Segue uma explicação sobre a legalidade do airbox da Lotus, retirada do site Autosport durante a cobertura do primeiro treino hoje:
15:44 Robert Lawes asks live@autosport.com: Having looked at the launch pictures of the new Lotus T128, I've noticed that the roll bar is in the style of the Mercedes from last year. I believe this was made illegal for 2011 due to the dangers of it digging in should the car roll. Is there an explanation or will the car look different tomorrow?
AUTOSPORT's F1 editor @eddstrawF1 says:
The rules were modified to prevent such a narrow spike being used because of fears about the single spike digging into the ground if the car were to roll. The images we've seen of the Lotus so far suggest that the spike is much wider than that of last year's Mercedes, which would allow it to comply with the way that the rules were changed.
It remains to be seen whether having such a wide spike works well with the needs of the airbox, as the shape of the box is critical when it comes to the airflow into the engine and the flow approaching the rear wing.
It's hard to say conclusively until we see the final car, but having asked a few technical directors their opinions, the feeling is that there is no problem on legality. Whether it is the right way to go design-wise, given the thickness, is another matter.
It's worth noting that Mercedes designed their car to switch easily between the two concepts, and Lotus might be able to return to a more conventional design if it doesn't work. So probably not a big risk.
15:44 Robert Lawes asks live@autosport.com: Having looked at the launch pictures of the new Lotus T128, I've noticed that the roll bar is in the style of the Mercedes from last year. I believe this was made illegal for 2011 due to the dangers of it digging in should the car roll. Is there an explanation or will the car look different tomorrow?
AUTOSPORT's F1 editor @eddstrawF1 says:
The rules were modified to prevent such a narrow spike being used because of fears about the single spike digging into the ground if the car were to roll. The images we've seen of the Lotus so far suggest that the spike is much wider than that of last year's Mercedes, which would allow it to comply with the way that the rules were changed.
It remains to be seen whether having such a wide spike works well with the needs of the airbox, as the shape of the box is critical when it comes to the airflow into the engine and the flow approaching the rear wing.
It's hard to say conclusively until we see the final car, but having asked a few technical directors their opinions, the feeling is that there is no problem on legality. Whether it is the right way to go design-wise, given the thickness, is another matter.
It's worth noting that Mercedes designed their car to switch easily between the two concepts, and Lotus might be able to return to a more conventional design if it doesn't work. So probably not a big risk.
A explicação acima sobre a legalidade é correta e a decisão de projeto foi baseada em conservadorismo para um novo critério de crash test na regra de 2011. Acredita-se aqui que este desenho precise de menos loops para passar...
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário