Ferrari will finally follow Red Bull’s lead with the suspension layout of its 2012 car.
That is the claim of the Italian daily Corriere dello Sport, revealing that a scale model of the Maranello based team’s new car is already clocking up the miles in the wind tunnel.

With its 2011 design, the 150 Italia, Ferrari raised some eyebrows by sticking with its usual push-road suspension philosophy rather than opting for Red Bull’s pull-rod layout.

“At Maranello, everything has been called into question in light of the unsatisfactory results of this season,” said the Italian newspaper report.

“The (pull-rod) system will allow for a lower and smaller rear end but it will appear only next season,” added Corriere dello Sport.

“In the last six races of this year, even in the races, mechanical and aerodynamic parts (for 2012) will be tested.”

After failing to win a race in July, Sebastian Vettel had a keen look around parc ferme at the Hungaroring.
“I can see some very familiar things on the other cars,” the Red Bull driver is quoted by Der Spiegel.

The Adrian Newey-inked blown exhaust has been the most obvious example of F1 rival copy-catting in 2011, but journalist Ralf Bach wrote that the RB7′s so-called ‘rake’ is also being emulated.

The aggressive ‘rake’ – the car’s attitude from front to rear – is the most likely reason the Red Bull has generated additional downforce amid the mystery previously attributed to flexing front wings.

Der Spiegel said Force India and Ferrari are the latest examples of teams emulating Red Bull’s high rear end, with the result that the front of the cars is lower.

“You can see clearly that the Red Bull sits higher at the rear,” an unnamed FIA official is quoted as saying.

Mercedes’ Ross Brawn, however, doubts that simply copying Red Bull is the answer: “A copy is never as good as the original,” he said.

Team Lotus on Monday revealed its 2011 car.
In an edition of its online magazine Team Lotus Notes, the team published the first photographs of the new green and gold TL11 featuring a Mercedes-style unconventional airbox shape.

The new livery features more yellow and prominent Renault signage, reflecting its new engine partnership with the French marque.

The car itself, with a rear end supplied by Red Bull, has a high and straight nose similar to the other designs seen so far including the Ferrari and Mercedes.

“It is a much more contemporary design. The car really will be a midfield runner. It’s a modern F1 car,” technical boss Mike Gascoyne is quoted as saying.

“There’s been almost no carry-over of parts for the 2011 car — it looks substantially different from last year’s car. It’s the basis of our cars for the future,” he added.

Polyphony Digtial has today fully revealed the “X1 Prototype”, a project in conjunction with Red Bull Racing.

All races that exist in today’s world are restricted by regulations. However the X1 is a machine born from a fantastic “what if” dream of Polyphony; “What would the fastest racing car on Earth, free of any and all regulations look like?”

Initially the X1 prototype was a single seater, canopied prototype wing car with covered front wheels. The performance brought about by the 1500ps direct injection V6 Twin Turbo would have been spectacular as is, with a top speed of 400km/h and a maximum lateral acceleration of 6G. But this concept showed an even greater advancement through the help of Red Bull Racing, who became a partner in this project.

Red Bull Racing’s chief technical officer, the genius aerodynamicist Adrian Newey proposed that “Fan Car” technology, a dream that he had held to himself over the years be added to the X1 Prototype.

A “fan car” is a vehicle having a fan mechanism which forces the air out from underneath the car, to reduce air pressure under the car’s floor. The resulting suction draws the car to the ground surface and creates a massive amount of downforce. And because it can create downforce regardless of the vehicle’s current speed, it dramatically raises it’s cornering speed even in low speed corners.

The incredible ability of fan cars has already been proven in history. The Chaparral 2J fan car entered in the 1970 Can-Nam series was so fast that it was banned after just 1 season. Even in the F1, the BT46B fan car entered in 1978 by Brabham dominated the opening round of the series with extreme speed, and was banned just after that single race.

With this proposal from Mr. Newey, the machine was transformed with a large fan added to the rear end of the body. With additional advice regarding the shapes of the front and rear wings and rear diffuser, its aerodynamics became even further refined. As a result, the X1 prototype attained an astonishing level of performance, reaching a top speed of over 450km/h, with a maximum lateral acceleration reaching up to 8.75G. This is a performance level that is at the very limits of what a normal human body can withstand.

The driver who performed the shakedown test of the machine in Gran Turismo 5, was the world famous Sebastian Vettel. In his very first run on the Suzuka Circuit, he shortened the record time of the course by over 20 seconds. And in the test drive on the Nurburgring GP Course, he marked a record time of 1 minute 4 seconds, drawing out the incredible potential of the X1 Prototype.

