I imagine thats the only reason they didn’t run it sooner, and fair enough, its not a normal aspect of the livery and so shouldn’t be in the photo shoot.
Just think of that message being on all their materials this year. I can understand the PR problems in that. Only for Renault it would be understandable and possibly a great idea.
Nah – its a prototype bumper for when he runs into things. The full version to be revealed in Bahrain will be a complete wrap-around version like you get on kids go-karts!!
Flow viz is used to correlate a model to real-life. It doesn’t much matter if the that model came from the metalwork shop or from the water-cooled server rack.
I appreciate you were being light-hearted, but on all sorts of boards, people still seem to be labouring under the gross misapprehension that because it hurts if you drop it on your toe, a wind tunnel model is somehow the real thing. It is only ever an approximation, an eye-wateringly expensive approximation, and in many cases a surprisingly misleading approximation, but even on a good day, it’s never the real thing. Neither is a CFD model.
Flow viz isn’t much to do with wind tunnels per se, it is meant for corelating models and clarifying assumptions, and clearly none of that excludes CFD models.
All simulations require validation, calibration of model to track, and in this case, both shall always (or for a good healthy chunk of Moore’s Law) require equal and generous application of flow-viz and pitot tube sensor arrays. Throwing wind and smoke at a toy car, or more blades and cpu cores, only ever gets you so far.
I think a lot of the loading regulations have, but even if they haven’t, everyone, now that the avenue of development is clear, will be seing what they can get to bend within the regulations.
THe tea trays have certainly had their regs modified.
Have to say.. I am…. LOVING the cars this season. I can’t remember seeing so much raw, clever focused innovation in the sport. I know we went through that period of sticking all kind of aero accessories on the cars, but this year, they’ve all dropped the hammer and gone for it.
I’m particularly impressed by the Williams gear box, who seemed to have cleared enough space for a passenger seat on top of it. What an incredible sight.
So many different approaches.. with what I’m sure will be different benefits for different tracks.
I can’t wait. I’m going to savour it this season :)
I don’t really understand the “compact rear end” stuff on F1 cars. I’m not sure what I should be looking at, or why it’s important or difficult to achieve.
I’d love a technical article on it at some point. It would be very appreciated.
I think it’s a mix of budget cuts, the slightly fluid and still fairly new regs, an possiby the RRA. If the teams can’t just throw endless money at wind tunnels, they have to find performance from other areas. THe regulations wouldn’t initially appear to support that, but because all the winglets and various other blah’s are ban’d, performance increases require fairly major changes, an thats just on the outside of the car. As Williams McLaren and Redbull have proven, boosting aerodynamics within a limited frame requires major thinking to find the space to improve flow.
I wish MSC’s pace was for real! He’d be great to see up front again! It’d be weird, but pretty exciting to see Vettel looking over his shoulder… not to mention another Alonso/Schumi rivalry
Well it was real because it was not a computer simulation, but its funny that people cant resist compeering the times when you consider the different factors contributing to the lap times differences.
Such as: Fuel loads (more than 150kg possible difference) Tyre compounds Tyre condition, age Weather conditions, track temp DRS KERS Test program and so on…
Each of these factors on their own can affect the lap time by more than a second and combined its just a mess, so I don’t think we should start compeering the teams performances until the 12th of March.
Thank you! It’s amazing just how chomping at the bit so many F1 fans are that they feel the need to endlessly analyze the times for these sessions. While some of those top times may indeed be indicative of raw pace you’d never know because the teams aren’t especially open about the setups they’re running or what test program they have planned. Bahrain quali will be the first true look, no sooner. This is just an opportunity to ooooo and aaaahhhh at the purty cars.
If you really want to root for something root that your team puts in a bunch of laps because that kind of thing usually bodes well, where short and frequently interrupted running does not. I’m not even very long into F1 and I know this, so let’s all just take a moment and enjoy what we have so far. It’s only 4 weeks away from the season opener.
Has anyone noticed that the green bit behind Petronas on the Mercedes changes colour drastically in different light and angles? It actually looks like the sheen you get when petrol spills onto water, I absolutely love it
I suppose that is the difference between an amateur photographer with a good camera (Keith) and a pro with special equipment (Julien) making the pictures.
I’ll try to get another one goin your way Keith, great job your doing. With most new cars getting out first time in Jerez, it makes sense to have had him there.
This test seems to be less frantic with new finds, but your still very fast on the good pictures on your own, for example those Mclaren ducts/openings in the front.
By the way, I saw there might be some kind of sensor in those, just for testing. Got any new ideas on what it is for?
