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F1 Cars & Teams in the 2012 Season

F1 CARS AND TEAMS 2012 SEASON IN THE AROUND AN F1 CAR "COKE BOTTLE" REAR-END REAR WING DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM NOSE FRONT WING REAR DIFFUSER NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE PULL/PUSH ROD SUSPENSION CHASSIS & T-TRAY V-SECTIONED SIDEPODS EXHAUST DEVELOPMENT: CHANGES IN F1 2012 THE NOSE WHY THAT STRANGE LOOKING NOSE? The nose on an F1 car is a removable extension that forms the front crash structure and mounting for the front wing assembly. 2012 regulations stipulate that the nose height must be reduced to 550mm above the base of the car. This is to stop a "T-Bone" crash where a driver can be hit by the nose of another car. At the bulkhead (above the front wheels) the nose can be 625mm. This means most F1 engineers have opted for a step between the two sections. NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE Nose mounted turning vane: Some 2012 cars (like the Torro Rosso STR7) use large vertical turning vanes that fit on the outer corners of the nose. This is an attempt to scavenge airflow ow from under the front of the nose towards the v-section of the car. The Mclaren MP4-27 uses a "snow plough" turning vane. FRONT WING The front wing is a critical aerodynamic component, configuring airflow for almost the entire mid-section of the car. Most of the aerodynamic downforces comes from the front wing, and is therefore restricted by the FIA on various specifications. The lowest surface of the front wing assemby must be no more than 75mm below the reference plane "the flat plane running along the car's undersurface". PUSH/PULL ROD SUSPENSION Pull / Push rod suspension: A pull rod (and push rod in some 2012 cars) allows for tighter suspension geometry allowing better airflow optimisation around this turbulent area. The Lotus uses pushrod suspension at the front of the car and pull rod suspension at the rear. V-SECTIONED CHASSIS AND T-TRAY The scoop like v-section at the front of the chassis is designed to optimise airflow around the sides of the chassis and to assist in downforce creation. Lotus use a splitter joining the t-tray area to the underneath of the chassis - this separates the airflow in this area. SIDEPODS The sidepods are packed full of important components, including oil cooling radiators, ECU and in some cars, in some cases KERS batteries, a clutch disengage system (for marshals (F1 Marshal System). In 2012, many sidepods have a deeper undercut (like the Red Bulls of 2011) to assist with airflow around the car and into the rear. sto disengage the clutch in an emergency), GPS location "COKE BOTTLE" REAR END The coke bottle rear end is extremely tightly designed to optimise the airflow at the back of the car. F1 cars with smaller gearboxes and tighter panelling tend to have an aerodynamic advantage. In 2012 many of the F1 teams have improved the tightness of this area of the car, notably Sauber, who have an extremely steep drop off at the rear of the sidepods. Williams, despite a poor performance last season were leading the way with a smaller, tighter rear-end thanks to a small gearbox casing. EXHAUST SYSTEM In 2011, most teams had "blown diffuser" technology, where exhaust gasses were used to create downforce in the rear section by blowing hot gasses over the rear diffuser. Using clever engine mapping, engines blew "off throttle" to give extra downforce in corners. In 2012 blown diffusers are banned and exhaust exit angles . controlled. Some teams direct their exhaust gasses to the rear beam wing, but this is nowhere near as effective a method to generate that precious downforce - much of 2012 will be about "finding" that extra downforce to get the advantage. tightly DRS - DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM The DRS (Drag Reduction System) rear wing can be opened by the driver to reduce overall drag (and as a result, downforce) in areas where downforce is needed less and speed is critical. The system's availability is electronically governed - it can be used at any time in practice and qualifying (unless a driver is on wet-weather tyres). but during the race can only be activated when a driver is less than one second behind another car at pre-determined points on the track. The system is then deactivated once the driver brakes. REAR DIFFUSER The diffuser is heavily regulated (the FIA having banned the double diffuser in 2011 and the exhaust blown diffuser 2012). Diffusers help to re-equalise pressure of the faster-flowing air that has passed under the car, without which the air would create a low-pressure balloon' dragging at the back. F1- INCREDIBLE PRECISION ENGINEERING CHANGING GEAR An F1 gearbox can shift gears in 0.05 seconds. Each team can have up to 30 pairs of gear ratios during the racing season, which must be declared to the FIA. Carbon fibre cased gearboxes, like engines, are sealed units and must be used for five consecutive events. Every unscheduled gearbox change will require the driver to drop five places on the grid at that meeting. A PRECISION RACING ENGINE The tolerances on an F1 engine are only a few microns (Imm = 1000 microns). As all components are made to work within the engine's operating temperature, an F1 engine can't be started from cold. The engine must be brought up to operating temperature before starting via an umbilical cord. All engines in F1 are 2.4 litre normally aspirated V8's which are "fully stressed" components (they are part of the chassis along with the gearbox and clutch housing). KERS RELEASE BUTTON KINETIC ENERGY FROM BREAKS KERS ALTERNATOR/MOTOR: Converts energy KERS BATTERY CPU: Sends charge to and from batteries KERS - "KINETIC ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM" ENGINE STATS MAXIMUM RPM MAXIMUM WEKGHT MAXIMUM ALLOCATION This electrical device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car's breaking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration via KER SIZE 2AL V8 18.000 95KG 8 PER SEASON atteries. In the regulations, the cars are permited to input a maximum of 60kw (approximately 80bhp), while the storage capacity is limited to 400 kilojoules. This means that the 80bhp is available for anything up to 6.67s per laps, which can be released either all in one go, or at different points around the circuit. Lap time benefits range from approcimately 0.1 to 0.4s. F1- FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW An F1 engine revs up to 18000 rpm. This means that the piston travels up and down 300 times a second. An F1 car weighs around 550 kg. 85% of an F1 car comprises of carbon-fibre. ロ 6 An F1 steering wheel costs around £20,000 An F1 car can accelerate from 0 to 160 kph and decelerate back to O in just 4 sceonds. NORMAL The aerodynamic drag on an F1 car is such that the driver experiences 1g of deceleration off throttle without brakes. Drivers are subjected to forces of up to 5g - meaning that in a very high-speed corner, their body will experience pressure 5 times greater than their body weight. 16 PRESSURE FORCE (G) Under extreme braking, some drivers have said that this force is so great that their tear ducts squirt water into their visors. 50 PRESSURE Before the Monaco Grand Prix, the manhole covers on this street circuit are welded down - the downforce created by an F1 car has enough suction to rip them off. When an F1 car is driving in the wet, the tyres funnel away 250 litres of water every second - enough to fill a large bath. THE CARS *MARUSSIA AND HRT CARS NOT READY AT TIME OF PRODUCTION SEBASTIEN VETTEL- MARK WEBBER RED BULL Red Bull Facing RB8 FORMULA ONE TEAM - POWERED BY - RENAULT RS28 TOTAL RENAULT -RedBull TOTAL ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the renault V8 engine as Seven-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted with hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation. AP Racing clutch. Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon- composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar, multimatic dampers. Brembo calipers, Brembo carbon discs and pads. fully stressed member. Mclaren MP4-27 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Z JENSON BUTTON - LEWIS HAMILTON Mobil 1 O Mercedes-Benz vodafone ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre composite incorporating front and side impact structures Front: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre Akebono callipers and master composite. MLaren seamless shit, hand-operated, seven speed with one reverse gear, Rear Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement. FERNANDO ALONSO - FELIPE MASSA FERRARI F2012 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 OV-Power Santander AMDA acer ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Independent suspension, pull-rod activated torsion springs front and Carbon-fibre and honeycomb Ferrari longitudinal gearbox. Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes composite structure. rear. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER - NICO ROSBERG MERCEDES MGP W02 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Y シ EaPOSTBRIEF O Mercedes-Benz aabar PETRONAS MIG MIG CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Front: Wishbone and pushrod activated torsion springs and rockers. Moulded carbon-fibre and Mercedes seven-speed semi- automatic carbon-fibre sequential gearbox with reverse gear hydraulic activation hand-operated, seamless shift. honeycomb composite monocoque. Rear: Wishbone and pullrod. KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN - ROMAIN GROSJEAN LOTUS E20 POWERED BY RENAULT RS27-2012 TOTAL Rexona RENAULT CLEAR ANTI-DANDRUP IINEÐ TOTAL ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by Lotus F1 Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. RS27-2012 V8 engine installed as a fully-stressed member. Front: Carbon fibre top and bottom wish-bones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torison bar and damper units which are mounted Inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminium uprights and Oz machined magnesium wheels. *Standard"with Brembo callipers Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear "Quickshift" system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts. Rear: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion springs and transverse- mounted damper units mounted in the top of the gearbox casing Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels. PAUL DI RESTA - NICO HÜLKENBERG SAHARA. Vorce india formula one team FORCE INDIA VJMO5 POWERED BY MERCEDES Q. KINGFISHER Vladıvar SAHARA PZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren Racing 7-speed. semi-automatic, 'e-shift. Carbon fibre composite monocoque with Zylon legality side anti intrusion panls Front: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod. Inboard chassis mounted torsion springs, d and anti-roll bar assembly. AP Racing callipers and Brembo discs Rear: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pullrod. Inboard gearbox mounted torsion springs, dampers and anti roll bar assembly. PASTOR MALDONADO - BRUNO SENNA WILLIAMS FW34 POWERED BY RENAULT r randstad RENAULT Embratel PDVSA 18 PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre double wishbone Monocoque construction laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb composite structure, surpassing FIA impact and strength requirements. Williams F1 seven speed seamless sequential sermiautomatic shift plus reverse gear. Gear selection electro- hydraulically actuated. AP 6 piston callipers all round, carbon discs and pads. arrangement, with composite to and pushrod activated springs and anti-rol bar Rear: Double wishbone and pullrod activated springs and anti roll bar. CATERHAM CTO1 POWERED BY RENAULT V8 RS27-2012 HEIKKI KOVALAINEN - VITALY PETROV CATERHAM Air Asia PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre Red Bull Racing Carbone Industrie or Hitco pads Pull rod rear suspension with AP Racing callipers. | SAUBER C31 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 KAMUI KOBAYASHI - SERGIO PÉREZ telcel NEC ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon-fibre monocoque. Ferrari7-speed quick-shirt carbon gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch Soepiston brake callipers Brembol. carbon-fibre pads and discs Front: Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pushrods (Brembo). Rear: Upper and lower v inboard springs and dampers actuated by pullrods with Sachs Race Engineering dampers. DANIEL RICCIARDO - JEAN-ÉRIC VERGNE SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO STR7 SCUDERIA Toro Rosso- POWERED BY CEPSA Red Bull NOVA Chemicals FA LCON ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure. Seven-speed hydraulic. Brembo Callipers with Brembo pads and discs Front: Upper and lower carbon wishbones, torsion bar springs and anti-roll bars. Sach dampers Rean Upper and lower carbon wish- bones, torsion bar springs and anti-rol bars, Sachs dampers 2012 RACE CALENDAR RACE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT DATE 1. 16-18 March Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Albert Park) Sepang International Circuit Australian Malaysian 23-25 March Chinese ------- Bahrain ----- Shanghai International Circuit Bahrain International Circuit 13-15 April 20-22 April -------------- --------- -- 11-13 May Circuit de Catalunya Spanish ------ Monaco ------- Canadian --- European Circuit de Monaco ---------- -- 24-27 May Circui Villeneuve t Gilles 08-10 June Valencia Street Circuit ---------------- Silverstone Circuit 22-24 June British 06-08 July ----- Hockenheimring ------- German 20-22 July 27-29 July 10 ------- Hungarian 11 Hungaroring Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 31 August - 02 September Sentebe------ 07-09 September 12 Belgian Autodromo Nazionale MoonTa - ------------- Marina Bay Street Circuit ------------- Suzuka International Racing Course 13 Italian ------ Singapore 21-23 September -------- 05-07 October 14 -- 15 Japanese Korean International Circuit --------------------- 12-14 October -------- Korean ------ Indian ------- Abu Dhabi 16 Buddh International Circuit -------------------- Yas Marina Circuit 17 26-28 October ------- - 02-04N 18 -- 19 United States Circuit of the Americas 16-18 November 20 Brazilian Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos) 23-25 5 November PRE-SEASON TESTING: JEREZ How did teams and their drivers do in the first testing session at Jerez in February? FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME Nico Rosberg ------------- Romain Grosjean Mercedes - Mercedes (2011 Car) -----------------------L 1:17.613 ------- 1:18.419 ------- Lotus - Renault ----------------- 1:18.561 Michael Schumacer --------------- Fernando Alonso --- ------- Mercedes - Mercedes Ferrari - Ferrari 1:18.877 Mark Webber --------- Sebastian Vettel Red Bull - Renault 1:19.184 Red Bull - Renault 1:19.297 Lewis Hamilton McLaren - Mercedes 1:19.464 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:19.587 ----- ----- Jean-Eric Vergne --------------- Toro Rosso - Ferrari ------------ Lotus - Renault 1:19.597 Kimi Raikkonen 1:19.670 ------------ Sergio Perez Paul di Resta ----------- Kamui i Kobayashi ----------- Sauber - Ferrari --------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- 1:19.770 ------- 1:19.772 ------ 1:19.834 12 13 uber - Ferrari Force India - Mercedes ----- Ronault Williams -------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- -- Ferrari - Ferrari Nico Hulkenberg ----------- Bruno Senna -------- Jules Bianchi 1:19.977 1-20.132 15 16 1:20.221 ------- Felipe Massa --------. Jenson Button 1:20.454 ------------ McLaren - Mercedes ------- 1:20.688 18 ------- Pastor Maldonado Williams - Renault ------ ---- Caterham - Renault 1:21.197 Heikki Kovalainen 1:21.518 ------- 20 ------ Pedro de la Rosa HRT - Cosworth Caterham - Renault ---------------- Caterham - Renault 1:22.128 22 Jarno Trulli 1:22.198 23 Giedo van der Garde 1:23.324 PRE-SEASON TESTING: BARCELONA Pre-season testing came to a conclusion in Barcelona, where Kamui Kobayashi put it the fastest lap time of the session. As we're never sure on the settings and fuel loads on any of the cars, it's quite difficult to assess how close these times are going to be to the first race. BIG NUMBER 0.902 seconds covering the best lap by each 2012 car in pre-season testing at Barcelona this winter. FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME TOTAL LAPS Kobayashi Sauber 1:22.312 244 Maldonado Williams 1:22.391 +0.079 240 Hülkenberg ----- Pérez Vettel Force India 1:22.608 +0.296 209 Sauber 1:22.648 +0.336 151 Red Bull 1:22.891 +0.579 183 Di Resta Force India 1:23.119 +0.807 184 ------ Ferrari --------- +0.868 Alonso 1:23.180 162 -------- -------- Button McLaren 1:23.200 -------- +0.888 229 Schumacher Mercedes 1:23.384 ---- - 1:23.563 -------- 1:23. 590 +1.072 178 ---- 10 Massa Ferrari +1.251 ----- 187 11 Hamilton McLaren +1.278 234 Ricciardo ------- Webber Toro Rosso 1:23.618 +1.306 126 1:23.774 +1.462 ------. 13 Red Bull 182 Vergne Toro Rosso 1:23.792 +1.480 170 15 Rosberg Mercedes 1:23.843 +1.531 --- Williams 16 Senna 1:25.711 -------- 1:25.738 +3.399 97 17 Bottas Williams +3.426 117 ------- 18 Kovalainen Caterham 1:26.035 +3./23 101 --- 19 Glock Marussia - -- Caterham 1:26.173 +3.861 108 -------- ----- 20 1:26.448 +4.136 21 Grosjean Lotus 1:26.809 +4.497 22 Marussia 1:27.343 +5.031 229 F1 CARS AND TEAMS 2012 SEASON IN THE AROUND AN F1 CAR "COKE BOTTLE" REAR-END REAR WING DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM NOSE FRONT WING REAR DIFFUSER NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE PULL/PUSH ROD SUSPENSION CHASSIS & T-TRAY V-SECTIONED SIDEPODS EXHAUST DEVELOPMENT: CHANGES IN F1 2012 THE NOSE WHY THAT STRANGE LOOKING NOSE? The nose on an F1 car is a removable extension that forms the front crash structure and mounting for the front wing assembly. 2012 regulations stipulate that the nose height must be reduced to 550mm above the base of the car. This is to stop a "T-Bone" crash where a driver can be hit by the nose of another car. At the bulkhead (above the front wheels) the nose can be 625mm. This means most F1 engineers have opted for a step between the two sections. NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE Nose mounted turning vane: Some 2012 cars (like the Torro Rosso STR7) use large vertical turning vanes that fit on the outer corners of the nose. This is an attempt to scavenge airflow ow from under the front of the nose towards the v-section of the car. The Mclaren MP4-27 uses a "snow plough" turning vane. FRONT WING The front wing is a critical aerodynamic component, configuring airflow for almost the entire mid-section of the car. Most of the aerodynamic downforces comes from the front wing, and is therefore restricted by the FIA on various specifications. The lowest surface of the front wing assemby must be no more than 75mm below the reference plane "the flat plane running along the car's undersurface". PUSH/PULL ROD SUSPENSION Pull / Push rod suspension: A pull rod (and push rod in some 2012 cars) allows for tighter suspension geometry allowing better airflow optimisation around this turbulent area. The Lotus uses pushrod suspension at the front of the car and pull rod suspension at the rear. V-SECTIONED CHASSIS AND T-TRAY The scoop like v-section at the front of the chassis is designed to optimise airflow around the sides of the chassis and to assist in downforce creation. Lotus use a splitter joining the t-tray area to the underneath of the chassis - this separates the airflow in this area. SIDEPODS The sidepods are packed full of important components, including oil cooling radiators, ECU and in some cars, in some cases KERS batteries, a clutch disengage system (for marshals (F1 Marshal System). In 2012, many sidepods have a deeper undercut (like the Red Bulls of 2011) to assist with airflow around the car and into the rear. sto disengage the clutch in an emergency), GPS location "COKE BOTTLE" REAR END The coke bottle rear end is extremely tightly designed to optimise the airflow at the back of the car. F1 cars with smaller gearboxes and tighter panelling tend to have an aerodynamic advantage. In 2012 many of the F1 teams have improved the tightness of this area of the car, notably Sauber, who have an extremely steep drop off at the rear of the sidepods. Williams, despite a poor performance last season were leading the way with a smaller, tighter rear-end thanks to a small gearbox casing. EXHAUST SYSTEM In 2011, most teams had "blown diffuser" technology, where exhaust gasses were used to create downforce in the rear section by blowing hot gasses over the rear diffuser. Using clever engine mapping, engines blew "off throttle" to give extra downforce in corners. In 2012 blown diffusers are banned and exhaust exit angles . controlled. Some teams direct their exhaust gasses to the rear beam wing, but this is nowhere near as effective a method to generate that precious downforce - much of 2012 will be about "finding" that extra downforce to get the advantage. tightly DRS - DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM The DRS (Drag Reduction System) rear wing can be opened by the driver to reduce overall drag (and as a result, downforce) in areas where downforce is needed less and speed is critical. The system's availability is electronically governed - it can be used at any time in practice and qualifying (unless a driver is on wet-weather tyres). but during the race can only be activated when a driver is less than one second behind another car at pre-determined points on the track. The system is then deactivated once the driver brakes. REAR DIFFUSER The diffuser is heavily regulated (the FIA having banned the double diffuser in 2011 and the exhaust blown diffuser 2012). Diffusers help to re-equalise pressure of the faster-flowing air that has passed under the car, without which the air would create a low-pressure balloon' dragging at the back. F1- INCREDIBLE PRECISION ENGINEERING CHANGING GEAR An F1 gearbox can shift gears in 0.05 seconds. Each team can have up to 30 pairs of gear ratios during the racing season, which must be declared to the FIA. Carbon fibre cased gearboxes, like engines, are sealed units and must be used for five consecutive events. Every unscheduled gearbox change will require the driver to drop five places on the grid at that meeting. A PRECISION RACING ENGINE The tolerances on an F1 engine are only a few microns (Imm = 1000 microns). As all components are made to work within the engine's operating temperature, an F1 engine can't be started from cold. The engine must be brought up to operating temperature before starting via an umbilical cord. All engines in F1 are 2.4 litre normally aspirated V8's which are "fully stressed" components (they are part of the chassis along with the gearbox and clutch housing). KERS RELEASE BUTTON KINETIC ENERGY FROM BREAKS KERS ALTERNATOR/MOTOR: Converts energy KERS BATTERY CPU: Sends charge to and from batteries KERS - "KINETIC ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM" ENGINE STATS MAXIMUM RPM MAXIMUM WEKGHT MAXIMUM ALLOCATION This electrical device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car's breaking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration via KER SIZE 2AL V8 18.000 95KG 8 PER SEASON atteries. In the regulations, the cars are permited to input a maximum of 60kw (approximately 80bhp), while the storage capacity is limited to 400 kilojoules. This means that the 80bhp is available for anything up to 6.67s per laps, which can be released either all in one go, or at different points around the circuit. Lap time benefits range from approcimately 0.1 to 0.4s. F1- FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW An F1 engine revs up to 18000 rpm. This means that the piston travels up and down 300 times a second. An F1 car weighs around 550 kg. 85% of an F1 car comprises of carbon-fibre. ロ 6 An F1 steering wheel costs around £20,000 An F1 car can accelerate from 0 to 160 kph and decelerate back to O in just 4 sceonds. NORMAL The aerodynamic drag on an F1 car is such that the driver experiences 1g of deceleration off throttle without brakes. Drivers are subjected to forces of up to 5g - meaning that in a very high-speed corner, their body will experience pressure 5 times greater than their body weight. 