This is the dream of the fastest racing car on land, brought to life through the collaboration between Polyphony and Red Bull. Witness for yourself the power of the X1 through the in-game “X1 Challenge”, the first driving lesson ever in Gran Turismo to be performed by a top professional driver.

Adrian Newey, Chief Technical Officer at Red Bull Racing

The results were thrilling. X1 is about evolution. Delivering the optimum combination of tested technologies in a single integrated design. This would be the future of racing were we not bound by regulations, but one that is achievable today. And as Sebastian has shown, it is about devastating speed coupled with real handling control. Today thanks to PlayStation®3 and Gran Turismo we can test drive the future.

Kazunori Yamauchi, President, Polyphony Digital Inc and creator of the Gran Turismo series

X1 sees the marriage of virtual and real worlds as we explore the boundaries of our technology and aesthetic senses. The X1 Prototype Project has been motivated by curiosity and passion, powerful forces that brought together the best the world has to offer in design, physics simulation, racing car product technology and driving.

X1 Downforce Specifications

Lets try calculating the cornering G’s of the X1 at 300km/h from the total tire load and coefficient of friction for the tires.

The total load on the X1′s tires at 300km/h is 1142.7kgf at the front tires, and 1432kgf at the rear tires. The coefficient of friction for the tires isμ=1.97. From these conditions, the maximum cornering force that the tires can exhibit can be determined to be 5073kgf. Dividing this by the wet weight of the X1 of 615kg comes to be 8.25, which is the maximum cornering G of the X1.

8.25G greatly exceeds the G’s felt during the launch of the Space Shuttle, and is roughly the same as that of a jet fighter plane at full afterburner. It is a figure at the very limits of what a human body can withstand.

Test Calculation: Cornering G at 300km/h
Total Tire Load: 2575.6kgf (Front Wheel 1142.7kgf+Rear Wheel 1432.9kgf)
Coefficient of Friction of Tires: μ=1.97 (baseμ=2.16, model calculates an efficiency reduction to 91.5% under high load)
Cornering force that can be exhibited by tires: 5073.9kgf
Cornering G: 8.25G (= 5073.9kgf / 615kg)

Read more: http://www.worldcarfans.com/110102929262/red-bull-x1-prototype-revealed-for-gran-turismo-5-video#ixzz13tUTExBi

Ferrari is not prepared to give up on its 2010 car, despite falling off the pace last weekend in Turkey.

Fernando Alonso failed to make the Q3 qualifying session at Istanbul Park, while Felipe Massa was the Maranello team’s highest placed finisher — behind the Red Bulls, the McLarens, the Mercedes and the Renault of Robert Kubica.

Ferrari’s F10 will feature a specific low-downforce bodywork package in Montreal next weekend, before a big update of changes is debuted at Valencia later this month.

Spain’s AS newspaper believes the Valencia update will include a major repackaging of the rear end and exhaust system.

But team boss Stefano Domenicali denies that if the upgrade fails to pull Ferrari back to the front of the grid, Ferrari will begin to focus on 2011.

“We are not going to stop developing this car — we are not throwing away these races so far,” he is quoted as saying.

Even though the Italian media is decrying Ferrari’s “disaster” and “crisis”, Alonso is only 14 points off the lead of the drivers’ championship.

Domenicali insisted: “We will continue working on the F10 until the end of the season.”

He told lne.es: “The championship is still open and we have seen that anything can happen in the races.  We will not give up.”

Spaniard Alonso agrees that Ferrari is still in a position to fight for the title, arguing that no matter how good the Valencia upgrade, it will not be enough to close the gap to the front.

“We know that McLaren and Red Bull are very far away and we don’t know if that’s enough.  We have to work hard,” he said.

He told La Razon: “We don’t know how long it is going to take, but the truth is that we are almost eight tenths from Red Bull and 6 or 7 tenths from McLaren, and these developments (for Valencia) are not going to give us that much.”

(GMM)

One of Michael Schumacher’s former teammates believes Mercedes is working to tailor its 2010 car exclusively to the tastes of the seven time world champion.

After Nico Rosberg had the upper hand for the first four races of the season, Schumacher bounced back onto the pace in Spain, where a raft of updates for the W01 were debuted.

This weekend in Turkey, even more developments will feature on the silver car, moving JJ Lehto to sympathise with 24-year-old Rosberg.

