FIA “aiming to ban” reactive ride height adjustment
F1 Fanatic round-up
In the round-up: Williams’ Mark Gillan says the FIA has issued a technical directive aimed at banning reactive ride height systems of the kind developed by Lotus.
Links
Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:
The Flying Lap With Peter Windsor (Speed)
Williams chief operating officer Mark Gillan on reactive ride height systems: “The FIA have just banned that particular type of system. [...] From a cursory look it looks as though they are aiming to ban that type of system.”
“Lotus’s new F1 site says their car will be launched on February 5th. Added to the F1 Fanatic calendar.”
F1 2012: Rules, Designs and Trends (ScarbsF1)
“With so much of the car fixed within the regulation, it’s becoming the sidepods that are the main area of freedom for the designers. Last year we saw four main sidepod concepts; conventional, Red Bull low\tapered, McLaren U-shape and Toro Rosso’s undercut.”
Technical analysis – 2012 exhaust restrictions (F1)
“For 2012 the FIA has effectively banned blown diffusers by placing new restrictions on the positioning of exhaust exits.”
Reactive Ride Height and J Dampers Explained (Will Buxton)
“J-damper: one bouncy thing offsets another bouncy thing.”
Mike Gascoyne: “It will be a much more current car than the last two cars we’ve been able to design. It’s probably a bigger step forward compared to the 2011 car. In 2010 our car was obviously very basic because we didn’t have much time to do it and we always said the 2011 car would be a big step forward. What’s exciting for me is that the 2012 car is probably a bigger step forward in terms of refinement of design than we made in 2011.”
HRT insist they will race despite ‘critical delays’ (BBC)
“Rumours that we will take part in the initial Grands Prix with the 2011 car are not true. The target is to be at the second test with the new car.”
Marussia targets second test for new car (Autosport)
Pat Symonds: “We are aiming for the second. We are going to be at the first test anyway because I think it’s important for Charles [Pic] to get some miles under his belt and it shakes some of the cobwebs off of the team.”
Hamilton to be called to court as star witness in GBH trial of German driver Sutil (Daily Mail)
“[Lewis] Hamilton will have to head directly from the trial to attend the launch of the 2012 McLaren car on February 1.”
Interview with PURE’s Craig Pollock
“There has been the news of Peugeot pulling out (of endurance racing) – and we were fairly inside that this might happen. They are around the Paris area with facilities, offices and test benches; not of the quality necessary for a Formula 1 engine, but it wouldn’t take too much to convert it into a Formula 1 test bench. It would potentially be the cheapest way going forward.”
Piecing It All Together: From the White Board to the Dirt Mound (The Austin Grand Prix)
“This is a panoramic photo taken from atop turn one, the most south-eastern point of the circuit, facing west.”
Giedo van der Garde via Twitter
“Guys, everybody asking me about F1 but at the moment I can’t say anything! Please be patient. But thank you very big about the positive messages! It means a lot. Keep following!”
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Comment of the day
Yesterday’s discussion about which teams will still be in F1 in ten years’ time naturally led to a debate on how to encourage new teams to come into the sport. Here’s Junpei’s thoughts.
I’d rather see a “Tier 2″ F1 championship, with same rules as F1. The winner of this replaces the last place runner of the current F1 grid every year, much like in certain football leagues.
This would let teams come in with a lower budget, and learn everything while competing with teams of similar experience/budget. My problem with GP2 is that it’s just too different from F1, and too much like other lower formulas, so all that technical competition is almost non-existent.
Junpei
From the forum
- When will until Caterham, Marussia and HRT score thier first points?
- Ferrari aren’t the only team to have tried to use a road car name for an F1 car
- The new World Rally Championship season is underway – join in the 2012 WRC season discussion
Happy birthday!
No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
When testing is so tightly restricted today, it’s almost surprising to recall that just a few years ago teams would often test at multiple venues at once.
Ten years ago today McLaren and Sauber were testing in Barcelona and Ferrari had the Valencia circuit to themselves.
Paul Kirk said on 21st January 2012, 22:12
I can’t see why they should ban Reno’s reactive suspension/brakes because it’s been used on motorcycles and speedway cars for years! Bikes use a link from the rear caliper (which pivots) to the frame to counteract the increase of rake when braking, also bikes have used front anti dive controled by the hydraulic pressure that activates the caliper, or the phisical reaction of the caliper to push a lever or a button to alter the bump valving in the forks th reduce dive. And I’m refering to road bikes, not just racing bikes!
PK.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 21st January 2012, 23:16
Because it is illegal under the rules.
Paul Kirk said on 21st January 2012, 23:39
Depends on how you interperate them! And that depends on where your biases lie, and where your loyalties are!
PK.
Simeon Brazell said on 5th February 2012, 7:10
Im thankful for the blog.Much thanks again. Keep writing.