6 replies to this topic

[24gerrard]

Over a year ago I pointed out the unusual capability of the RB to maintain a low ride height from low fuel to max fuel.
We talked for hours about ride height suspension systems and exchanged posts on FI Tech and other sites.
The issue was not resoved but covered up by the exhaust outlet for the blown diffuzer.

Interesting that Webbers car also had a piece of CF hanging in a similar place to the rear left tyre that punctured on Vettels car.

Perhaps the ride height issue should be brought up again, it might even show why the RB is always winning.
Sorry Adrian.

[carlt]

Over a year ago I pointed out the unusual capability of the RB to maintain a low ride height from low fuel to max fuel.
We talked for hours about ride height suspension systems and exchanged posts on FI Tech and other sites.
The issue was not resoved but covered up by the exhaust outlet for the blown diffuzer.

Interesting that Webbers car also had a piece of CF hanging in a similar place to the rear left tyre that punctured on Vettels car.

Perhaps the ride height issue should be brought up again, it might even show why the RB is always winning.
Sorry Adrian.;)

so they instigate slow release of air in the tyres to lower the ride height as the fuel load comes down ?

[24gerrard]

so they instigate slow release of air in the tyres to lower the ride height as the fuel load comes down ?

No!!!
The clearence between the corner of the tea tray and the tyre is compromised by the ride height and any system that might control it.
It showed up very early in the season and last year.

Mind you your suggestion is possible and might make sense of the deep debates between Pirelli and RB about tyre pressure minimums.

Edited by 24gerrard, 13 November 2011 - 16:07.

[Bakeryman]

I have sometimes noticed after a Red Bull finishes, say, an untimed practice session and stops in the pits, a mechanic jacks up the front and immediately lets it down again. The car is then wheeled back into the garage. What is the reason for this. Releasing some form of low ride height "catch" in the front suspension perhaps? Or just giving the front suspension a hard jolt for some reason?

[Ben]

From what I can gather, the Q3 pace on the Red Bull is blown diffuser related.

The tyre issue sounds like they were running too low a cold pressure, he hit a kerb and popped the bead off. I've heard of this on a Pirelli-shod GT car and the Hankook Ferrari did it at Silverstone last year on the way to the LMS grid.

Fits with the no structural damage announcement from Pirelli and the fact that it occurred on a kerbed corner.

Ben

[saudoso]

Cooked tyre thoury:

Autosprint’s theory is that Vettel’s pre-race routine in preparation for the start went awry.

Reportedly, the routine involves hot Renault engine gases from the exhausts of the 2011 Red Bull blowing onto the tyres.

“For some reason - defects in the procedure, the wrong mapping, other circumstances - not everything proceeded as it usually does,” claims Autosprint.

The report concludes that it was the hot gases that damaged the tyre and caused the sudden puncture.

http://www.inautonew...vettel-puncture
http://www.auto.it/a... gomma bruciata

[cheapracer]

If it's not Ben's reason above then it may have been the wheel slipping inside the low pressure, cold tyre while subjected to high side load.