Basically, we need to get Keith a decent camera.. Keith, why don’t you find the camera and the kit you need, then set up a fund for it. Fans can contribute specifically for the camera. Fans know what and how they’re contributing and helping you out. It would encourage me to donate more as I can see a goal, and how my donation has helped you reach that goal.. :)
Yes it’s so ugly. It looks like the designers took bits from various cars and just stuck them all together. I can’t believe how many people are saying it is the best looking car this year. It’s anything but!
LotusRenault, two car manufacturers in one team name, sponsored by Rover! And when you view the Total logo from certain angles in becomes distorted due to the flaps on the end plate and looks like Toyota… Presumably Lada are going to be added to the car because of the involvement of Petrov.
Who are we to complain about lack of manufacturers in F1 these days!
If you want a good one, today in GP2, the Ferrari junior driver in a Group Lotus sponsored car that has the same livery as the Team Lotus one beat Lotus-Renault GP’s third driver, who is for what was in 2010 the Renault Junior team. Talk about confusion…
hi keith,would like to know the kers that force india will have this year is jointly developed by mclaren and merc or just merc and is it a part of the techincal partnership with mclaren or is it a separate deal alltogeter?
Is it just me or does the central part of STR’s diffuser look awfully long? It reminds me a lot of the pre-2009 diffusers. I imagine it must be legal, makes me wonder why others are not being as aggressive with their approach or are possibly still hiding theirs till Bahrain.
Is the mclaren now running with a central support arm for its adjustable wing? it also seems like many of the teams have removed them for testing….what would the reasoning be for removing it? I originally thought a few teams had devised a way of adjusting the wing without this arm but it would appear not
aren’t those McLaren sidepods directing too much air straight into the rear tyres?..I am curious to know if the advantages (whichever they might be) compensate for that
Are there any pics from HRT’s Monza session (not from keith and the team obviously, imagine the flight schedule!). I’d love to see that livery outside of a rendering.
Also, that Williams looks great in those dark colours, I hope they keep that for their race livery.
I was wondering whether it is possible to integrate a download button into picture related posts so we don’t need to open and save each individual picture? I don’t believe this would be expensive to implement but it may not be possible based on how the photos are stored. If it is possible however I think it would be a great feature
BasCB (@bascb)
11th February 2011, 9:35
Good to see FI are now running the get well soon message for Robert Kubica as well, must have been the photo shooting yesterday.
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
11th February 2011, 9:55
I imagine thats the only reason they didn’t run it sooner, and fair enough, its not a normal aspect of the livery and so shouldn’t be in the photo shoot.
BasCB (@bascb)
11th February 2011, 10:05
Just think of that message being on all their materials this year. I can understand the PR problems in that.
Only for Renault it would be understandable and possibly a great idea.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
11th February 2011, 20:59
I hope Renault keep it on the car until Kubica returns.
Neil Davies (@neil-davies)
11th February 2011, 9:36
What do those contraptions around the Renault’s wheels/tyres measure?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
11th February 2011, 9:49
I suspect it’s tyre temperature.
smifaye (@)
11th February 2011, 10:16
It’s the new wheel tethers to keep the tyres on…. would be funny if it was.
But as Keith said, probably to do with tyre temperature
the-muffin-man
11th February 2011, 10:51
Nah – its a prototype bumper for when he runs into things. The full version to be revealed in Bahrain will be a complete wrap-around version like you get on kids go-karts!!
Karan
11th February 2011, 10:55
this is the right answer
choiMatthew (@choimatthew)
11th February 2011, 13:51
gaah! i was just gonna say that and i saw your comment!
Bernard (@bernard)
11th February 2011, 15:44
They measure forces across the tyre.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
11th February 2011, 21:01
Yep, @ScarbsF1 was tweeting about that earlier: https://twitter.com/#!/ScarbsF1/status/36029715647041536
Griggs
11th February 2011, 10:04
Is that a photo of Jenson with some front locking. ;-)
(I kid, I kid) :D
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
11th February 2011, 11:07
I know, I nearly fell over…
Hare (@hare)
11th February 2011, 11:10
Chalk dust.. Cement… Surely?
Griggs
11th February 2011, 11:50
I think Keith was burning me for my terrible sense of humour. :D
Scribe (@scribe)
11th February 2011, 15:03
An when Ketih burns you….
Incidentally, is it really legit for Virgin to use flow vis? Surley looking at flow vis patterns is just a bit too windtunnel.
Skett
11th February 2011, 21:03
@Scribe
I was thinking the exact same thing!
