The Official 2010 F1 Thread!!!!!!

[quickervicar]

This is their version of the F*#% Duct, correct? Directs small stream of air to stall the larger airflow over the rear wing on fast straights, lowering drag & increasing top speed.

[hoseklamp]

This is their version of the F*#% Duct, correct? Directs small stream of air to stall the larger airflow over the rear wing on fast straights, lowering drag & increasing top speed.

No, Mercedes hasn't really shown too much evidence of having a working F-Duct yet. I think only Ferrari and BMW have really tested it during a practice session so far. If you see the "shark fin" looking slightly bulbous and attached to the rear wing, then it's a good clue that they have it.

Also, the air doesn't directly affect the air on top of the wing surface, but on the underside. The key is to seperate that flow, which stalls the wing all together

Here is some evidence showing that Mercedes is working on a solution though. The bits on the wing may be place holders for where the shark fin will come back to.

[E30Kaiser]

RBR is looking strong after Practice 2, hopefully that translates into qualifying strength, and a good race for them, they have been robbed too many times so far.

[quickervicar]

Also, the air doesn't directly affect the air on top of the wing surface, but on the underside. The key is to seperate that flow, which stalls the wing all together

Ah, that makes more sense. Thanks for the explanation. I thought that it was directed down into the bodywork, then vertically discharged across the front of the wing blocking airflow (like a downdraft airlock in a freezer warehouse). It always sounded like a recipe for turbulence nightmares. But your version sounds much better. If you just take away the action of 1/2 of the air over the wing, the wing ceases to "exist"

[323iNathan]

yyyeeaaa Webber! I can't believe how far ahead both Red Bulls are this weekend. 8 tenths from 1st to 3rd! 2 seconds to 10th...

Also seeing Alonso driving with one hand on the wheel to stall the rear wing around turn 16, and the end of turn 3, is pretty nuts. Not sure I'd take my hand off the wheel at over 300km/h!

[Hick]

i think Alonso has a hand/elbow injury. there are shots of him in the pits rubbing his elbow and moving it around in pain.

[Jon325i]

Webber put together a real flier of a lap to be the only driver in the sub-1:20/lap range. Question is, can he make a good start and hold of the others? He's botched a couple of starts before...quickly handing the lead over to someone else. My guess is Vettel will have better overall pace and will finish ahead of his teammate. Ditto with regard to Jenson & Lewis at McLaren. Button does a better job of managing his car than Hamilton....not by any means slow, but not driving the absolute piss out of the thing.

Should be a good race. Next weekend at Monaco might be more or less a carbon fiber procession.

Jon

[323iNathan]

I bet Hamilton might start thinking about how he punishes his tyres now...

And Webber (WEBBER!!!!!!) was able to use his mirrors now they're mounted in-board, and so managed to position himself properly, and stay in front through the first corner!

Hamilton may have set the fastest lap, but I don't think anyone will argue that the Red Bulls couldn't have gone faster, and Alonso set a few pretty quick times too.

[Hick]

Hamiltons wheel looked off a little bit before it went. I dont think it was a tire failure but rather a wheel nut failure... like Heikki a year ago

[E30Kaiser]

Monaco may not go well for RBR but other than that I think they are going to be at the top as long as their reliability improves. It is heart breaking to keep seeing my favorite team getting gang raped by bad luck over and over again.

[naplesE30]

Anyone know where I can watch the race online? I was at work and missed it. Last time I checked live timming it was Weber, Hamilton, Vettel and I would love to see what happened.

[Jon325i]

Well I was waaay wrong in my prediction for the Spanish GP....Webber took control from start to finish. Good on him for a well driven, error free race. Vettel did well considering how he had to nurse the car in the closing laps. Hamilton's wheel fail was just like Heikki's last year. De ja vue anyone?

There wasn't a lot of passing going on - turn 1 at Circuit de Catalunya is the best overtaking spot. Only Monaco comes to mind as a less inviting passing opportunity track. It should be interesting to watch the opening laps unfold with the additional cars for 2010 - not to mention the back marker teams serving as rolling chicanes for the front runners.

Jon

[Super Sedan]

LMES race in Spa today was much more exciting...

[Jand3rson]

Wow, that was one seriously boring race.

[E30Kaiser]

Why are both of the Spanish races so boring? I hate the Circuit de Catalunya even on Forza 3. A few more boring tracks to go until the Canadian Grand Prix, then one more boring Spanish race, and then the great tracks!