The Take a Wild Guess Thread: 2009 Cars

So there's been plenty of highly technical discussion around these parts about 2009. I'm not that technical (until it comes to computer systems) so most of it has passed me by. When it comes to F1 and cars in general, I tend to go by what I can see.

We all know 2009 is a sea-change in terms of the regulations, with the onus on reduced levels of downforce. Technical directors have said that it's almost like designing a car for an entirely different/new series of racing.

So what does everybody think? Will we see wildly different concepts from each team, or an even spread of similar ideas?

Will the F2009 look like a de-wingletted F2008, and the MP4-24 a de-wingletted MP4-23? Or will Ferrari do a McLaren - tight and shrink wrapped at every point or vice-versa, McLaren do a Ferrari with a 'fatter' nose and sidepods?
Likewise for all other teams ... will they take the opportunity to emulate one of the front two teams moreso than they've already done, just without the aero accoutrements or come up with something completely left-field?

I'd be interested to hear from the F1 engineers on the board ... not any insider info obviously, but maybe just a viewpoint of how they've seen aero departments work in the past and what they think it might hold for the future.


For my part, I expect Ferrari to keep the familiar shape which has characterised their cars in the 2000s as it's been a winning philosophy throughout several rule changes (all bar the tyre changes in 2005).
I think McLaren will also do the same, although I'd half like to see them move towards Ferrari in an attempt to capture that magical something that seems to make the red cars just so damn unstoppable.
BMW can probably be relied upon to do something inventive with their super-CFD research, and as for the rest ... well let's hear your thoughts!

Well that one went down like a lead balloon ;)

Guess I should have included some slurs against drivers, their ancestry and the fans that support them ;)

Let me take some lead off the balloon.;)

I think we will sooner or later see some very sophisticated sculpturing on the top cars. Since they may no longer use additional winglets they'll eventually change the shape of the nose and the sidepods in a way that encourages a smoother air flow around the car. I can't wait to see what they will come up with to be honest.

does the increase in trackwidth from 180 to 200 also involve changes in other allowed dimensions of the cars? (e.g. wider nosecones etc)?

Originally posted by Beamer
does the increase in trackwidth from 180 to 200 also involve changes in other allowed dimensions of the cars? (e.g. wider nosecones etc)?

There is no increase in overall car width. It will still be limited to 1800mm. The 2009 regulations document on FIA web site is outdated.

I'm gonna guess that most teams will be using the sidepods as wings, so a heavily scooped underside and maybe an outside "skirt" to create a venturi tunnel.

They will be like the 1997 cars, including slicks.

The comment on the sculpting made me wonder ...

Do the regs state that the bodywork has to be perfectly smooth? Could, for example, a car be created with say ... dimples all over it. I have no idea if that would make an aerodynamic difference, but just as an example ..

Originally posted by rodlamas
They will be like the 1997 cars, including slicks.

Don't think. the nose high configuration will surely go away (vastly) because underfloor aero will be really reduced (shorter diffuser, no bargeboards.) plus minimum radial cross section is given for sidepods all the way down the rear wheels.

Because of every appendice ban, bodyworks will be different to have the less disturbed air possible for rear wing.

Thus so far, it is heard that cars will look more like 1990-1991 cars.

Where is a simple list of what's changing....?

Will FW11B do an impression of what they could look like (please)?

Steve.

Originally posted by Rubens Hakkamacher
Where is a simple list of what's changing....?

In the thread about the 2009 regs.

Thread merge ?

http://forums.autosp...threadid=101015