Hardly a cfd only car anymore!
Feynman
11th February 2011, 22:24
Flow viz is used to correlate a model to real-life. It doesn’t much matter if the that model came from the metalwork shop or from the water-cooled server rack.
I appreciate you were being light-hearted, but on all sorts of boards, people still seem to be labouring under the gross misapprehension that because it hurts if you drop it on your toe, a wind tunnel model is somehow the real thing.
It is only ever an approximation, an eye-wateringly expensive approximation, and in many cases a surprisingly misleading approximation, but even on a good day, it’s never the real thing. Neither is a CFD model.
Flow viz isn’t much to do with wind tunnels per se, it is meant for corelating models and clarifying assumptions, and clearly none of that excludes CFD models.
All simulations require validation, calibration of model to track, and in this case, both shall always (or for a good healthy chunk of Moore’s Law) require equal and generous application of flow-viz and pitot tube sensor arrays. Throwing wind and smoke at a toy car, or more blades and cpu cores, only ever gets you so far.
Mike (@mike)
11th February 2011, 22:50
*looks around*
I don’t see a tunnel here…..
The fact that they can keep their car within three seconds of the mid field is testament to how far CFD has come.
Scribe (@scribe)
12th February 2011, 2:41
i feel cruel but ya know.
this. take me seriously at your own perril
Anatoly Nechaev
11th February 2011, 10:07
Bending FW again?
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/webb_redb_jere_20113.jpg
McGregski (@mcgregski)
11th February 2011, 10:16
It certainly looks like its flexing slightly :|
BasCB (@bascb)
11th February 2011, 10:24
It could be last years wing. But I expect everyone will do something like that to their wings now that RB showed it is legal.
Neil Davies (@neil-davies)
11th February 2011, 11:11
Has the load test for the front wing been changed for this year?
Scribe (@scribe)
11th February 2011, 14:04
I think a lot of the loading regulations have, but even if they haven’t, everyone, now that the avenue of development is clear, will be seing what they can get to bend within the regulations.
THe tea trays have certainly had their regs modified.
MondoL
11th February 2011, 10:28
Can someone elighten me on what’s this?
http://yfrog.com/f/h6ch3pj/
exhaust finn?
Ben Needham (@ben-n)
11th February 2011, 10:43
It’s the missile launcher – only featured on Webber’s car, should Vettel get close enough to overtake…
Hare (@hare)
11th February 2011, 10:48
Shame the missiles’ll be launched at his own rear wing. Perhaps it’s Marks own doing, can’t imagine Newey get that wrong ;)
Scribe (@scribe)
11th February 2011, 14:02
@MondoL
WHen you see something funny on the cars during the tests, odds are it’s some sort of sensor.
S.J.M (@sjm)
11th February 2011, 17:15
Anyone else think that the little circular thing below his diffuser looks like the Batman symbol?
Hare (@hare)
11th February 2011, 10:34
Have to say.. I am…. LOVING the cars this season. I can’t remember seeing so much raw, clever focused innovation in the sport. I know we went through that period of sticking all kind of aero accessories on the cars, but this year, they’ve all dropped the hammer and gone for it.
I’m particularly impressed by the Williams gear box, who seemed to have cleared enough space for a passenger seat on top of it. What an incredible sight.
So many different approaches.. with what I’m sure will be different benefits for different tracks.
I can’t wait. I’m going to savour it this season :)
Calum
11th February 2011, 14:03
Yeah it is an engineering marvel – apparently for other teams to copy they would have to re-homologise the rear of their cars.
Griggs
11th February 2011, 14:07
I don’t really understand the “compact rear end” stuff on F1 cars. I’m not sure what I should be looking at, or why it’s important or difficult to achieve.
I’d love a technical article on it at some point. It would be very appreciated.
Azwing (@azwing)
11th February 2011, 16:07
Check out Craig Scarborough’s blog:
http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/
His latest article is a discussion of the Williams rear end.
ps. Keith, hope it’s okay with you to post that link.
Mike (@mike)
11th February 2011, 23:13
That is such a good article I’d be surprised if it didn’t end up in the round up!
Hare (@hare)
11th February 2011, 23:45
Yup, that’s where I spent some time pondering it.. love both the article and the subject of the article :)
Scribe (@scribe)
11th February 2011, 14:08
I think it’s a mix of budget cuts, the slightly fluid and still fairly new regs, an possiby the RRA. If the teams can’t just throw endless money at wind tunnels, they have to find performance from other areas. THe regulations wouldn’t initially appear to support that, but because all the winglets and various other blah’s are ban’d, performance increases require fairly major changes, an thats just on the outside of the car. As Williams McLaren and Redbull have proven, boosting aerodynamics within a limited frame requires major thinking to find the space to improve flow.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
11th February 2011, 18:15
the williams gearbox must be the design of the year already. It’s mad! Love it!
