SPECIAL: F1 2009, A Step Into the Unknown

Formula 1

SPECIAL: F1 2009, A Step Into the Unknown

Energy recovery systems, new aero, slick tires -- F1's engineers will have their plates full conceiving the 2009 challengers, RACER's Adam Cooper explains...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted April 26, 2008 Barcelona, Spain

Aerodynamic appendix like winglets and chimneys will be banned next year, resulting in a very different look to that of today's cars. (LAT Photo)

In Grand Prix racing most people tend to focus on the next race, but for the technical bosses of the teams, a longer term view is essential. That has never been more apparent than right now, thanks to the substantial changes that have been built into the 2009 rules. A move back to slick tires, a reduction in downforce accompanied by a ban on many aero appendages and the introduction of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) mean that after a long period of relative stability teams now have to address the fundamentals once again.

It’s the sort of challenge that engineers thrive on, but on the other hand they are understandably concerned about getting it right. The biggest problem is deciding how to split R&D resources between the current season and next year’s project. With relatively minor changes in recent times, teams have settled into a routine in terms of when and how they make the changeover, but that’s all changed.

It’s especially hard for the teams that will be challenging for the title and risk compromising their 2009 package by focusing too intently on this year’s battle. It’s a real issue for those teams with access to only one wind tunnel – and that includes some of the big names – while those known to have top level CFD departments (notably BMW Sauber) will clearly be a step ahead.

The KERS question was brought into focus on Saturday morning, when it was a key subject of discussion at a meeting of Bernie Ecclestone and team principals at the Toyota motorome, which was also attended by technical directors. Some teams are clearly further down the line than others with their projects, and sources says the discussions were more about the longer term development of KERS, as the FIA intends it to become more important for the next season after 2009.

In the FIA’s Friday press conference five leading technical guys were asked for their thoughts on how they are preparing, and their answers proved to be very illuminating. This is what they had to say:

Pat Symonds (Renault): “It is very interesting as it’s the first big change we have had for a long while. I am sure everyone knows it is a big change to the aerodynamics, and it’s a replacement of grooved tires with slick tires, which in turn means using different weight distributions and all sorts of things. It is a very interesting challenge. It’s, I guess, quite a difficult one. We do need to start on it early and we have started on it early. I am sure we are all the same. Obviously we have had models in the wind tunnel even though we are still discussing the finer details of the aerodynamic rules. It is a good project. I hope and believe that it will improve overtaking which is one of the main reasons for kicking it all off, so let’s see what we get.

Sam Michael (Williams): “I think the rules are quite different, especially aerodynamically for a start, and getting rid of all of the majority of the appendages on the car – bargeboards, flip-ups, chimney. Physically from the outside the cars are going to look quite different with a very wide front wing and narrow rear wing. The target which came from the TWG was to improve overtaking, and it remains to be seen how much impact we will have on that. It will definitely have some impact, and that will be good. That combined with big tires and a big increase in tire grip. As Pat said everyone has started their wind tunnel programs and also CFD programs. It is quite a difficult balance this year to balance how much you develop the current car, the 2008 car, and how much you develop the ‘09. Normally even if you have reasonable rule changes from one year to another they are not as fundamental as this one, so you can continue developing the car right to the last race, and the bits you develop on that car can be carried over to next year’s car, but it almost doesn’t apply now. If you are still developing you car at the last race it will get thrown in the bin at the end of this season. It is probably harder for the three teams fighting for the championship, but it is equally hard for the teams that are fighting I would say to be the best of the rest at the moment, that fourth spot. There are three or four teams that are capable of running in that position and it is going to increase the pressure on them as well. We are all going to be doing that balancing act throughout the season.”

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