44-year-old Finn Lehto was Schumacher’s teammate at Benetton in 1994, before he was replaced after a handful of races by Jos Verstappen.

“Poor Nico,” he told Germany’s Auto Bild Motorsport. “Michael is back into the process of building the car and the team around him. Nico suffers.”

Mercedes and even Rosberg insist that the car developments are designed to suit both drivers, but Lehto does not agree.

He said Schumacher “loves a direct front and a loose rear end. At Benetton, Riccardo Patrese, Jos Verstappen and I all had problems”.

Lehto also doubts Rosberg’s claim that he and Schumacher have a similar driving style.

“The young drivers of today drive very differently. I would be surprised if Nico is satisfied with a car that Michael is also satisfied with,” he added.
(GMM)

Mercedes GP have also brought a new rear wing to try out the advantages of McLaren’s blown rear wing. Both drivers initially tested the new design, but only Nico Rosberg chose to use it during the race on Chinese GP, a move which Schumacher dubbed as ‘probably a better choice than my opinion’ after he found his teammate 0.6 tenths quicker during qualifying.

This new wing is still experimental and features a small channel in the middle of the wing. With two small openings in the low deck of the rear wing feed the channel that exits again on the rear end of the upper deck.

Cosworth engine supplier since 2006, has enjoyed his first action in the Formula One racetrack.  This week two of his clients have tested its engines.

The AT & T Williams team carried out the three day test in the Valencia Circuit in Spain, placing the Cosworth V8 CA to seriously give its first steps for the first time in a racetrack.

The new Virgin Racing team unveiled its digitally designed racing car known as the VR-01, with Cosworth engine on Wednesday before the initial sampler session in Silverstone.

This way, Cosworth F1 executives have expressed their first impressions

In an interview with Mark Gallagher, Director General of Cosworth F1 (Business Unit) he was asked about “what relevance have this week’s activities had regarding the World Championship:”
“We are excited to have begun this week the pre-season tests in Valencia with Williams, because it was our first opportunity to see the CA in the rear end of a racing car with all the consequences that has.  The development and test of an engine in our installations in Northampton is one thing, but to see it in the racetrack takes us to a new phase in our program, “ explained Mark Gallagher.

It’s evident that they are thrilled with the debut in the F1, giving credit to their work with Williams, the Director stated;  “Our work with Williams has been very important to collect data, driver’s response and to measure the initial results of the combination of the CA engine to the FW32 chassis.  Our first performance measure will always be the durability, and the fact that Rubens and Nico have completed more than 1.200 kms between both, showed that the engine’s reliability has been up to our expectations. We also paid attention to the global success of the overall installation; see how the engine works together with the Williams gear selection and prove all the associated systems, pressures, cooling system, temperatures.. [...]  Now, we’re waiting for next week’s test in Jerez where we can take our technical program with the team to the next level. “

However, the Director looked particularly excited with the Cosworth VR-01 combination.  “It was very gratifying to see the Virgin-Cosworth VR-01 this week and to welcome the first of our new teams in the Formula One.  We have developed a solid work relationship with Virgin Racing during the last months, and I would like to congratulate Nick Wirth and his design team for the results of their efforts. We’re doing all that is possible to support them since the beginning of their activities in  F1 and when they join with Williams in Jerez, next week we’ll have two teams in the racetrack which will increase our pre-season activities very much.“

What are you specifically involved with? “We were at Silverstone with Virgin Racing for a shakedown session, as a base before the test in Jerez.  Even though the weather conditions were good today, the car worked as expected and it has been a good opportunity to start to understand the new chassis-engine.  This will help to insure that we’re capable of doing most of next week’s important test in Spain.“

Virgin Racing, one of the new four cars of this season, this Thursday completed its first tests at the British Silverstone circuit, with the German pilot, Timo Glock at the wheel of the VR-01.

“To see the VR-01 in action was a wonderful moment for me and for all the team.  It’s great to be back in the racetracks,” said the pilot at the end of the testing session.
On the other hand, Nick Wirth, Technical Director pointed out that the 10 month effort of the team paid off.  “Today were the first steps, but the program will really be in action tomorrow, with a full day of evaluation in Timo and Lucas di Grassi’s racetrack.”

Analysis of the new Virgin VR-01

Leaving aside the beginning of his campaign in the media, Virgin made clear at all times that Wirth was going to design the car totally with CDF technologies.  The team believes it’s the most profitable solution.

With scarce time for tests, the VR-01 has already passed the FIA-required crash tests and has rolled its first laps in the British circuit of Silverstone.

