Formula 1 - 2021 crazy aerodynamics

[89AKurt]

I was checking out videos, am amazed at how complex these race cars are getting.  Knowing how some model builders love to put on carbon-fiber decals, one of these would be a blast to make, eh?  I can hear it now, #235 goes where?   The mirrors have wings.  Are the brakes drums now?  I'm so out of touch..... ?

[peteski]

Back in the day, it was mostly the driver's skill, with the mechanicals of the vehicle not really contributing much, but nowadays it looks like it is all about the vehicle and the driver is mostly in it just for the ride.  I know I'm exaggerating, but all these doo-dads generated in a CAD environment are too much.  I haven't really followed F1 for many years. They even have automatic transmissions nowadays (or paddle shifters?), rigth?  Too much technology.  IMO, they have jumped the proverbial shark.

[58 Impala]

F1 is getting ridiculous with all the winglets. I like Indycars better. They use a spec chassis which uses more driver control and skill.

[Force]

No the brakes is carbon-carbon disc brakes, the thing looking like a drum is only a cover that helps cooling and shield the heat generated by the brakes from the wheel itself.
Lets see next year, most of the air directing thingamagigs, doo-dads and winglets will be gone as the downforce will be generated in other ways and the cars will be easier follow without loosing downforce and be less sensitive to "dirty" air like they are today...at least that what the new regulations and car specs starting in 2022 are aming for.

Edited March 16, 2021 by Force

[Brudda]

On 3/15/2021 at 11:42 PM, 89AKurt said:

I was checking out videos, am amazed at how complex these race cars are getting.  Knowing how some model builders love to put on carbon-fiber decals, one of these would be a blast to make, eh?  I can hear it now, #235 goes where?   The mirrors have wings.  Are the brakes drums now?  I'm so out of touch..... ?

WOW! I’ll build older F1 cars sir. 

[Dave Van]

Remember when Colin Chapman's skirts on the Lotus were mind bending radical ideas????

[89AKurt]

8 minutes ago, Dave Van said:

Remember when Colin Chapman's skirts on the Lotus were mind bending radical ideas????

Yes.  And Brabham's "fan car" which was banned fast as Chaparral's "sucker car".

[Russell C]

36 minutes ago, Dave Van said:

Remember when Colin Chapman's skirts on the Lotus were mind bending radical ideas????

Too far back for me. But I distinctly remember the uproar the Tyrrell 019 caused with its front wing that wasn't flat all the way across.

[89AKurt]

Since this is all new to me, it's very intriguing.  Nobody chimed in with 'oh heck ya I would love to c-f decal one of these!'

Spaghetti front wing, to deal with vortex issue.

[Mattilacken]

Incredible how they have developed. And imagine if they loos a winglet, I guess the car will be undriveable.. but then they just swap the part so no harm.

[Force]

Well it takes time to change a front wing, a regular pit stop for all 4 wheels takes around 2-2.5 seconds so another 4-5 seconds to change a front wing is devastating for the race, especially if you have to do an unplanned pit stop to do it.

[Pete75]

On 3/16/2021 at 8:37 AM, peteski said:

Back in the day, it was mostly the driver's skill, with the mechanicals of the vehicle not really contributing much, but nowadays it looks like it is all about the vehicle and the driver is mostly in it just for the ride.  I know I'm exaggerating, but all these doo-dads generated in a CAD environment are too much.  I haven't really followed F1 for many years. They even have automatic transmissions nowadays (or paddle shifters?), rigth?  Too much technology.  IMO, they have jumped the proverbial shark.

? High tech development is the name of the game, for sure; it's amazing how quickly F1 innovations find their way into road cars nowadays. Re gears, I believe they are currently 8 speed semi-auto paddle shift with a two-stage finger operated clutch (for starting/stopping). ?