Hare (@hare)
12th February 2011, 0:12
I know… I’ve never been so excited about.. A GEARBOX! Sounds very strange saying that out loud.
Ben Needham (@ben-n)
11th February 2011, 10:42
I may be alone in this… but I love the new Renault – it looks menacing!
SeattleChris (@seattlechris)
11th February 2011, 10:46
I wish MSC’s pace was for real! He’d be great to see up front again! It’d be weird, but pretty exciting to see Vettel looking over his shoulder… not to mention another Alonso/Schumi rivalry
mateuss
11th February 2011, 15:56
Well it was real because it was not a computer simulation, but its funny that people cant resist compeering the times when you consider the different factors contributing to the lap times differences.
Such as:
Fuel loads (more than 150kg possible difference)
Tyre compounds
Tyre condition, age
Weather conditions, track temp
DRS
KERS
Test program
and so on…
Each of these factors on their own can affect the lap time by more than a second and combined its just a mess, so I don’t think we should start compeering the teams performances until the 12th of March.
DeuceCoop
11th February 2011, 16:33
Thank you! It’s amazing just how chomping at the bit so many F1 fans are that they feel the need to endlessly analyze the times for these sessions. While some of those top times may indeed be indicative of raw pace you’d never know because the teams aren’t especially open about the setups they’re running or what test program they have planned. Bahrain quali will be the first true look, no sooner. This is just an opportunity to ooooo and aaaahhhh at the purty cars.
If you really want to root for something root that your team puts in a bunch of laps because that kind of thing usually bodes well, where short and frequently interrupted running does not. I’m not even very long into F1 and I know this, so let’s all just take a moment and enjoy what we have so far. It’s only 4 weeks away from the season opener.
sam3110 (@sam3110)
11th February 2011, 11:20
Has anyone noticed that the green bit behind Petronas on the Mercedes changes colour drastically in different light and angles? It actually looks like the sheen you get when petrol spills onto water, I absolutely love it
Burnout
11th February 2011, 11:27
Wouldn’t it be ironic if BP was the sponsor instead of Petronas?
AB
11th February 2011, 12:48
Hahahahahaha!
BasCB (@bascb)
11th February 2011, 13:06
I do think Mercedes used Exxon Mobile on their engines (Brawn had it, McLaren off course to), not sure weather they still do.
Dipak T
11th February 2011, 16:26
Mobil 1? I think they do.
Calum
11th February 2011, 17:58
Incedently Mclaren extended their Mobil 1 partnership to a further 5 years today.
Xenon2 (@xenon2)
11th February 2011, 11:21
I like the Lotus-Renault too, the MP4-26 looks a bit odd on track.
Scott
11th February 2011, 11:58
Why are the pictures now such poor quality?? They are really good shots otherwise…..
BasCB (@bascb)
11th February 2011, 12:04
I suppose that is the difference between an amateur photographer with a good camera (Keith) and a pro with special equipment (Julien) making the pictures.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
11th February 2011, 12:37
That’s exactly it BasCB. I would have been very happy to call on Julien’s services for this test but photographers cost money.
Anyone who wants to contribute towards paying for better-quality photographs can find the ‘Donate’ button at the top of the page.
BasCB (@bascb)
11th February 2011, 13:03
I’ll try to get another one goin your way Keith, great job your doing.
With most new cars getting out first time in Jerez, it makes sense to have had him there.
This test seems to be less frantic with new finds, but your still very fast on the good pictures on your own, for example those Mclaren ducts/openings in the front.
By the way, I saw there might be some kind of sensor in those, just for testing. Got any new ideas on what it is for?
Hare (@hare)
11th February 2011, 23:49
Basically, we need to get Keith a decent camera.. Keith, why don’t you find the camera and the kit you need, then set up a fund for it. Fans can contribute specifically for the camera. Fans know what and how they’re contributing and helping you out. It would encourage me to donate more as I can see a goal, and how my donation has helped you reach that goal.. :)
( It’s like Blue Peter all over again? )
Hare (@hare)
12th February 2011, 0:16
BTW, I can recommend Sony a55v. HD video and photos, 15.2 megapixels etc etc.. but thats my camera, I’m not an expert :)
macca77
11th February 2011, 14:40
I don’t know anything about photo quality, but I think the pics are still great… at least for my wallpaper needs.
