2022 Formula 1 Thread

[ZCanadian]

Originally Posted by DLSTR

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/we...h-gp/10332702/

Wedged AlphaTauri endplate wrecked Verstappen’s British GP

Max Verstappen’s British Grand Prix hopes were wrecked by a front wing endplate from Red Bull’s sister Formula 1 team AlphaTauri getting stuck under his floor and ruining his aerodynamics.

Television footage had shown him hitting a part from Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari early on in the race, and it was thought that it could have been related to that.

However, it was only after the grand prix that Red Bull discovered the problem had actually been caused by the endplate from an AlphaTauri front wing getting embedded underneath the Dutchman's RB18.

The part had been ripped off after AlphaTauri team-mates Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly collided on lap 11, wrecking their own squad’s hope of points.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who showed reporters later on a photo of Verstappen in the post-race debrief holding the endplate, reckoned that the disruption to his car’s airflow was costing Verstappen about 20 percent of his peak downforce.

“We didn't have a puncture,” explained Horner, reflecting on Verstappen’s problem.

“He was reporting, because it was so bad, that it felt like a puncture. But basically on lap 11, he hit a piece of debris which was an AlphaTauri part from an incident that they had.

“So he's then done the race with a modified floor that had a piece of an AlphaTauri endplate stuck under the bottom of the car. It stayed in there and got stuck and wedged itself almost like a blockage.”

Interesting, as from the camera angle it really looked like the left rear tire went down considerably and suddenly (compared to his right rear), then more or less stayed where it was.

Alpha Tauri ought to get points for style on that synchronized spin, though! That was classic. Thought I was on the wrong channel and "team drifting" came on!

[DLSTR]

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1...tion/10333441/

F1 teams set to challenge FIA’s porpoising intervention

The FIA’s plan to enforce a porpoising metric and clamp down on flexi floor tricks looks set to face a challenge in this week’s Formula 1 commission meeting.



By: Jonathan Noble
Jul 5, 2022, 4:55 PM

Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, F1 teams , Formula One Management and the FIA will meet to discuss a number of burning topics that are being put forward for action.

As well as the discussions to involve the inflation impact on the cost cap and the latest on the 2026 F1 engine regulations, it now looks certain that the issue of the FIA’s intervention on porpoising will be brought up.

It is understood that a number of teams are not happy about the approach of the governing body on the matter, with two Technical Directives having been sent out on the matter.

A number of teams argue that there is no need for the governing body to step in on cars bouncing.

Furthermore, some squads are unhappy that there is scope for the FIA to influence how teams set up their cars when the sport has always been about maximum performance.

As one team boss said: “What will be next? A wet track metric that forces us to change from slicks to inters when a certain amount of rain has fallen?”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner thinks it important that the whole situation regarding the FIA’s intervention is talked about in a transparent manner.

“I think the process is the thing to discuss,” he said.

“TDs shouldn't be regulatory changes, there is a governance and a process for that. So I think we just need to talk through exactly why [they have been issued].

“It didn't look like there was a lot of porpoising in this race [the British GP]. So teams are sorting it out. I don't feel it needs the intervention of a TD.”


Even the Mercedes team, which has suffered badly from porpoising and would have broken the oscillation metric if it had been in place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, is not sure the FIA needs to be too involved.

Asked about the metric plan, trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said: “It wouldn't be a very good metric if we weren't over it in Baku and I think we were probably the one case that they could use it to sort of calibrate. In Montreal, we were in a sensible place.


“But the point that we've made to the FIA, and we're very supportive of their efforts, is that we will fix these problems for our own performance.

"So, to be honest, the metric that the FIA is doing is not a particular distraction to us.

“We are sincerely hoping that whatever they come up with, we don't trigger it and we just run the car how we want to, because that's exactly what we're trying to do for lap time.”

One of the knock-on consequences of the FIA’s analysis on porpoising is a move to clamp down on tricks that some teams are believed to have done with flexible floors.

Amid suspicions that some cars feature more flexible floors and planks that allow them to be run closer to the ground for extra performance, the FIA plans to tighten up its policing of the matter from the French Grand Prix.

Horner thinks, however, that the governing body cannot just simply step in to regulations if teams having found clever interpretations.

“The regulations need to be black and white,” he said. “Otherwise I think we end up with encyclopedias that sometimes are way too complicated.

“And there's no such thing as the intent of the regulations either: it is a binary thing. So I think with the Commission meeting: there's many things to discuss on the agenda, and maybe two hours won't quite be enough.”

[Ventruck]

I'm a little biased, but I feel like Sainz cost LeClerc a potential battle with Max today.

But I get that Sainz has also had fight on his hands too these last few races. It's a survival game at Ferrari, not so much between the drivers. Both drivers literally have to avoid losing all the time. Not trying to win, but trying not to lose.

Perez was a gangster.

[danegrey]

Originally Posted by Ventruck

I'm a little biased, but I feel like Sainz cost LeClerc a potential battle with Max today.