16 PRESSURE FORCE (G) Under extreme braking, some drivers have said that this force is so great that their tear ducts squirt water into their visors. 50 PRESSURE Before the Monaco Grand Prix, the manhole covers on this street circuit are welded down - the downforce created by an F1 car has enough suction to rip them off. When an F1 car is driving in the wet, the tyres funnel away 250 litres of water every second - enough to fill a large bath. THE CARS *MARUSSIA AND HRT CARS NOT READY AT TIME OF PRODUCTION SEBASTIEN VETTEL- MARK WEBBER RED BULL Red Bull Facing RB8 FORMULA ONE TEAM - POWERED BY - RENAULT RS28 TOTAL RENAULT -RedBull TOTAL ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the renault V8 engine as Seven-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted with hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation. AP Racing clutch. Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon- composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar, multimatic dampers. Brembo calipers, Brembo carbon discs and pads. fully stressed member. Mclaren MP4-27 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Z JENSON BUTTON - LEWIS HAMILTON Mobil 1 O Mercedes-Benz vodafone ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre composite incorporating front and side impact structures Front: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre Akebono callipers and master composite. MLaren seamless shit, hand-operated, seven speed with one reverse gear, Rear Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement. FERNANDO ALONSO - FELIPE MASSA FERRARI F2012 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 OV-Power Santander AMDA acer ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Independent suspension, pull-rod activated torsion springs front and Carbon-fibre and honeycomb Ferrari longitudinal gearbox. Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes composite structure. rear. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER - NICO ROSBERG MERCEDES MGP W02 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Y シ EaPOSTBRIEF O Mercedes-Benz aabar PETRONAS MIG MIG CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Front: Wishbone and pushrod activated torsion springs and rockers. Moulded carbon-fibre and Mercedes seven-speed semi- automatic carbon-fibre sequential gearbox with reverse gear hydraulic activation hand-operated, seamless shift. honeycomb composite monocoque. Rear: Wishbone and pullrod. KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN - ROMAIN GROSJEAN LOTUS E20 POWERED BY RENAULT RS27-2012 TOTAL Rexona RENAULT CLEAR ANTI-DANDRUP IINEÐ TOTAL ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by Lotus F1 Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. RS27-2012 V8 engine installed as a fully-stressed member. Front: Carbon fibre top and bottom wish-bones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torison bar and damper units which are mounted Inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminium uprights and Oz machined magnesium wheels. *Standard"with Brembo callipers Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear "Quickshift" system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts. Rear: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion springs and transverse- mounted damper units mounted in the top of the gearbox casing Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels. PAUL DI RESTA - NICO HÜLKENBERG SAHARA. Vorce india formula one team FORCE INDIA VJMO5 POWERED BY MERCEDES Q. KINGFISHER Vladıvar SAHARA PZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren Racing 7-speed. semi-automatic, 'e-shift. Carbon fibre composite monocoque with Zylon legality side anti intrusion panls Front: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod. Inboard chassis mounted torsion springs, d and anti-roll bar assembly. AP Racing callipers and Brembo discs Rear: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pullrod. Inboard gearbox mounted torsion springs, dampers and anti roll bar assembly. PASTOR MALDONADO - BRUNO SENNA WILLIAMS FW34 POWERED BY RENAULT r randstad RENAULT Embratel PDVSA 18 PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre double wishbone Monocoque construction laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb composite structure, surpassing FIA impact and strength requirements. Williams F1 seven speed seamless sequential sermiautomatic shift plus reverse gear. Gear selection electro- hydraulically actuated. AP 6 piston callipers all round, carbon discs and pads. arrangement, with composite to and pushrod activated springs and anti-rol bar Rear: Double wishbone and pullrod activated springs and anti roll bar. CATERHAM CTO1 POWERED BY RENAULT V8 RS27-2012 HEIKKI KOVALAINEN - VITALY PETROV CATERHAM Air Asia PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre Red Bull Racing Carbone Industrie or Hitco pads Pull rod rear suspension with AP Racing callipers. | SAUBER C31 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 KAMUI KOBAYASHI - SERGIO PÉREZ telcel NEC ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon-fibre monocoque. Ferrari7-speed quick-shirt carbon gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch Soepiston brake callipers Brembol. carbon-fibre pads and discs Front: Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pushrods (Brembo). Rear: Upper and lower v inboard springs and dampers actuated by pullrods with Sachs Race Engineering dampers. DANIEL RICCIARDO - JEAN-ÉRIC VERGNE SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO STR7 SCUDERIA Toro Rosso- POWERED BY CEPSA Red Bull NOVA Chemicals FA LCON ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure. Seven-speed hydraulic. Brembo Callipers with Brembo pads and discs Front: Upper and lower carbon wishbones, torsion bar springs and anti-roll bars. Sach dampers Rean Upper and lower carbon wish- bones, torsion bar springs and anti-rol bars, Sachs dampers 2012 RACE CALENDAR RACE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT DATE 1. 