NEW RECORD for Ugliest Aero Bits EVER!

**RJL25** · 23rd January 2008, 12:34

now i'm finnished laughing at my totally hilarious joke i can look at this a bit more seriously. I gather then intention behind the horns is to speed up the airflow from the front of the car, through the middle and over the rear wing at the back, thus creating more downforce. However what i dont get is that before it can get from the front of the car to the rear wing it must first pass the drivers helmet, which is a part of an F1 car that happens to create a hell of alot of drag. So to me, this suggests the horns will accelerate the airflow over the drivers helmet, thus INCREASING drag... not good. Yeah there will be a gain in downforce but would it be worth it when considering the increase in drag? The other thing i wonder is the original horns by mclaren where developed during adrien newey's time, yet he never brought the concept to red bull... that suggests to me that the original founder of the horn idea believes its not a viable concept....

either way i agree that it would suit the red bull car better

23rd January 2008, 12:44

Originally Posted by Monaro Doorslammer

I actually applaud them for trying something unique in the chase for downforce.

Everyone whinges, "oh, where's the uniqueness of today's cars?" and then they complain when a new as-yet unseen on the race day device comes out.

Make your minds up.

At last, someone who appreciates the art.

Originally Posted by RJL25

So to me, this suggests the horns will accelerate the airflow over the drivers helmet, thus INCREASING drag... not good.

The airflow is not necessarily speeded up, just made more efficient by being directed towards the rear aero devices. That in itself would actually reduce drag, even around the second most un-aerodynamic thing in an F1 car.

**RJL25** · 23rd January 2008, 12:55

Originally Posted by tamburello

At last, someone who appreciates the art.

The airflow is not necessarily speeded up, just made more efficient by being directed towards the rear aero devices. That in itself would actually reduce drag, even around the second most un-aerodynamic thing in an F1 car.

ok then, i just thought that it would have been better to direct the air away from the drivers helmet, and then let the rear horns re-direct the air back over the rear wing, best of both worlds. I guess its easy to say and hard to design though huh..

**RJL25** · 23rd January 2008, 12:58

also whats the keel arrangement on this bad boy? The lower front suepension arms dont appear to attach directly to the bottom edge of the tub as one would assume a zero keel arrangement would, and it doesn't appear to be twin keel either... are they using the renault V keel?

**Robinho** · 23rd January 2008, 13:18

there is a lot going on around the front of that car, i'd imagine they'll try to clean it up before the start fo the season, or parhaps thats just a very high downforce configuration for all the street circuits this year? if they want to win a race it might make sense to concentrate on making the car especially good at either high or low downforce circuits whilst sacrificing some of the all round ability?

**ArrowsFA1** · 23rd January 2008, 15:35

According to Nick Heidfeld:

"I would say the balance of the car is too wide - meaning it is not only understeer and not only oversteer depending where on the circuit it was. We've made some set up changes and the aero adjustment is getting better, but it is still not where it should be."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64816

Perhaps the new aero bits are planned additions to get the car where "it should be" i.e. normal new bits going on a new car pre-season. Or they may be an attempt to address problems that have emerged in testing.

**V12** · 23rd January 2008, 15:48

I wonder (and I couldn't say myself personally), if the bodywork regs were actually loosened up (i.e. design whatever the hell you like within a 3D box specifying max width, height, length), rather than tightened up to try and get rid of all these appendages, if they would actually disappear, or become less frequent.

With the regulations as tight as they are, it seems all these aero pieces are the only way to chase extra downforce and aero efficiency within the regs, perhaps if it was all thrown open we would start seeing more "natural" car shapes again?

I would guess you would end up with something similar to a Peugeot 908 Le Mans car (with a single central seat and narrower cockpit bubble) eventually

23rd January 2008, 16:02

Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

According to Nick Heidfeld:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64816

Perhaps the new aero bits are planned additions to get the car where "it should be" i.e. normal new bits going on a new car pre-season. Or they may be an attempt to address problems that have emerged in testing.

My first reaction was that it was an attempt to cure something. As Williams showed in 04, being 'radical' in an attempt to get a jump on your competition isn't always a success.

This looks more to me like a 'fxxk, how do we fix this quick' piece of radicalism!

**JasonD** · 23rd January 2008, 16:10

Its only ugly until its fast then everyone will love it.

**woody2goody** · 23rd January 2008, 16:10

With the horns coming outwards from the nosecone, would that redirect the air either side of the driver or would it still go straight back?

It's right that they would be brilliant on the RBR.

I think the BMW should be good on the tighter circuits, as I imagine that massive front wing would make the front end nice and responsive. I'm sure they'll do well on all circuits, I mean they usually do well at Monza, and even the ghastly Honda could have won that race last year if it had some straight line speed