[Tech Issue] Will Melbourne be ruined by diffusers?

[ChrisPage]

The FIA are now saying 'there is not enough time' to sort this before Australia!

I'm sorry but they knew about this well over a month ago and have done nothing - the one thing they couldn't have had more of is time.

In my view the FIA is looking for ways to stoke up and split the teams apart from FOTA - not giving any clear guidance on the answer to this just allows factions to develop and become embittered to each other. Same thing with the budget cap.

And Flavio for one (no doubt amonst others) is falling right into the trap getting himself all worked up and making legal complaints. The team bosses need to realise the stupid political games Mosley is playing with them.

Politics, politics, politics.

[Adam43]

How is it that it is so obvious to all the fans who read the press on this, but the team bosses can't see it. Amazing really!

[craigd]

Agree with above. This is a total farce! The FIA are jsut wanting to split up the teams and also absolve themselves of any responsibility by effectively saying "let the stewards decide", so that whatever the outcome we'll just attack them again! Also the way Mosley goes "it's not for me to decide" is just so weak.

They left the loop-hole in the rules. The 3 fancy diffuser teams have done nothing wrong by using their brains to find performance (i.e. do their jobs) and the other teams have just been too slow on the uptake to spot this; if they had, they certainly would have created similar designs themselves. That's the facts.

They could have made a decision immediately when the issue arose, but instead the FIA yet again come across as not having a clue about what their doing or want! They should just leave it be now and tell the other teams they'll have to catch up, just like with Renault when the other teams tweaked their engines in a slightly unscrupulous manner.

[Adam43]

We've never seen anything like this before, this "sport" is a joke. I'm selling my telly.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Unfortunately this is the sort of **** that happens when you don't standardise parts that should be made standard.

Ah, no. This sort of things happens when you make things very complicated. Besides, the diffuser shouldn't be standardized. It'd better to ban it. Pure and simple.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

Ah, no. This sort of things happens when you make things very complicated. Besides, the diffuser shouldn't be standardized. It'd better to ban it. Pure and simple.

Maybe there should be a choice of 'standard' parts.Three types of suspension,three diffusers,three rear wings,three front wings etc.

Mix and match.

[duke_toaster]

What's wrong with a standard diffuser (or a diffuser that meets a certain template), bearing in mind that F1 cars should have a level of aerodynamics that still makes them the fastest things on wheels that turn left and right but the thing shouldn't be ruined by a massive technical regulations handbags competition at scrutineering.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

(or a diffuser that meets a certain template)

The current ones are supposed to do that,but there seems to be some argument about it.

[RaceFreak]

Total BS. This issue has been front-and-center for 2 months now.
No ruling by the first race ? Then it's legal. Period.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

What's wrong with a standard diffuser (or a diffuser that meets a certain template), bearing in mind that F1 cars should have a level of aerodynamics that still makes them the fastest things on wheels that turn left and right but the thing shouldn't be ruined by a massive technical regulations handbags competition at scrutineering.

Standard components are against the spirit of the series. I agree that Formula 1 should have a level of aerodynamics but that doesn't make diffusers necessary.

[strider]

Quote from that very sensible Mr Saward in his F1 blog:

My view is that if a team has been clever and read the rules in a legal way then there is nothing wrong with that. If the rules are badly-phrased or leave holes for the engineers to jump through, then those who do it are clever. There is, however, a clear difference between being clever and cheating.

They say that a little controversy is good to get people excited about the new F1 season. I am not a believer in all publicity being good publicity but in the overall scheme of things, the average man on the bus will never get excited about the arcane struggles that go on. It is the “anoraks” that get outraged and say that F1 is going to the dogs. The recent kerfuffle about points is a good example. Changing the points system and then changing it back again was completely incomprehensible for the average José in Barcelona. They just scratched their heads, shrugged their shoulders and went back to their tapas and looking at the pretty girls.

Nuff said?

[mjstallard]

Red Bull will protest the Brawn diffuser if their cars pass scrutineering:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73876

Whilst good old Pat Symonds contradicts Flav and talks some sense:

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...23154920.shtml

[neilap]

Flavio began complaining (more) when their advantage over the rest of the teams, Miclelin, left the sport. Michelin worked exclusively with them on some innovative suspension technologies that allowed an underpowered car to win races.
Now, they, instead of getting to work are hoping to be gifted race wins. This is pathetic. The car was deemed to be legal therefore figure out how to beat the teams on track not in a courtroom.

BrawnGP will drop out of F1 if they are forced to change their car. The money simply is not there. I will probably stop watching too if the season begins with six cars being disqualified.
If I want disappointment I can just look at my 401k.

[Glen]

I don't think it's pathetic at all! Clearly a grey area, and clearly millions of dollars at stake - appeals and protests are inevitable.

