The 2012 Formula One Thread

[The Boston Dangler]

no, it's not too early! f1 teams are hard at work on the 2012 season, and so are the fans!

the first contender for must-have gadget of the year is already being copied:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96952

Lotus's rivals look set to be forced to copy its innovative reactive ride height system ahead of the 2012 season, with the FIA happy the concept is totally legal.

There has been much intrigue in recent days about the mechanism that Lotus was reported to have tried out at the Abu Dhabi young driver test last year.

The mechanical system helps maintain a standard ride height during braking - when often the front of the car would dip down.

Rivals teams are understood to have looked into the system and its legality over recent days - with a report in Gazzetta dello Sport this week suggesting it was driver adjusted by the use of a pedal in the cockpit.

However, if the drivers were changing the ride height of the cars under braking then that would be a breach of the rules.

Article 3.15 of the F1 Technical Regulations states: "With the exception of the parts necessary for the adjustment described in Article 3.18 [the DRS], any car system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited."

AUTOSPORT can reveal, however, that the adjustment to the ride height - which improves aerodynamic performance and stability on the Lotus under braking - does not come from the driver.

Instead it is reactive to brake torque and is linked directly to the suspension - so cannot be classified as a moveable aerodynamic device in the way that independent mass dampers were.

The fact that the driver is not involved, and that the system is a part of the suspension, means it complies fully with the F1 regulations.

here's a piece on the evolution of the fire suit:

http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2012/1/12917.html

A racing driver’s work clothes of 60 years ago couldn’t have been more basic. They usually consisted of: lightweight cotton trousers and a T-shirt, and thin skinned leather/suede shoes, often with rubber soles - an outfit topped off by a flimsy fabric skullcap. Compounding this ensemble’s flammable sins were combustible leather gloves, often with perforated or stringed backs, and goggles with aluminium frames that could become branding-iron hot in the blink of an eye. How very different from the clothing worn by today’s so much better protected heroes.

in the aftermath of political turmoil and human rights abuses, will the 2012 bahrain gp go ahead? most fans are against the idea for several reasons, but money talks:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/01/11/bahrain-circuit-reinstates-fired-employees/


robert kubica has fallen on some ice, re-breaking the leg injuries that took him out of 2011. good luck, robert

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/01/11/kubica-suffers-injury-setback-fall/

 

[z0mb13]

Hopefully the other teams can catch up so it won't be all redbull again...

 

[satyajitmenon]

robert kubica has fallen on some ice, re-breaking the leg injuries that took him out of 2011. good luck, robert

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/01/11/kubica-suffers-injury-setback-fall/

WTF?? Someone strap him to a bed till the F1 season starts.

 

[bbs lm-r]

I dunno too much about racing dynamics and such, but I always thought you'd want to front to be (slightly?) lower than the rear to provoke that front end dipping, which I thought gave you better turn in. Interested to see how it turns out.

I'm hoping to watch more of it this year, but it seems damn hard to wake up that early sometimes

 

[punjabiplaya]

Didn't they ban electronic suspensions because of that Williams car in the 90s? But if they system is solely mechanical, I guess it outskirts the rules? Interesting either way and let's see if Kimi can put it to good use.

 

[bruceb]

..

 

[LTC8K6]

Let them use it for 4 or 5 races and do well, then tell them it's illegal and their results are void...

 

[JulesMaximus]

I dunno too much about racing dynamics and such, but I always thought you'd want to front to be (slightly?) lower than the rear to provoke that front end dipping, which I thought gave you better turn in. Interested to see how it turns out.

I'm hoping to watch more of it this year, but it seems damn hard to wake up that early sometimes

DVR is your friend. Races start at 4:30AM here so I record it and then start watching at 7AM when I get up that way I can fast forward through the commercial breaks.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Didn't they ban electronic suspensions because of that Williams car in the 90s? But if they system is solely mechanical, I guess it outskirts the rules? Interesting either way and let's see if Kimi can put it to good use.

nigel mansell gives a tour of 1992's fw14b:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEB-A7auJck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=fvwp&v=gFTNZbUsiEY

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I dunno too much about racing dynamics and such, but I always thought you'd want to front to be (slightly?) lower than the rear to provoke that front end dipping, which I thought gave you better turn in. Interested to see how it turns out.

