8 replies to this topic

[LeMans86]

I myself am quite interested in the performance of F1 cars, but we only ever get assumptive and relative numbers regarding it. How much the difference between the best and worst scoring cars is, is completely unknown (besides the fact that it's on average x seconds slower around a lap).
Besides this, we often get the arguments 'it's all about the car', 'everyone would win in that car', 'he's better but his car sucks', etc.

Would it be a good idea for the FIA to make it mandatory for the teams to disclose certain car figures after 3 (or 5 or so) years? Not too much detail, but some basic and 'standardized' numbers, like:
- Amount of downforce and drag that was generated around the Barcelona (or some all-round track later in the season) and Monza track at 150, 200, 250 and 300 km/h (real nrs from the race weekend)
- Maximum horsepower and torque delivered by the powerplant during Barcelona qualfying and a normal race lap
- Empty car weight

Of course this won't tell the whole picture about a car, but it at least gives us, the fans, an idea of what those cars were capable of, what their strengths/weaknesses were and a feeling for what causes certain differences.
Also what the real effect of certain rule changes have been and the steps teams make from season to season.

I can't think of a reason why not to do this, besides teams that peformed badly (like Ferrari recent years) wanting to keep it a secret where and how much they were lacking. But the core purpose of every team is to build the best car they can every year, so why be ashamed of the accomplishments? Even is it's not the very best.
We already get certain current information to speculate on, like the amount of fuel the engines use. And after a year of 3, the information is not that relevant anymore to the competition, since the cars have evolved quite a bit since.

[LeMans86]

With all the driver swaps for next season, it will already be interesting if we'll hear some comments about the difference in engine.
Probably the drivers will be gagged about this though, besides maybe the Lotus' guys.

[V8 Fireworks]

There are older aero CFD and wind tunnel plot pictures floating about on the internet.

[DrProzac]

Well, it would be interesting.

[Imateria]

I'd go for that, it would be nice to see how much power the Honda V10 actually had in Brazil 05 when they said they were aiming for 1000hp. I know they didn't get there but it would be nice to see how close they got.

[Nonesuch]

I voted no because the FIA is already mandating more than enough.

 

But it would be great to see some of the teams do so voluntarily. I'm sure it'll be of great interest to many enthusiasts.

[DainBramaged]

There are older aero CFD and wind tunnel plot pictures floating about on the internet.

Racing Engineering magazine got their hands on a 2008 Honda and put it in a wind tunnel and did all sorts of tests and measurements on it and then published the results and their comments etc over a few issues. Was quite interesting to read although I did have to get my book on Aerodynamics out to understand some of the data tables etc.

[Jamiednm]

I'd love to know the stats, but I think teams would be very political if it was left down to them to disclose figures, rather than independent analysis.

For example, in 3 years time, Red Bull could say the RB10 generated a million points of downforce, but the Renault power unit only delivered 50bhp - you know, that sort of thing. It is F1 after all.

[Tombstone]

I'm only interested in power outputs,