New Renault on Track

[Glen]

The larger end plates actually increase efficiency, because they cause the downforce to work more strongly at the ends of the wing than woud otherwis be the case.

If it is the old wing I hadn't noticed how flimsily the top element is attached to the rest of it - I thought that they had a similar arrangement previously, with the slit in the endplate aft of the top element, but the attachement was more thorough.

[James North]

Originally Posted by Jordi

Actually that rear wing appeared in mid-2003.

Indeed it did. Really the only major changes to it, have been the overall size of the endplates, fitting in with the new regulations.

I remember first spotting that general concept of the rearwing at 2003 Silverstone test session.

[Knowlesy]

Was that wing fitted to R23B then? I can't remember...

[mac]

The area just behind the sidepods on all of these new cars is really messy.

They should ban all side-mounted winglets.

[Knowlesy]

That is a simple command mac, and thus incomprehensible to Max Mosley and chums.

[Glen]

Not that simple though, is it? How would you define a winglet? In the rules they are simply pieces of bodywork.

And in any case, it is just a matter of opinion to do with aesthetics - why would the FIA legislate on that point? Would they also ban ugly cars as a whole (Renault would be straight out), or maybe unpleasant colours. Based on their own opinions, which not everyone would see the same.

[Gore]

I agree with Knowsley, don't remember seeing a wing quite as, well, weird on the Renault before (see Valencia pic no 17 on the F1-live site in particular ).

And as for banning aero devices on aesthetic grounds, remember the X-wings? Wish I didn't...

[toot toot]

Will renaults gear box and launch control system be as affective off the line this year or will the others teams be doing something similar? Or will Renault be moving away from there more torque based engine?