Technical Oh dear... a modesty panel...

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102883

What happens if one gets knocked off during a race... can you say that Alonso has lost his trousers ?

 

[Brogan]

It's yet another ridiculous feature to appeal to the masses:"Hmmm, the cars aren't pretty any more, what can we do about it?"

In the first place, they should have realised when they set the new regulations last year what the end result would be.
Now they (the FIA) should just live with it.

Unless there is an aerodynamic benefit, I expect most teams will opt not to use it.

 

[Mephistopheles]

No no no no no Brogan cover the ugly thing up that's what I say it should be compulsory.....

 

[ExtremeNinja]

It's not compulsory and so the teams will have to weigh up aesthetics against aerodynamic performance. If there is a performance differential then they will take the option that delivers the results. There is bound to be some way that this adjustment to the regulations can be exploited to some effect.

 

[Incubus]

Unfortunately the opportunity to hide stepped noses only apples to cars.
Shame it bnever applied to drivers...

 

[The Artist.....]

Well, some have said that Adrian Newey cheekily based the design of the nose of the fw15 on prost's nose....

 

[MCLS]

Unfortunately aesthetics don't tend to go into development much unless it gains performance in doing so, just look at the Ferrari!

 

[Josh]

I forgot to post this here. There's a piece about the modesty panel. Tbh I doubt many teams will use it...

 

[MCLS]

I do like the look of the 2014 car if thats something to go on though

 

[The Artist.....]

Yep- finally doing away with the raised nose! I for one will be very happy to see the back of them!

 

[Incubus]

Seeing the back of a nose??? Gee that's a sickly thought...

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Yeah bring back the '91 era of styling!

 

[cider_and_toast]

I haven't seen a picture of the 2014 car yet (if it's on here already my phone can't display it ) but one thing that comes with having a turbo is the fact the cars will no longer need the raised air box. I expect we'll see all sorts of bits around the roll bar designed to feed air onto the rear wing.

 

[F1Yorkshire]

I haven't seen a picture of the 2014 car yet

Here it is CaT

 

[MCLS]

F1Yorkshire beat me to it

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Too slow young McSup!

 

[cider_and_toast]

Nice nose.

 

[MCLS]

Reminds me of the 2009 Brawn a bit

 

[Andyoak]

I haven't checked out scarbs properly yet... but if CaT is right about the airbox why has scarbs shown it?
Have the FIA dictated they have to be included?
I'd love to see a bit more variation in body styles although wishful thinking in the age of CFD and wind tunnels...

 

[cider_and_toast]

I'm not sure why it's included in the drawing but at a guess I would say he's just used a stock body and is only showing the 2014 nose. There is no mechanical need to use an airbox (take a look at those early 80s turbo cars) because the air is forced into the car via the turbo and the additional pressure from the airbox isn't required. That said, there may be a rule similar to the one that bans the type of roll bar that Mercedes were using a couple of years ago that will see the airbox shape left in place. From a designers point of view though, anything that can clean up the airflow onto the rear wing would be a real bonus and not having the airbox in the way would be a huge help.