Printable View
Put some hair around it and Max will make a move for it.... :DQuote:
Originally Posted by I am evil Homer
Quote:
Sources suggest that a clarification will be issued by the FIA prior to the Australian Grand Prix. Reports which suggest the designs had definitely been outlawed are believed to be wide of the mark.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82234Quote:
McLaren, Mercedes GP and at least two other teams will have to make modifications to their diffuser designs in time for the Australian Grand Prix, AUTOSPORT has learned, after the FIA told them that it is clamping down on a loophole being used by the outfits.
This entire process is crazy. In the first year I can understand that they might not be aware of loopholes, but being this was an issue last year they could have easily modified the text of the rule for clarification.
Article 3.12.7 states: "A single break in the surface is permitted solely to allow the minimum required access for the device referred to in Article 5.15. [supposed to refer to starter motor, although this is Article 5.16]."
That could very easily be modified to suit the conditions at hand and make the rule easy to understand and enforce.
I personally don't think any such pushing of the grey area should be considered "cheating" regardless of which teams do it. It's in the nature of racing to push the envelope. The problem I see is rules being so vague that the arguments is that it is skirting the "spirit" of the rules.
It's certainly not cheating to take advantage of daft rules. If you don't do it someone else will.
Exactly, it's what engineers and designers are paid to do. Yet another example of the FIA not having black and white rules. All it requires is to add "upto a maximum diameter of x mm" and disaster averted...Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel
Well they have - four people in fact all thought of the same thing! Wouldn't have been that hard to enforce a standard width and length for a start motor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel
Personally I think there should be standard FIA designed componentsQuote:
Originally Posted by I am evil Homer
IMHO the FIA should have said here's your starter motor access hole, integrate it to your diffuser but your diffuser can't extend more than x outside of it etc etc.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...VL._AA280_.jpg
Yeah but they only used them as "ballast" when weighin in.....during the race and qualifying they could "adjust" their weight, right up until the last pit stop, where they could tank up and be within limits........good idea if you ask me...sort of like those 100 lb lead helmets that some drivers always took off and left in their car or carried with them to weigh in..Quote:
Originally Posted by wedge
As to Tam and ioan, making you other guys squeak and squawk is like MS beating his old team mates at ferrari....easy work
If McLaren insist their diffuser/slot was the same as last year then I can only assume McLaren et al took the p*ss by redesigning the starter motor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel
I hate the idea of standardised components and it doesn't belong in F1, IMO. There should be a specified tolerance which should give designers a box/ leeway to work with, as with the front wings and mandated central main plain for example.