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F1 EXCLUSIVE: “Moving” Ferrari Floor Under Scrutiny From Rivals
Written by: Adam Cooper   http://www.speedtv.com
03/18/2007 - 07:00 PM
Melbourne, Australia
 


A moving floor would help straightline speed and also allow Ferrari to run with higher downforce. (LAT Photo) » More Photos

Ferrari's floor has come under scrutiny from rival teams, who suspect there may be a mechanism that allows it to move illegally.

Although he did not name Ferrari or specify floors, McLaren boss Ron Dennis says he is confident that are cars whose performance will be affected in the near future if certain technical rule interpretations are clarified.

If the front of the floor drops at speed it could create an aerodynamic stall, which improves straightline performance.

That won't necessarily show up with stunning speed trap figures, as it could also allow cars to run a bit more wing and have better performance – with less taken out of the tires – in the corners.



Catch up on the latest Formula 1 developments each month in RACER. Check out our look at how Kimi Raikkonen settled in at Ferrari over the winter in our April issue, on sale now!


The rules allow for a certain amount of "absorption" in that area of the car because the floor takes a lot of punishment from the curbs, and if it is too rigid, the chassis would suffer. However, if the floor is actually capable of lowering, it would be an illegal movable aerodynamic device.

All cars have a form of stay holding the front of the floor in place, but rivals noticed an unusually complex arrangement on the Ferrari when the bodywork was off the car in the Melbourne pit garage.
Dennis admits teams usually push the rules' boundaries in the first couple of races of the year -- was that Ferrari's case in Melbourne? (LAT Photo) » More Photos

The FIA placed a particular emphasis
on examining floors at Melbourne, and took a close look at the Ferrari. Sources close to the FIA suggest that at this stage the team has been given the benefit of the doubt. The current FIA test on that part of the car apparently involves only checking with an upward force.

As with last year's flexing wing affair, in the early races teams are often told privately by the FIA to change suspect elements of their cars for future events. Often that process is kick-started by informal complaints or evidence from other teams.

Dennis has made it clear to us that he suspects that there are some illegal cars in the pitlane.

"We will see how things are in two or three races," he told speedtv.com. "There is a whole range of things that come to light in the first race and you go and you say what is legal, and what is not legal. Most teams are given that current race to enjoy the benefit of the doubt. I think there will be a rationalization of some aspects of some cars that would close the gap if no one did anything.

"You look at people's cars, you are not always of the opinion that rule interpretation has been strictly adhered to, and you get in to, 'Hold on a second, what are we allowed to do and what are we not allowed to do?' and that always takes place at the first event. So it takes a race or two to know what is or isn't permitted."

Questioned by SPEEDtv.com, a dismissive Ferrari spokesman said: "It's part of the game any time Ferrari is quickest. It's not the first time that there have been questions about legality. If someone has a complaint, there is always the FIA."