The Mercedes car is looking pretty good, both on the pics and on the time sheets. GO SCHUMI!.
Dan Selby
11th February 2011, 12:28
I rekon it could be Keith lowering the quality a little so he can take more images perhaps?
Coefficient
11th February 2011, 13:05
I heard somewhere that renaming a ship brings bad luck. Hope this doesn’t apply to cars too after the Ferrari Pickup Truck fiasco!!
H3SH
11th February 2011, 13:26
Good stuff Keith, love ya work! Heard that Schumacher posted the best time…
Dianna
11th February 2011, 14:42
Schumi is flying again.Great news.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
11th February 2011, 13:40
that Mclaren looks so horrible in every angle except side pictures! :O had not realized about it until now!
TFLB
11th February 2011, 20:19
Yes it’s so ugly. It looks like the designers took bits from various cars and just stuck them all together. I can’t believe how many people are saying it is the best looking car this year. It’s anything but!
Calum
11th February 2011, 14:06
Lotus Renault, two car manufacturers in one team name, sponsored by Rover! And when you view the Total logo from certain angles in becomes distorted due to the flaps on the end plate and looks like Toyota… Presumably Lada are going to be added to the car because of the involvement of Petrov.
Who are we to complain about lack of manufacturers in F1 these days!
Meander
11th February 2011, 14:18
Too bad we lost BMW Sauber Ferrari because together they could have taken the first 7 positions in the WCC ;)
PJ
11th February 2011, 16:47
Lotus Renault GP: sponsored by… everybody!
RFB
11th February 2011, 21:39
If you want a good one, today in GP2, the Ferrari junior driver in a Group Lotus sponsored car that has the same livery as the Team Lotus one beat Lotus-Renault GP’s third driver, who is for what was in 2010 the Renault Junior team.
Talk about confusion…
rik
11th February 2011, 14:39
hi keith,would like to know the kers that force india will have this year is jointly developed by mclaren and merc or just merc and is it a part of the techincal partnership with mclaren or is it a separate deal alltogeter?
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
11th February 2011, 14:43
Is it just me or does the central part of STR’s diffuser look awfully long? It reminds me a lot of the pre-2009 diffusers. I imagine it must be legal, makes me wonder why others are not being as aggressive with their approach or are possibly still hiding theirs till Bahrain.
Scribe (@scribe)
11th February 2011, 15:11
Quite possibly that. I think McLarens hiding their exhaust solution, quite possibly Redbull are going to spring something.
I don’t think we’ve seen any of the top teams front wings yet. It’s all very exciting.
Dal
11th February 2011, 16:03
Is the mclaren now running with a central support arm for its adjustable wing? it also seems like many of the teams have removed them for testing….what would the reasoning be for removing it? I originally thought a few teams had devised a way of adjusting the wing without this arm but it would appear not
glue (@glue)
11th February 2011, 16:04
aren’t those McLaren sidepods directing too much air straight into the rear tyres?..I am curious to know if the advantages (whichever they might be) compensate for that
K. Chandra Shekhar
11th February 2011, 16:11
The 2nd image Jenson Button, McLaren, Jerez, 2011 shows that the exhaust is at the rear blowing at the diffuser.
just.daz (@nemo87)
11th February 2011, 16:33
so it does.. well spotted
Ninjenius
11th February 2011, 16:35
Ahh you beat me to it haha! Just noticed that before reading your comment.
PJ
11th February 2011, 16:46
Are there any pics from HRT’s Monza session (not from keith and the team obviously, imagine the flight schedule!). I’d love to see that livery outside of a rendering.
Also, that Williams looks great in those dark colours, I hope they keep that for their race livery.
John H
11th February 2011, 16:46
That lotus looks really nice. Definitely my favourite looking car now I’ve seen most of them on track.
John H
11th February 2011, 16:48
Lotus-Gascoigne that is.
Meh.
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
11th February 2011, 18:11
Hi, Keith
I was wondering whether it is possible to integrate a download button into picture related posts so we don’t need to open and save each individual picture? I don’t believe this would be expensive to implement but it may not be possible based on how the photos are stored. If it is possible however I think it would be a great feature
Rob Wilson
11th February 2011, 18:35
front of that force india looks too bulky, like the 2009 renault…not pretty
foolsm8
11th February 2011, 18:49
What’s the story with those long black things mounted on some cars?
Larcem (@)
11th February 2011, 21:07
The new Mclaren is starting to make sense in my mind. Starting….