Aside from its very attractive line, the VR-01 has quite simple front wing endplates.  And we say simple because it currently does not incorporate a system for the driver to modify the angle of attack of the upper element.  Yet, we will surely see more developments in before it runs in Bahrain.

The nose follows the trend to copy the Red Bull  V nose concept (as well as the rounded underside), and it also has a sharp tip, almost as low as on the Mercedes GP (but longer).  The front wheel suspension is mounted like a unique keel system.  Seems as though the chassis has a small keel under its nose for the lower wishbone.

Rather unusual for new cars are the front brake ducts.  Even though most of the teams have opted for the highest possible position for the ducts, the VR-01 has them pointing downward, attempting to catch the air from under the front wing.  It’s important to consider that in this area, the air can flow faster and be a bit less dense.

The front part of the sidepods is clearly inspired in Brawn’s BGP001 and it’s also quite similar to the 2010 McLaren 2010.  Small and high combined air inlets must prevent an efficient flow of air around the sidepods, providing more potential downforce in the rear end.

This configuration of the sidepod panels will surely help to achieve this goal.  The racing car seems to be quite developed in the middle zone, though the way the mirrors are mounted and their place came as a surprise.

Just like the new Ferrari, the sidepods are rather lean and without sharp curves.  In both cases, the designers opted for a long car capable of placing all the components near the center line.  This Virgin, as well as the Ferrari could be around 5.5 meters long, 70 cm longer than the Mercedes.  While this may prove beneficial in the fast circuits, in twisty road tracks they may become a challenge.  We’ll see…

The back end of the car seems to have some influence from last year’s Red Bull, as for instance, the aggressive slope.  While this puts the upper wishbone mounts completely in view, the suspension system is still a push rod design.

In its striking silver and black, the new nose of the single-seater does remind us of Brawn’s BGP01, but if we look closely it’s very different.  The middle part of the nose is much higher, reaching above the front wing, together with the typical V shape of the Red Bull RB5 V.  The car has its nose edge higher at both sides right up to the cockpit opening. (look at the detailed picture below.)

The underside of the nose is rounded off, also as the RB5, but with less height in the front suspension mounts which are joined to the chassis by a small keel.

Around the driver, the sidepod entries have changed less, maintaining the air inlets that are now bulky in comparison to what McLaren and Ferrari have presented in 2010. The wing mirrors have been kept very simple.

Front detail of the Mercedes W01

This racing car may be one of the most innovative, not having anything to do with the adjustments made for his official presentation in Germany.  The airbox, apart from being an air inlet, its main objective is to be a roll hoop for the pilot in case of a crash.  Due to this, the teams usually reinforce the airbox walls with carbon fiber so that it matches the required strength.  Up to here there’s nothing we don’t know, but Mercedes has gone a little farther applying a completely different concept.

W01 Airbox

Here, the team has chosen to build the roll hoop as a vertical column providing a thick support on the centerline of the car.  So an air inlet must also be provided.  If you watch closely, the airbox is divided in two, with an air opening much larger than we are used to.

A little more to the back, there is a small opening on each side of the airbox, providing cooling air for some components that sit more rearward in the car.  It is understood that Mercedes and several other teams have chosen to move some components to sit in the low rear to make place for the larger fuel tank.

Despite the fairly bulky shape of the sidepods with a remarkable lack of undercut, the rear end of the car is extremely mince, leaving most of the suspension components open to free airflow. The team have made the bodywork so narrow that many of the components protrude.

Specifications

• Chassis: Construction Molded carbon fiber and honeycomb composite structure
• Suspension: Wishbone
• Dampers: Sachs
• Wheels: BBS forged magnesium
• Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza
• Brakes: Brembo calipers, discs/pads Carbon/Carbon
• Steering: Power assisted rack and pinion
• Electronics: FIA standard ECU and FIA homologated electronic and electrical system
• Gearbox: Seven speed unit with carbon composite maincase
• Gear selection: Sequential, semi-automatic, hydraulic activation
• Clutch: carbon plate

Dimensions

• Overall length: 4800mm
• Overall height: 950mm
• Overall width: 1800 mm

Motor

• Type: Mercedes-Benz FO108X
• Capacity: 2,4 liters
• Cylinders: 8
• Maximum rpm: 18.000 (maximum FIA regulation)
• Bank angle: 90 °
• Piston bore: 98 mm (maximum FIA regulation)
• No. of valves: 32
• Weight: 95kg (minimum FIA regulation weight)