22.382s, C2, 18 laps
3. Russell (Mercedes) 1m22.655s, C3, 29 laps
4. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1m22.692s, C3, 19 laps
5. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1m22.789s, C2, 35 laps
6. Alonso (Alpine) 1m23.317s, C3, 19 laps
7. Latifi (Williams) no time, 1m23.379s, C4, 20 laps
8. Vettel (Aston Martin) 1m24.076s, C2, 14 laps
9. Mazepin (Haas) 1m31.340s, C2, 6 laps
10. Kubica (Alfa Romeo) no time, 4 laps

I am just going to declare LEC the WDC and sleep until next March.


OK I lied, I just wanted to post the Alfa suspension



Gary Anderson:

"The front suspension of the Alfa Romeo has caught my attention. It’s a pushrod (marked in green) design but with a difference. The trackrod (yellow) is low down just above the lower wishbone forward leg. The rear leg of the lower wishbone also appears to be lower than the forward leg. This will allow the car to dive under braking.

The top wishbone outboard end is very high in the 18-inch wheel and the forward leg fixes to the chassis higher again. The rear leg is mounted to the chassis much lower, that's a massive height difference between two legs of the same wishbone - I've never seen that before.

This will induce anti-dive under braking supporting the front of the car, depending on the actual longitudinal movement of the outer wishbone ends when the suspension goes into compression.

I would expect this set-up to increase the caster, perhaps to achieve ride height change with the front as low as possible for slower corners and rising for faster corners.

It's now illegal to achieve this effect on the ride height with increased steering lock, but do it with caster and you are fine."

Up close on the RB sidepod. That's nuts!



The McLaren looks awesome out in the sunlight. So does the AM.

This season is going to be fascinating with regards to car design and results.

DRS in use...

You'd think Bottas would be qualified enough to give feedback.

quote:

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Well nobody is passing LEC after he drops this spike strip!

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so what's the deal with all the spike, metal stuff behind the rear tires?