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by neilap

Flavio began complaining (more) when their advantage over the rest of the teams, Miclelin, left the sport. Michelin worked exclusively with them on some innovative suspension technologies that allowed an underpowered car to win races.
Now, they, instead of getting to work are hoping to be gifted race wins. This is pathetic. The car was deemed to be legal therefore figure out how to beat the teams on track not in a courtroom.

Renault's mass dampers were declared legal, but were subsequently protested successfully by rival teams. How is this any different?

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

Standard components are against the spirit of the series. I agree that Formula 1 should have a level of aerodynamics but that doesn't make diffusers necessary.

Standard components may be considered by some to be against the spirit of the series. I am not overly keen on them myself, but there are a limited number of things that in my opinion should be control (tyres), and others that should be made to a single design (wings). Not as in "the rules say N", as in "here is a half scale model of the nose cone/rear wing/diffuser you will have on your car, we will have NASCAR-style templates at the race".

I consider these occasional farces that happen in some cases for certain parts (aero nowadays, formerly tyres) equally against the spirit of F1. F1 is a sport where drivers race each other on a circuits. It's F1, not Major League Sports Barristers.

[ChrisPage]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

Renault's mass dampers were declared legal, but were subsequently protested successfully by rival teams. How is this any different?

Its not different at all.

Both situations shouldn't happen. It effectivly means the view of the race stewards, trumps the view of the FIA Technical team. Insane.

I think we are just all disappointed that a new age of F1 will begin with grown men back-biting, sniping and sulking instead of racing. It's pathetic and I'm trying really hard to ignore it. What could be one of the good news stories of F1's recent past (Brawn being competitive) could be ruined by this. If it's illegal, fair enough, no arguments - but why oh why do we need to wait until the point of maximum public embarrasement for all concerned before we get an answer? Again, pathetic!

But, then again, as Max has alluded too already - he could have referred this matter for a definitive answer. He could even have done that as late as this week (see Autosport.com). But he hasn't - because he wants to break the teams up.

Come the end of this weekend when the team bosses are all in a big scrap on the start straight (ala the Asterix comics!) - Mosley and Bernie will be sat in their tower cackling like Mr Burns, shouting 'dance puppets dance'!

(Either that or nothing will happen and it will be a great race!)

[Teretonga]

The root of the problem is in the regulation writing.
The rules are written.
Teams make an interpretation and ask for clarity.
They get a letter from the technical committee saying yes thats OK.
It should be OK.... but then the FIA plays the teams off against each other by creating the shootout at or after the race....

It's called divide and conquer... Max and Bernie are experts.
What the teams should not do is protest. What they should do is all agree the interpretation by Brawn is correct and all go and build similar diffusers asap.
The important thing is they remain united and don't allow Max & Bernie to split them up over technical issues.

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

What the teams should not do is protest. What they should do is all agree the interpretation by Brawn is correct and all go and build similar diffusers asap.
The important thing is they remain united and don't allow Max & Bernie to split them up over technical issues.

Absolutely spot on. Unfortunately this means that the management of a few teams would have to put the good of the sport and their own long term gain ahead of a short term advantage in the championship. Doesn't sound likely does it?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

What they should do is all agree the interpretation by Brawn is correct and all go and build similar diffusers asap.

What I don't understand is that three teams (not just one) managed to read the regulations differently ?

It's definitely coming to a head.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=37288

[ECW Dan Selby]

Originally Posted by Marbot

What I don't understand is that three teams (not just one) managed to read the regulations differently ?

It's definitely coming to a head.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=37288

Erm, that sounds appalling ..

Not only am I pretty ill (tonsillitis for the 4th time in 6 weeks.. still don't know what's causing it) at a bad time, but this has really put a downer on the weekend i've been looking forward to for a long time.

Selby

[JeremySmith]

At this point I would not take any notice of it Selby, Get well soon mate!

[ECW Dan Selby]

haha Yeah, priorities and that, I s'pose...

Y'know when you're just looking forward to something so much that even silly things don't bother you, then it gets altered and altered and then to the point where you can't ignore it anymore! It's just a big old shame. It makes me feel silly when I plug F1 to friends, family, and work mates etc. I know that's not my fault by any stretch of the imagination but it's just a let down, isn't it.

Thanks for the kind words, though I'm seeing an EMT tomorrow who'll hopefully shed some light and get me on the mend.. It's very tiring.

Selby

[mac]

How does the FIA manage to always get itself into these situations...?

Two teams go and ask about a particular design of technology and are given a "negative" response - only for three teams to turn up to the first race with precisely that technology...!?!?

Is it just me or does that not sound a bit ridiculous?

[neilap]

The FIA does not need to worry about saving the sport at all. At this rate people will just stop watching. I will likely join that camp of people. This is really old.