Formula 1 Aero

[browney]

Hey guys,
I wanted to start a thread to discuss a couple of things about F1 aerodynamics.

1) What are the rules in F1 about 'ground effects'? The cars have diffusers and front wings both wich run in 'ground effect' so what do people reffer to as being banned? does the rest of the car underbody have to be flat? Are they allowed to have side skirts?

2) People seem to talk about 'ground effects' as being better for cars following close together, is this because the diffuser creates less of an upwash for the same amount of downforce than wings?

3) The FIA raised the front wings to reduce downforce, I assume this was to increase the ability for the cars to follow each other closer but thinking about it, wouldn't this move the wing more into the car infronts upwash?

4) Would it be possible to help the cars to follow each other closly by making a rule that did not allow any surface (including the chord on a cambered wing) on the car to exceed a certain angle from horizontal?

Anyway, some things to discuss.....