[ëàìèíàò]

Martin Whitmarsh is suggesting that Red bull and maybe others (Ferrari?) are using some form of ride height control system

Interview here..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8590493.stm


While Red Bull deny having any such system.. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE62Q01P20100327

Makes sense, could explain why Mclaren were able to get near the race pace of the front runners but were way off the pace in qualifying a fortnight ago..

[QxmFwtlam]

I did read about this elsewhere; I'll look for the link as it explained it far better than I ever could.

[Cucoulkrory]

Martin Whitmarsh is suggesting that Red bull and maybe others (Ferrari?) are using some form of ride height control system

Interview here..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8590493.stm


While Red Bull deny having any such system.. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE62Q01P20100327

Makes sense, could explain why Mclaren were able to get near the race pace of the front runners but were way off the pace in qualifying a fortnight ago..

might be something to it.

time will tell

[standaman]

As long as the ride height is only changed when the car is stopped it is a legal approach.

[tipoketpu]

Martin Whitmarsh is suggesting that Red bull and maybe others (Ferrari?) are using some form of ride height control system

Interview here..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8590493.stm


While Red Bull deny having any such system.. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE62Q01P20100327

Makes sense, could explain why Mclaren were able to get near the race pace of the front runners but were way off the pace in qualifying a fortnight ago..

This can be read as "They are faster than us so they must be cheating."

This is an alternative to "They thought of something we didn't so they must be cheating."

This is a typical response from any team.

[ebonytipchik]

Must admit that the Red Bull's do seem to be able to run a lot lower in qualifying.

Interesting bit at the end of the reuters piece that Horner (and so Red Bull) are happy with the legality of teh McLaren rear wing

WT

[QxmFwtlam]

As long as the ride height is only changed when the car is stopped it is a legal approach.

Yes. Ferrari have a system, do they not, whereby they alter ride height mechanically in the pit stops.

However I was under the impression that the cars in parc ferme could not be touched aside from front wing angles and tyre pressures. Therefore if red bull alter the RH between end of quali and the start of the GP perhaps there is cause for investigation.

[gariharlj]

Read some speculation somewhere that they could be taking advantage of the fact that you're allowed to re-gas the shocks in parc ferme. Complete speculation though.

[hrthwhr]

Makes sense, could explain why Mclaren were able to get near the race pace of the front runners but were way off the pace in qualifying a fortnight ago..

That or maybe merc engines don't need as much fuel? So while other cars are quicker, they need more fuel and are thus heavier which hampers them slightly in the race?

[gundos]

Martin Whitmarsh should know what the difference between push rod and pull rod suspension is so is he just throwing mud at red bull

redbull use pullrod

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/39

The advantages of a pull rod lie in the possibility to make the nose lower

[dexterljohnthefinanceguy]

What does it matter when these cars can't finish a race. It's like Williams in 2002, great in qualy, but only in qualy...

[RuttyUttepe]

Whitmarsh was careful on the BBC coverage to praise Red Bull for their innovation - possibly mindful that their own duct system wasn't banned.

Tricks like these should be looked at carefully, but obviously if the FIA are happy with their legality then there's no problem.

Remember: there is no "spirit" to the rules!

[dexterljohnthefinanceguy]

Of course, but there is letter and it is important.

[gariharlj]

FIA announce they will deem any ride height adjustment device used in parc ferme to be against the rules:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82763
Red Bull still maintain they don't have such a thing:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82741
Which leaves us to wonder how their car was grounding out so noticeably in low fuel qualifying in Oz.

[Seerseraxlils]

I think Red Bull are telling porkies. Not cheating.

I do so because they have a "boff" named Adrian Newey who is the beginning and the end when it comes to ride heights and racing cars dating back to the marvellous Leyton House chassis.

Still one of my disappointments in racing - watching Ivan Capelli lose the lead of the 1990 French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard with five laps to go.

If the FIA do make discovery then it would be similar to what happened to Renault in 2006 with their damper system. [2005?] Although that was overt.

[cmruloah]

I could easily imagine a system where a both race & a qualifying setting could be designed into the suspension. Pressurised gas or air could set it to the qualifying setting, and then it could be set to either slowly leak out overnight, or be manually released while the car is being prepped on the grid.

[Anteneprorid]

Which would mean that when the car tries to go to the grid for the race, it would sit with it's belly down and lose most of it skid tray not to mention drive and braking.

The only way to make this work is to change height during the race. Red Bull claim they are not doing this so unless the FIA prove different, then that's the end of it. Pure speculation otherwise.

[MegaJIT]

It couldn't be changed in Parc Ferme, but presumably could when the car is on the grid?

But.. what about a fully automatic system? One which if the car is light it will drop it down but if it is heavy will provide a bit more resistance. That wouldn't have to be altered by anyone.

[Innockcroff]

I can't imagine Red Bull would deliberately allow their cars to bottom out during a race, as a rule has been in place for many years where the board/skid tray is checked for excessive wear in parc ferme. The FIA have been strict on this since Imola 1994 (rule came in 1993), and if Red Bull are messing around with ride heights then it is dangerous ground. There is a clear rule and I can't imagine a chap of Newey's experience would make such a misjudgement.

I did notice the Red Bull bottoming out in Melbourne where others were not, but as has been said its pure speculation. If there is a system on the car, then Red Bull would be stupid to assume the FIA won't find it. Then again is this other teams trying to spook the opposition and cause unnecessary aggro? Juicy..

[Sydaycymn]

I hear the Red Bull system is operated by a bladder pressed by the driver's knee during qualifying to release gas from the damper and alter the height...wait...I might be mixing two things up.