I'm hoping to watch more of it this year, but it seems damn hard to wake up that early sometimes

generally, that's correct. that's called rake, and last year's red bull had a lot of it. not so much for the downward angle pushing down on the top of the car, but the upward angle on the bottom sucks the car down. this system would let them run the front as low as they can go, and when the nose wants to dive under braking it gets a bit (a lot?) more clearance. not to be confused with anti-dive suspension geometry at the front or anti-squat at the rear.

 

[bbs lm-r]

DVR is your friend. Races start at 4:30AM here so I record it and then start watching at 7AM when I get up that way I can fast forward through the commercial breaks.

Yea I'm an easterner so they usually start around 7 here, which is pretty early for the weekends, weekdays wouldn't be a problem though. I don't watch enough to TV to be bothered to buy a DVR.

generally, that's correct. that's called rake, and last year's red bull had a lot of it. not so much for the downward angle pushing down on the top of the car, but the upward angle on the bottom sucks the car down. this system would let them run the front as low as they can go, and when the nose wants to dive under braking it gets a bit (a lot?) more clearance. not to be confused with anti-dive suspension geometry at the front or anti-squat at the rear.

O ok, I see.

BTW, I was just thinking about previous F1 seasons and realized, where the hell is the ross brawn team? I remember them winning the championship so... (off the google)

 

[The Boston Dangler]

honda bailed out and sold the team to ross brawn (maybe for a dollar?). they didn't have the honda motors any more, so they got a sweetheart deal with mercedes. after laying off most employees, they hacked up the car to fit the merc, and it dominated. with a winning car, a super genius and very few paychecks to hand out, mercedes jumped at the chance to buy them and put 2 germans behind the wheel.

2010 and 2011 were pretty tough, but hope springs eternal and they could be back to winning this year.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Yea I'm an easterner so they usually start around 7 here, which is pretty early for the weekends, weekdays wouldn't be a problem though. I don't watch enough to TV to be bothered to buy a DVR.

there are ways if you have the will.

 

[boomhower]

Isn't Lotus who had the front exiting exhaust everyone fawned over that turned out to be a disaster?

I'm really looking forward to see what Mclaren and Ferrari can come up with to combat Red Bull. Also to see how Hamilton responds after a subpar year. How Kimi will do in his return. I'm excited, should be a good year. What I really can't wait for is the new engines, just to see the turmoil that is going to cause.

 

[punjabiplaya]

forget the suspension nonsense, this is what is really important at Lotus:

 

[The Boston Dangler]

pjp, great picture


Ron Howard filming Rush at the Nurburgring Nordschleife

 

[bbs lm-r]

honda bailed out and sold the team to ross brawn (maybe for a dollar?). they didn't have the honda motors any more, so they got a sweetheart deal with mercedes. after laying off most employees, they hacked up the car to fit the merc, and it dominated. with a winning car, a super genius and very few paychecks to hand out, mercedes jumped at the chance to buy them and put 2 germans behind the wheel.

2010 and 2011 were pretty tough, but hope springs eternal and they could be back to winning this year.

I see, thx for gettin me up to speed.

And the return of Kimi?? I agree, should be a good season.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

it looks like the end of the road for one of the most well liked drivers ever. rubens barichello will be replaced by bruno senna at williams with pastor maldonado for 2012.

salut!

 

[satyajitmenon]

it looks like the end of the road for one of the most well liked drivers ever. rubens barichello will be replaced by bruno senna at williams with pastor maldonado for 2012.

salut!

Aww. I feel sorry for Rubino.

I loved his "I beat the Stig" T-shirt.

 

[RiDE]

He had a nice run... but it's time to go. It's quite sad seeing him as a backmarker and at this rate, I would be surprised if the Williams got any better this season. I'm pretty sure everybody would be telling Schumacher to go home if he wasn't a 7 time WC.

 

[LTC8K6]

He had a nice run... but it's time to go. It's quite sad seeing him as a backmarker and at this rate, I would be surprised if the Williams got any better this season. I'm pretty sure everybody would be telling Schumacher to go home if he wasn't a 7 time WC.

Schumacher finished 8th in the championship and Mercedes was 4th...

 

[punjabiplaya]

some more on Lotus's ride height/brake system (with pictures in link): http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2012/0/923.html

 

[DaTT]

I have been wanting to get into this sport (watching it, not driving lol) for a while now, but I just don't really know how. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[punjabiplaya]

I have been wanting to get into this sport (watching it, not driving lol) for a while now, but I just don't really know how. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

this is the best way I can think of to get people into F1 right now: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424432/

 

[The-Noid]

this is the best way I can think of to get people into F1 right now: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424432/

Senna is too sad . I can't bear to watch it...