Double Diffusers All Round 15/04/2009 For whatever reason, the Court of Appeal has decided that the double diffusers are legal and so Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams will continue to have a slight advantage in the races until the other teams design their own trick diffusers. That may not be very long, as several teams have admitted that they have been working to introduce the diffusers on their own cars as soon as possible.Timo Glock in the Toyota TF109There was much talk of how expensive and difficult it would be for existing designs to be adapted to take the double diffuser but I think much of this has been propaganda prior to the court's verdict. With rumors of McLaren and Renault bringing new diffusers to Shanghai this weekend and other teams introducing tweaks to their existing designs, it seems that the problems are not quite as insurmountable as claimed. Even BMW, who said originally that a whole new gearbox casing would have to be designed before fitting a trick diffuser, is amongst those teams said to be nearly ready with a new design.The one team that appears to have real difficulty in fitting a double diffuser is Red Bull and their car has been the best of the rest so far, getting amongst the diffuser cars in both races to date. One would expect the gaps between the teams to close up in the next few GPs, therefore, and a tremendous battle for supremacy develop midseason.I suspect that the superiority of the Brawn is not only due to the double diffuser, however, and the team will maintain their lead for many races yet. They are continuing with development of the initial design and will not be easy to catch, even for a team as close to them as Toyota appear to be.One gets the feeling that Brawn have held back a little in the early practices and races, aware that a display of absolute superiority would increase the likelihood of their diffuser being ruled illegal. Now that the court has rejected the appeals against it, we will see the BGP 001 unleashed into its true potential. If you put your money on Button for champion this year, now would be a good time to count your chickens.Even so, I think we are about to see a tremendously exciting season unfold. The big teams will gain ground slowly and the final run to the spoils could still be very close. Toyota will throw everything at improving their car, determined as they are to win races this year, Adrian Newey's RB5 will get similar development and BMW, annoyed as hell at having to fight so hard for a championship they thought would be theirs, will be doing their utmost too.Expect McLaren to make a big leap forward in performance in China - not to the front but much closer to it than they have been this year. Strangely, the team seems to thrive on political controversy and they will be itching to prove the latest drama insufficient to hold them back on the track. And, in spite of their gripes and protests, Ferrari will be in there too, running like mad from Luca's whip.This is why the ICA's decision was the correct one; it has ensured a season full of interest as new teams battle with the old guard to maintain their surprise ascendancy. There are lessons too in the application of the rules - let us hope that it will be a long time before we see another protest based entirely upon the "spirit" of the rules rather than any real circumvention of them. And the next time Ross Brawn suggests a tightening of regulations might be in order, perhaps he will receive a more attentive hearing...
Clive
aracerdude I think you are correct about Brawn being more then just a double diffuser. I believe I read in preseason testing their front suspension was different from the rest and innovative. Date Added: 15/04/2009
michael hello Clive i just have to ask you these... what makes you so sure about Mclaren and also how can we know that they will appear in Shanghai with a new diffuser and looking at the mp4 24 do you think they will actually bring a totally new concept into play having realized that this one is a complete bucket?thanks Date Added: 15/04/2009
Clive Aracer: I'd not heard about any difference in the Brawn front suspension, but a lot of people have been saying that the car is good all round. Judging by its balance, I'd say they're right. Date Added: 15/04/2009
Clive Michael: Basically gut feeling, to be honest. They have said they're bringing improvements to Shanghai and I just think that will include a diffuser altered to make use of the double diffuser concept. I don't think we can know that for sure unless they announce it - but we can guess.McLaren haven't had time to develop a completely new concept but they may not need to. By all accounts, the car handles well enough, it just lacks downforce, particularly at the rear. Seeing that the double diffuser gives more downforce, it would seem to be a useful step towards solving the car's main problem.And that's why I bet they've been working harder than any other team on getting a double diffuser in place as soon as possible. It would also explain why they have kept so quiet on the matter, going to the ICA hearing but advertising in advance that they wouldn't be saying anything. No sense arguing against something that might improve your own car to the point of competitiveness. ;) Date Added: 15/04/2009
aracerdude This is what I read, Clive.http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73700 Date Added: 15/04/2009