16-18 March Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Albert Park) Sepang International Circuit Australian Malaysian 23-25 March Chinese ------- Bahrain ----- Shanghai International Circuit Bahrain International Circuit 13-15 April 20-22 April -------------- --------- -- 11-13 May Circuit de Catalunya Spanish ------ Monaco ------- Canadian --- European Circuit de Monaco ---------- -- 24-27 May Circui Villeneuve t Gilles 08-10 June Valencia Street Circuit ---------------- Silverstone Circuit 22-24 June British 06-08 July ----- Hockenheimring ------- German 20-22 July 27-29 July 10 ------- Hungarian 11 Hungaroring Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 31 August - 02 September Sentebe------ 07-09 September 12 Belgian Autodromo Nazionale MoonTa - ------------- Marina Bay Street Circuit ------------- Suzuka International Racing Course 13 Italian ------ Singapore 21-23 September -------- 05-07 October 14 -- 15 Japanese Korean International Circuit --------------------- 12-14 October -------- Korean ------ Indian ------- Abu Dhabi 16 Buddh International Circuit -------------------- Yas Marina Circuit 17 26-28 October ------- - 02-04N 18 -- 19 United States Circuit of the Americas 16-18 November 20 Brazilian Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos) 23-25 5 November PRE-SEASON TESTING: JEREZ How did teams and their drivers do in the first testing session at Jerez in February? FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME Nico Rosberg ------------- Romain Grosjean Mercedes - Mercedes (2011 Car) -----------------------L 1:17.613 ------- 1:18.419 ------- Lotus - Renault ----------------- 1:18.561 Michael Schumacer --------------- Fernando Alonso --- ------- Mercedes - Mercedes Ferrari - Ferrari 1:18.877 Mark Webber --------- Sebastian Vettel Red Bull - Renault 1:19.184 Red Bull - Renault 1:19.297 Lewis Hamilton McLaren - Mercedes 1:19.464 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:19.587 ----- ----- Jean-Eric Vergne --------------- Toro Rosso - Ferrari ------------ Lotus - Renault 1:19.597 Kimi Raikkonen 1:19.670 ------------ Sergio Perez Paul di Resta ----------- Kamui i Kobayashi ----------- Sauber - Ferrari --------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- 1:19.770 ------- 1:19.772 ------ 1:19.834 12 13 uber - Ferrari Force India - Mercedes ----- Ronault Williams -------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- -- Ferrari - Ferrari Nico Hulkenberg ----------- Bruno Senna -------- Jules Bianchi 1:19.977 1-20.132 15 16 1:20.221 ------- Felipe Massa --------. Jenson Button 1:20.454 ------------ McLaren - Mercedes ------- 1:20.688 18 ------- Pastor Maldonado Williams - Renault ------ ---- Caterham - Renault 1:21.197 Heikki Kovalainen 1:21.518 ------- 20 ------ Pedro de la Rosa HRT - Cosworth Caterham - Renault ---------------- Caterham - Renault 1:22.128 22 Jarno Trulli 1:22.198 23 Giedo van der Garde 1:23.324 PRE-SEASON TESTING: BARCELONA Pre-season testing came to a conclusion in Barcelona, where Kamui Kobayashi put it the fastest lap time of the session. As we're never sure on the settings and fuel loads on any of the cars, it's quite difficult to assess how close these times are going to be to the first race. BIG NUMBER 0.902 seconds covering the best lap by each 2012 car in pre-season testing at Barcelona this winter. FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME TOTAL LAPS Kobayashi Sauber 1:22.312 244 Maldonado Williams 1:22.391 +0.079 240 Hülkenberg ----- Pérez Vettel Force India 1:22.608 +0.296 209 Sauber 1:22.648 +0.336 151 Red Bull 1:22.891 +0.579 183 Di Resta Force India 1:23.119 +0.807 184 ------ Ferrari --------- +0.868 Alonso 1:23.180 162 -------- -------- Button McLaren 1:23.200 -------- +0.888 229 Schumacher Mercedes 1:23.384 ---- - 1:23.563 -------- 1:23. 590 +1.072 178 ---- 10 Massa Ferrari +1.251 ----- 187 11 Hamilton McLaren +1.278 234 Ricciardo ------- Webber Toro Rosso 1:23.618 +1.306 126 1:23.774 +1.462 ------. 13 Red Bull 182 Vergne Toro Rosso 1:23.792 +1.480 170 15 Rosberg Mercedes 1:23.843 +1.531 --- Williams 16 Senna 1:25.711 -------- 1:25.738 +3.399 97 17 Bottas Williams +3.426 117 ------- 18 Kovalainen Caterham 1:26.035 +3./23 101 --- 19 Glock Marussia - -- Caterham 1:26.173 +3.861 108 -------- ----- 20 1:26.448 +4.136 21 Grosjean Lotus 1:26.809 +4.497 22 Marussia 1:27.343 +5.031 229 F1 CARS AND TEAMS 2012 SEASON IN THE AROUND AN F1 CAR "COKE BOTTLE" REAR-END REAR WING DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM NOSE FRONT WING REAR DIFFUSER NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE PULL/PUSH ROD SUSPENSION CHASSIS & T-TRAY V-SECTIONED SIDEPODS EXHAUST DEVELOPMENT: CHANGES IN F1 2012 THE NOSE WHY THAT STRANGE LOOKING NOSE? The nose on an F1 car is a removable extension that forms the front crash structure and mounting for the front wing assembly. 2012 regulations stipulate that the nose height must be reduced to 550mm above the base of the car. This is to stop a "T-Bone" crash where a driver can be hit by the nose of another car. At the bulkhead (above the front wheels) the nose can be 625mm. This means most F1 engineers have opted for a step between the two sections. NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE Nose mounted turning vane: Some 2012 cars (like the Torro Rosso STR7) use large vertical turning vanes that fit on the outer corners of the nose. This is an attempt to scavenge airflow ow from under the front of the nose towards the v-section of the car. The Mclaren MP4-27 uses a "snow plough" turning vane. FRONT WING The front wing is a critical aerodynamic component, configuring airflow for almost the entire mid-section of the car. Most of the aerodynamic downforces comes from the front wing, and is therefore restricted by the FIA on various specifications. The lowest surface of the front wing assemby must be no more than 75mm below the reference plane "the flat plane running along the car's undersurface". PUSH/PULL ROD SUSPENSION Pull / Push rod suspension: A pull rod (and push rod in some 2012 cars) allows for tighter suspension geometry allowing better airflow optimisation around this turbulent area. The Lotus uses pushrod suspension at the front of the car and pull rod suspension at the rear. V-SECTIONED CHASSIS AND T-TRAY The scoop like v-section at the front of the chassis is designed to optimise airflow around the sides of the chassis and to assist in downforce creation. Lotus use a splitter joining the t-tray area to the underneath of the chassis - this separates the airflow in this area. SIDEPODS The sidepods are packed full of important components, including oil cooling radiators, ECU and in some cars, in some cases KERS batteries, a clutch disengage system (for marshals (F1 Marshal System). In 2012, many sidepods have a deeper undercut (like the Red Bulls of 2011) to assist with airflow around the car and into the rear. sto disengage the clutch in an emergency), GPS location "COKE BOTTLE" REAR END The coke bottle rear end is extremely tightly designed to optimise the airflow at the back of the car. F1 cars with smaller gearboxes and tighter panelling tend to have an aerodynamic advantage. In 2012 many of the F1 teams have improved the tightness of this area of the car, notably Sauber, who have an extremely steep drop off at the rear of the sidepods. Williams, despite a poor performance last season were leading the way with a smaller, tighter rear-end thanks to a small gearbox casing. EXHAUST SYSTEM In 2011, most teams had "blown diffuser" technology, where exhaust gasses were used to create downforce in the rear section by blowing hot gasses over the rear diffuser. Using clever engine mapping, engines blew "off throttle" to give extra downforce in corners. In 2012 blown diffusers are banned and exhaust exit angles . controlled. Some teams direct their exhaust gasses to the rear beam wing, but this is nowhere near as effective a method to generate that precious downforce - much of 2012 will be about "finding" that extra downforce to get the advantage. tightly DRS - DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM The DRS (Drag Reduction System) rear wing can be opened by the driver to reduce overall drag (and as a result, downforce) in areas where downforce is needed less and speed is critical. The system's availability is electronically governed - it can be used at any time in practice and qualifying (unless a driver is on wet-weather tyres). but during the race can only be activated when a driver is less than one second behind another car at pre-determined points on the track. The system is then deactivated once the driver brakes. REAR DIFFUSER The diffuser is heavily regulated (the FIA having banned the double diffuser in 2011 and the exhaust blown diffuser 2012). Diffusers help to re-equalise pressure of the faster-flowing air that has passed under the car, without which the air would create a low-pressure balloon' dragging at the back. F1- INCREDIBLE PRECISION ENGINEERING CHANGING GEAR An F1 gearbox can shift gears in 0.05 seconds. Each team can have up to 30 pairs of gear ratios during the racing season, which must be declared to the FIA. Carbon fibre cased gearboxes, like engines, are sealed units and must be used for five consecutive events. Every unscheduled gearbox change will require the driver to drop five places on the grid at that meeting. A PRECISION RACING ENGINE The tolerances on an F1 engine are only a few microns (Imm = 1000 microns). As all components are made to work within the engine's operating temperature, an F1 engine can't be started from cold. The engine must be brought up to operating temperature before starting via an umbilical cord. All engines in F1 are 2.4 litre normally aspirated V8's which are "fully stressed" components (they are part of the chassis along with the gearbox and clutch housing). KERS RELEASE BUTTON KINETIC ENERGY FROM BREAKS KERS ALTERNATOR/MOTOR: Converts energy KERS BATTERY CPU: Sends charge to and from batteries KERS - "KINETIC ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM" ENGINE STATS MAXIMUM RPM MAXIMUM WEKGHT MAXIMUM ALLOCATION This electrical device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car's breaking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration via KER SIZE 2AL V8 18.000 95KG 8 PER SEASON atteries. In the regulations, the cars are permited to input a maximum of 60kw (approximately 80bhp), while the storage capacity is limited to 400 kilojoules. This means that the 80bhp is available for anything up to 6.67s per laps, which can be released either all in one go, or at different points around the circuit. Lap time benefits range from approcimately 0.1 to 0.4s. F1- FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW An F1 engine revs up to 18000 rpm. This means that the piston travels up and down 300 times a second. An F1 car weighs around 550 kg. 85% of an F1 car comprises of carbon-fibre. ロ 6 An F1 steering wheel costs around £20,000 An F1 car can accelerate from 0 to 160 kph and decelerate back to O in just 4 sceonds. NORMAL The aerodynamic drag on an F1 car is such that the driver experiences 1g of deceleration off throttle without brakes. Drivers are subjected to forces of up to 5g - meaning that in a very high-speed corner, their body will experience pressure 5 times greater than their body weight. 16 PRESSURE FORCE (G) Under extreme braking, some drivers have said that this force is so great that their tear ducts squirt water into their visors. 50 PRESSURE Before the Monaco Grand Prix, the manhole covers on this street circuit are welded down - the downforce created by an F1 car has enough suction to rip them off. When an F1 car is driving in the wet, the tyres funnel away 250 litres of water every second - enough to fill a large bath. THE CARS *MARUSSIA AND HRT CARS NOT READY AT TIME OF PRODUCTION SEBASTIEN VETTEL- MARK WEBBER RED BULL Red Bull Facing RB8 FORMULA ONE TEAM - POWERED BY - RENAULT RS28 TOTAL RENAULT -RedBull TOTAL ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the renault V8 engine as Seven-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted with hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation. AP Racing clutch. Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon- composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar, multimatic dampers. Brembo calipers, Brembo carbon discs and pads. fully stressed member. Mclaren MP4-27 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Z JENSON BUTTON - LEWIS HAMILTON Mobil 1 O Mercedes-Benz vodafone ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre composite incorporating front and side impact structures Front: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre Akebono callipers and master composite. MLaren seamless shit, hand-operated, seven speed with one reverse gear, Rear Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement. FERNANDO ALONSO - FELIPE MASSA FERRARI F2012 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 OV-Power Santander AMDA acer ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Independent suspension, pull-rod activated torsion springs front and Carbon-fibre and honeycomb Ferrari longitudinal gearbox. Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes composite structure. rear. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER - NICO ROSBERG MERCEDES MGP W02 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Y シ EaPOSTBRIEF O Mercedes-Benz aabar PETRONAS MIG MIG CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Front: Wishbone and pushrod activated torsion springs and rockers. Moulded carbon-fibre and Mercedes seven-speed semi- automatic carbon-fibre sequential gearbox with reverse gear hydraulic activation hand-operated, seamless shift. honeycomb composite monocoque. Rear: Wishbone and pullrod. KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN - ROMAIN GROSJEAN LOTUS E20 POWERED BY RENAULT RS27-2012 TOTAL Rexona RENAULT CLEAR ANTI-DANDRUP IINEÐ TOTAL ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by Lotus F1 Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. RS27-2012 V8 engine installed as a fully-stressed member. Front: Carbon fibre top and bottom wish-bones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torison bar and damper units which are mounted Inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminium uprights and Oz machined magnesium wheels. *Standard"with Brembo callipers Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear "Quickshift" system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts. Rear: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion springs and transverse- mounted damper units mounted in the top of the gearbox casing Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels. PAUL DI RESTA - NICO HÜLKENBERG SAHARA. Vorce india formula one team FORCE INDIA VJMO5 POWERED BY MERCEDES Q. KINGFISHER Vladıvar SAHARA PZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren Racing 7-speed. semi-automatic, 'e-shift. Carbon fibre composite monocoque with Zylon legality side anti intrusion panls Front: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod. Inboard chassis mounted torsion springs, d and anti-roll bar assembly. AP Racing callipers and Brembo discs Rear: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pullrod. Inboard gearbox mounted torsion springs, dampers and anti roll bar assembly. PASTOR MALDONADO - BRUNO SENNA WILLIAMS FW34 POWERED BY RENAULT r randstad RENAULT Embratel PDVSA 18 PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre double wishbone Monocoque construction laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb composite structure, surpassing FIA impact and strength requirements. Williams F1 seven speed seamless sequential sermiautomatic shift plus reverse gear. Gear selection electro- hydraulically actuated. AP 6 piston callipers all round, carbon discs and pads. arrangement, with composite to and pushrod activated springs and anti-rol bar Rear: Double wishbone and pullrod activated springs and anti roll bar. CATERHAM CTO1 POWERED BY RENAULT V8 RS27-2012 HEIKKI