But I get that Sainz has also had fight on his hands too these last few races. It's a survival game at Ferrari, not so much between the drivers. Both drivers literally have to avoid losing all the time. Not trying to win, but trying not to lose.

Perez was a gangster.

I agree, if Ferrari wants a Champion, they need to have team orders, or else Max is just going to walk away with it, if he hasn't already

[danegrey]

Finish watching the sprint and as I commented above.
I guess my take away is how well the Haas team did. Yea Perez got around them, which is expected. But how they gave Hamilton so much trouble. To me it was a bit surprising.

Haas, has not done an upgrade and there cars on On or Off depending on the track...
I also think Mick to a good job of driving today, I hope he has taken a step forward...

[DLSTR]

Originally Posted by danegrey

Finish watching the sprint and as I commented above.
I guess my take away is how well the Haas team did. Yea Perez got around them, which is expected. But how they gave Hamilton so much trouble. To me it was a bit surprising.

Haas, has not done an upgrade and there cars on On or Off depending on the track...
I also think Mick to a good job of driving today, I hope he has taken a step forward...

Mercedes is a very drag filled design aero wise. They are still struggling on the straights. The Ferrari powered cars are cleaner and faster aero wise + power.

[DLSTR]

Unless Ferrari jump Max - and I dont care if its Carlos or Charles, Max will manage this and win. Tire wear could be a factor but if Max is in the lead and survives the first 5 laps........its over and so might be the title chase LOL.

[Ventruck]

With LeClerc leading I was expecting something to go wrong. I'm sadly surprised the race was able to stick for him.
Yet of course, Ferrari is subject to the law of averages with Sainz's car literally catching fire. Hope they're ahead of that before it happens again or to LeClerc.

But man what got into Mick...

[ZCanadian]

Ferrari needs to tell its drivers that they can pass one another with DRS on the straights and no defending against each other if that is going to happen, but also no dive bombing corners or trying to go around the outside of one another - that just costs time and tires, and risks DNF-ing both cars. Don't fight your teammate (for or against a pass), but if you're truly faster then you'll be in position and have the DRS to get the job done. Period. How hard can that be (to explain to them, or to understand).

If that means they can tow and get DRS off one another, then great. But what it really means is that they will have two cars in the fight when and where they need it. Mechanical issues notwithstanding, of course. That hurt!

It shows how important consistency is in a long championship series, when Mercedes is in a solid third place and only 66 points behind Ferrari. Not even sure why the other teams bother to keep showing up! McLaren and Alpine are tied for 4th but at only 81 points a piece at the halfway point of the series - neither one have been consistent this year, having good races and dismal ones.

Good for Schumacher - In Silverstone he was weaving but this time, from what I saw, he actually defended properly and was decently impressive. Better than I expected. I think he's having fun now. And the improved Ferrari 2022 engine (when it finishes a race) has buoyed both Haas and Alfa Romeo into the middle of the pack.

[danegrey]

My biggest take away from the race was how well HAAS did, Mick drove a good race. Found out that KMAG was having engine problems, from what I understand, he had suspected engine problems starting on lap 31. So HAAS was lucky to get both cars home and in the points.

Biggest weakest is still the Ferrari engine...

It was a good race to watch, enjoyed it....

[ZontheRocks]

I need video of Gunther calling Gene asap!

[ZCanadian]

I guess Danny Ricciardo needs to make some inroads in terms of personal performance, or dust off his resume.

Colton Herta to test for McLaren in last year's car...

https://the-race.com/formula-1/herta...eid=46a8bd0fc0

[DLSTR]

I have a suspicion the RedBull floor has already been changed and they are suffering. Ferrari have admitted they will need to change theirs. Flexing..................by SPA there will be new tests.

RedBull are at a mysterious loss as to explain their tire degradation. Really??????

[ZCanadian]

Originally Posted by DLSTR

I have a suspicion the RedBull floor has already been changed and they are suffering. Ferrari have admitted they will need to change theirs. Flexing..................by SPA there will be new tests.

RedBull are at a mysterious loss as to explain their tire degradation. Really??????

Good point! Never considered that possibility.
This, after Horner insisted that there was nothing wrong with their floor, too! So you just had to know it was illegal. LOL.

I do wonder if it wouldn't be better/safer if they just allowed all teams to copy this design for the balance of the year (technology sharing - maybe give RBR and Ferrari some credit toward their cost cap for having developed the idea and making it available for other teams) - it would probably resolve the safety / driver health issue from porpoising for most teams that the FIA insist gets addressed. Just make it illegal for 2023 so teams can adjust.

It certainly made for better racing. People were actually talking about action on the track, not about drivers being shaken not stirred. AND it will save a fortune in future dental claims for driver benefits (as their teeth get shaken ouf of their heads)!!!

[Spooler]

Originally Posted by DLSTR

I have a suspicion the RedBull floor has already been changed and they are suffering. Ferrari have admitted they will need to change theirs. Flexing..................by SPA there will be new tests.

RedBull are at a mysterious loss as to explain their tire degradation. Really??????

Sure looks like it. If Ferrari drops back, we will all know how Redbull and Ferrari got the advantage.