Clive A very good article, Aracer - and I see what you mean about the front suspension. Overall, the car has some clever ideas and they have been better developed than others, thanks to the long lead-in time the team enjoyed. It is definitely not just a pretty diffuser! Date Added: 15/04/2009
marc Clive: I'm surprised you haven't speculated more on future performance of team BMW. I suspect they will show the steady improvement we have come to expect from them resulting in either a win or at least a podium in one of the next couple/three races. My opinion on McLaren is that we won't see significant improvement in the car, but we may see Hamilton continue with his outstanding performances, which may yield a result that would make one think the engineers made great improvements. But I am just as happy to watch the races that prove my opinions to be the ramblings of an armchair commentator. Date Added: 15/04/2009
Clive Marc: Anyone who makes predictions will tell you that you're bound to get it wrong some of the time - and I'm the guy who predicted a championship for Button in 2007! Oh well, the crystal ball was obviously set further into the future than I realised at the time. ;)What I see in BMW's part in the affair is annoyance at not being one of the teams to see the loophole first. Dr Theissen's reaction was uncharacteristically critical of the engineers who beat his to the punch - a sign that he was really pissed at being outmaneuvered. He knew the diffusers were technically legal but hoped to get them outlawed because they messed with BMW's plan for this year. Any claim to moral indignation sounds a bit hollow coming from the guy who experimented with flexible wings a couple of years ago.Theissen's pride has been hurt and he will drive his engineers on this one, making sure that the team has the fancy diffuser as fast as humanly possible. This is the team talking about having a specially light version of their car for Kubica, remember, so that KERS is no longer a disadvantage for him. That speaks of enormous ambition and a determination to stick to the plan for this year - to win the championship.BMW will be up at the front within a few races and the season will be a battle with Brawn for both championships. That's my prediction. :D Date Added: 15/04/2009
Robert I still hope that Toyota impress because if they dont, this will be their last year. Date Added: 15/04/2009
Lee @MichaelThe Mclaren is not a complete dog and I think their problems have been made to look worse due to their blistering performance in the last few years. In F1 tiny problems can be the difference between 1st and last and the Mclaren is supposed to be very well balanced although with the lack of downforce Hamilton has had to drive on the edge for the entire race to get the car into the points. It could be that the diffuser adds enough downforce to make the car fly, especially as their KERS system appears to be by far the best out there and their straight line speed is the fastest of any of the runners. Ferrari however have real problems to overcome as their KERS system does not seem as good as Mclarens and is also possibly quite dangerous. The Ferrari also seems very twitchy, which is not good for the drivers confidence. I presume that Mclaren have been developing a new diffuser since testing as they knew they had problems and would have been looking to the Diffuser cars for the solution. If this is true then not only will they stand a good chance of being the first of the rest to add the new part but it may be the better developed diffuser of the second wave.Clive,I have been very interested in Ferraris reaction in all of this. They appear to be rattled and are lashing out at everyone they can including the FIA (which is very strange for them). Calling Brawn "Arrogant" in his single minded approach to this is not only ridiculous but massively hypocritical for a team that is willing to do anything to win. Lets hope their attacks on using creative wording comes back to haunt them as they are probably the masters at using creative wording to get their way. Date Added: 16/04/2009
michael @Leee & @Clivehello you two, thanx for the response and great answers. Well, now that RD is officially out and gone it is only a matter of time for Max to the down and out.I just hope McLaren can find some great push this weekend and exceed all expectations. For me that would be a dream come true.:-)As you all I too love F1 but right now with all that has happened and is happening I am left with a seriously bitter taste in my mouth. Have a nice day and thanx again. Date Added: 16/04/2009
Clive Robert: If nothing else, this season buys the Toyota team time - in a year, the economic climate may be very different from today's. But I think Toyota will win races this year anyway; they have been close to it already and the season has hardly begun. Date Added: 16/04/2009
Clive Lee: Hopefully, Nigel Tozzi's remarks are not really indicative of the Ferrari brass' true feelings. Domenicali, in particular, impresses me as a guy who has plenty of realism and he just needs to have less pressure from above. But Tozzi is a lawyer and has already demonstrated in the spygate case what a complete tosser he is. Date Added: 16/04/2009
Clive Michael: Thanks. Now let's hope that the Chinese GP is a great race and has no political nonsense to spoil it. Date Added: 16/04/2009
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