KOVALAINEN - VITALY PETROV CATERHAM Air Asia PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre Red Bull Racing Carbone Industrie or Hitco pads Pull rod rear suspension with AP Racing callipers. | SAUBER C31 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 KAMUI KOBAYASHI - SERGIO PÉREZ telcel NEC ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon-fibre monocoque. Ferrari7-speed quick-shirt carbon gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch Soepiston brake callipers Brembol. carbon-fibre pads and discs Front: Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pushrods (Brembo). Rear: Upper and lower v inboard springs and dampers actuated by pullrods with Sachs Race Engineering dampers. DANIEL RICCIARDO - JEAN-ÉRIC VERGNE SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO STR7 SCUDERIA Toro Rosso- POWERED BY CEPSA Red Bull NOVA Chemicals FA LCON ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure. Seven-speed hydraulic. Brembo Callipers with Brembo pads and discs Front: Upper and lower carbon wishbones, torsion bar springs and anti-roll bars. Sach dampers Rean Upper and lower carbon wish- bones, torsion bar springs and anti-rol bars, Sachs dampers 2012 RACE CALENDAR RACE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT DATE 1. 16-18 March Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Albert Park) Sepang International Circuit Australian Malaysian 23-25 March Chinese ------- Bahrain ----- Shanghai International Circuit Bahrain International Circuit 13-15 April 20-22 April -------------- --------- -- 11-13 May Circuit de Catalunya Spanish ------ Monaco ------- Canadian --- European Circuit de Monaco ---------- -- 24-27 May Circui Villeneuve t Gilles 08-10 June Valencia Street Circuit ---------------- Silverstone Circuit 22-24 June British 06-08 July ----- Hockenheimring ------- German 20-22 July 27-29 July 10 ------- Hungarian 11 Hungaroring Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 31 August - 02 September Sentebe------ 07-09 September 12 Belgian Autodromo Nazionale MoonTa - ------------- Marina Bay Street Circuit ------------- Suzuka International Racing Course 13 Italian ------ Singapore 21-23 September -------- 05-07 October 14 -- 15 Japanese Korean International Circuit --------------------- 12-14 October -------- Korean ------ Indian ------- Abu Dhabi 16 Buddh International Circuit -------------------- Yas Marina Circuit 17 26-28 October ------- - 02-04N 18 -- 19 United States Circuit of the Americas 16-18 November 20 Brazilian Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos) 23-25 5 November PRE-SEASON TESTING: JEREZ How did teams and their drivers do in the first testing session at Jerez in February? FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME Nico Rosberg ------------- Romain Grosjean Mercedes - Mercedes (2011 Car) -----------------------L 1:17.613 ------- 1:18.419 ------- Lotus - Renault ----------------- 1:18.561 Michael Schumacer --------------- Fernando Alonso --- ------- Mercedes - Mercedes Ferrari - Ferrari 1:18.877 Mark Webber --------- Sebastian Vettel Red Bull - Renault 1:19.184 Red Bull - Renault 1:19.297 Lewis Hamilton McLaren - Mercedes 1:19.464 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:19.587 ----- ----- Jean-Eric Vergne --------------- Toro Rosso - Ferrari ------------ Lotus - Renault 1:19.597 Kimi Raikkonen 1:19.670 ------------ Sergio Perez Paul di Resta ----------- Kamui i Kobayashi ----------- Sauber - Ferrari --------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- 1:19.770 ------- 1:19.772 ------ 1:19.834 12 13 uber - Ferrari Force India - Mercedes ----- Ronault Williams -------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- -- Ferrari - Ferrari Nico Hulkenberg ----------- Bruno Senna -------- Jules Bianchi 1:19.977 1-20.132 15 16 1:20.221 ------- Felipe Massa --------. Jenson Button 1:20.454 ------------ McLaren - Mercedes ------- 1:20.688 18 ------- Pastor Maldonado Williams - Renault ------ ---- Caterham - Renault 1:21.197 Heikki Kovalainen 1:21.518 ------- 20 ------ Pedro de la Rosa HRT - Cosworth Caterham - Renault ---------------- Caterham - Renault 1:22.128 22 Jarno Trulli 1:22.198 23 Giedo van der Garde 1:23.324 PRE-SEASON TESTING: BARCELONA Pre-season testing came to a conclusion in Barcelona, where Kamui Kobayashi put it the fastest lap time of the session. As we're never sure on the settings and fuel loads on any of the cars, it's quite difficult to assess how close these times are going to be to the first race. BIG NUMBER 0.902 seconds covering the best lap by each 2012 car in pre-season testing at Barcelona this winter. FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME TOTAL LAPS Kobayashi Sauber 1:22.312 244 Maldonado Williams 1:22.391 +0.079 240 Hülkenberg ----- Pérez Vettel Force India 1:22.608 +0.296 209 Sauber 1:22.648 +0.336 151 Red Bull 1:22.891 +0.579 183 Di Resta Force India 1:23.119 +0.807 184 ------ Ferrari --------- +0.868 Alonso 1:23.180 162 -------- -------- Button McLaren 1:23.200 -------- +0.888 229 Schumacher Mercedes 1:23.384 ---- - 1:23.563 -------- 1:23. 590 +1.072 178 ---- 10 Massa Ferrari +1.251 ----- 187 11 Hamilton McLaren +1.278 234 Ricciardo ------- Webber Toro Rosso 1:23.618 +1.306 126 1:23.774 +1.462 ------. 13 Red Bull 182 Vergne Toro Rosso 1:23.792 +1.480 170 15 Rosberg Mercedes 1:23.843 +1.531 --- Williams 16 Senna 1:25.711 -------- 1:25.738 +3.399 97 17 Bottas Williams +3.426 117 ------- 18 Kovalainen Caterham 1:26.035 +3./23 101 --- 19 Glock Marussia - -- Caterham 1:26.173 +3.861 108 -------- ----- 20 1:26.448 +4.136 21 Grosjean Lotus 1:26.809 +4.497 22 Marussia 1:27.343 +5.031 229 F1 CARS AND TEAMS 2012 SEASON IN THE AROUND AN F1 CAR "COKE BOTTLE" REAR-END REAR WING DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM NOSE FRONT WING REAR DIFFUSER NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE PULL/PUSH ROD SUSPENSION CHASSIS & T-TRAY V-SECTIONED SIDEPODS EXHAUST DEVELOPMENT: CHANGES IN F1 2012 THE NOSE WHY THAT STRANGE LOOKING NOSE? The nose on an F1 car is a removable extension that forms the front crash structure and mounting for the front wing assembly. 2012 regulations stipulate that the nose height must be reduced to 550mm above the base of the car. This is to stop a "T-Bone" crash where a driver can be hit by the nose of another car. At the bulkhead (above the front wheels) the nose can be 625mm. This means most F1 engineers have opted for a step between the two sections. NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE Nose mounted turning vane: Some 2012 cars (like the Torro Rosso STR7) use large vertical turning vanes that fit on the outer corners of the nose. This is an attempt to scavenge airflow ow from under the front of the nose towards the v-section of the car. The Mclaren MP4-27 uses a "snow plough" turning vane. FRONT WING The front wing is a critical aerodynamic component, configuring airflow for almost the entire mid-section of the car. Most of the aerodynamic downforces comes from the front wing, and is therefore restricted by the FIA on various specifications. The lowest surface of the front wing assemby must be no more than 75mm below the reference plane "the flat plane running along the car's undersurface". PUSH/PULL ROD SUSPENSION Pull / Push rod suspension: A pull rod (and push rod in some 2012 cars) allows for tighter suspension geometry allowing better airflow optimisation around this turbulent area. The Lotus uses pushrod suspension at the front of the car and pull rod suspension at the rear. V-SECTIONED CHASSIS AND T-TRAY The scoop like v-section at the front of the chassis is designed to optimise airflow around the sides of the chassis and to assist in downforce creation. Lotus use a splitter joining the t-tray area to the underneath of the chassis - this separates the airflow in this area. SIDEPODS The sidepods are packed full of important components, including oil cooling radiators, ECU and in some cars, in some cases KERS batteries, a clutch disengage system (for marshals (F1 Marshal System). In 2012, many sidepods have a deeper undercut (like the Red Bulls of 2011) to assist with airflow around the car and into the rear. sto disengage the clutch in an emergency), GPS location "COKE BOTTLE" REAR END The coke bottle rear end is extremely tightly designed to optimise the airflow at the back of the car. F1 cars with smaller gearboxes and tighter panelling tend to have an aerodynamic advantage. In 2012 many of the F1 teams have improved the tightness of this area of the car, notably Sauber, who have an extremely steep drop off at the rear of the sidepods. Williams, despite a poor performance last season were leading the way with a smaller, tighter rear-end thanks to a small gearbox casing. EXHAUST SYSTEM In 2011, most teams had "blown diffuser" technology, where exhaust gasses were used to create downforce in the rear section by blowing hot gasses over the rear diffuser. Using clever engine mapping, engines blew "off throttle" to give extra downforce in corners. In 2012 blown diffusers are banned and exhaust exit angles . controlled. Some teams direct their exhaust gasses to the rear beam wing, but this is nowhere near as effective a method to generate that precious downforce - much of 2012 will be about "finding" that extra downforce to get the advantage. tightly DRS - DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM The DRS (Drag Reduction System) rear wing can be opened by the driver to reduce overall drag (and as a result, downforce) in areas where downforce is needed less and speed is critical. The system's availability is electronically governed - it can be used at any time in practice and qualifying (unless a driver is on wet-weather tyres). but during the race can only be activated when a driver is less than one second behind another car at pre-determined points on the track. The system is then deactivated once the driver brakes. REAR DIFFUSER The diffuser is heavily regulated (the FIA having banned the double diffuser in 2011 and the exhaust blown diffuser 2012). Diffusers help to re-equalise pressure of the faster-flowing air that has passed under the car, without which the air would create a low-pressure balloon' dragging at the back. F1- INCREDIBLE PRECISION ENGINEERING CHANGING GEAR An F1 gearbox can shift gears in 0.05 seconds. Each team can have up to 30 pairs of gear ratios during the racing season, which must be declared to the FIA. Carbon fibre cased gearboxes, like engines, are sealed units and must be used for five consecutive events. Every unscheduled gearbox change will require the driver to drop five places on the grid at that meeting. A PRECISION RACING ENGINE The tolerances on an F1 engine are only a few microns (Imm = 1000 microns). As all components are made to work within the engine's operating temperature, an F1 engine can't be started from cold. The engine must be brought up to operating temperature before starting via an umbilical cord. All engines in F1 are 2.4 litre normally aspirated V8's which are "fully stressed" components (they are part of the chassis along with the gearbox and clutch housing). KERS RELEASE BUTTON KINETIC ENERGY FROM BREAKS KERS ALTERNATOR/MOTOR: Converts energy KERS BATTERY CPU: Sends charge to and from batteries KERS - "KINETIC ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM" ENGINE STATS MAXIMUM RPM MAXIMUM WEKGHT MAXIMUM ALLOCATION This electrical device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car's breaking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration via KER SIZE 2AL V8 18.000 95KG 8 PER SEASON atteries. In the regulations, the cars are permited to input a maximum of 60kw (approximately 80bhp), while the storage capacity is limited to 400 kilojoules. This means that the 80bhp is available for anything up to 6.67s per laps, which can be released either all in one go, or at different points around the circuit. Lap time benefits range from approcimately 0.1 to 0.4s. F1- FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW An F1 engine revs up to 18000 rpm. This means that the piston travels up and down 300 times a second. An F1 car weighs around 550 kg. 85% of an F1 car comprises of carbon-fibre. ロ 6 An F1 steering wheel costs around £20,000 An F1 car can accelerate from 0 to 160 kph and decelerate back to O in just 4 sceonds. NORMAL The aerodynamic drag on an F1 car is such that the driver experiences 1g of deceleration off throttle without brakes. Drivers are subjected to forces of up to 5g - meaning that in a very high-speed corner, their body will experience pressure 5 times greater than their body weight. 16 PRESSURE FORCE (G) Under extreme braking, some drivers have said that this force is so great that their tear ducts squirt water into their visors. 50 PRESSURE Before the Monaco Grand Prix, the manhole covers on this street circuit are welded down - the downforce created by an F1 car has enough suction to rip them off. When an F1 car is driving in the wet, the tyres funnel away 250 litres of water every second - enough to fill a large bath. THE CARS *MARUSSIA AND HRT CARS NOT READY AT TIME OF PRODUCTION SEBASTIEN VETTEL- MARK WEBBER RED BULL Red Bull Facing RB8 FORMULA ONE TEAM - POWERED BY - RENAULT RS28 TOTAL RENAULT -RedBull TOTAL ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the renault V8 engine as Seven-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted with hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation. AP Racing clutch. Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon- composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar, multimatic dampers. Brembo calipers, Brembo carbon discs and pads. fully stressed member. Mclaren MP4-27 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Z JENSON BUTTON - LEWIS HAMILTON Mobil 1 O Mercedes-Benz vodafone ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre composite incorporating front and side impact structures Front: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre Akebono callipers and master composite. MLaren seamless shit, hand-operated, seven speed with one reverse gear, Rear Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement. FERNANDO ALONSO - FELIPE MASSA FERRARI F2012 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 OV-Power Santander AMDA acer ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Independent suspension, pull-rod activated torsion springs front and Carbon-fibre and honeycomb Ferrari longitudinal gearbox. Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes composite structure. rear. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER - NICO ROSBERG MERCEDES MGP W02 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Y シ EaPOSTBRIEF O Mercedes-Benz aabar PETRONAS MIG MIG CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Front: Wishbone and pushrod activated torsion springs and rockers. Moulded carbon-fibre and Mercedes seven-speed semi- automatic carbon-fibre sequential gearbox with reverse gear hydraulic activation hand-operated, seamless shift. honeycomb composite monocoque. Rear: Wishbone and pullrod. KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN - ROMAIN GROSJEAN LOTUS E20 POWERED BY RENAULT RS27-2012 TOTAL Rexona RENAULT CLEAR ANTI-DANDRUP IINEÐ TOTAL ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by Lotus F1 Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. RS27-2012 V8 engine installed as a fully-stressed member. Front: Carbon fibre top and bottom wish-bones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torison bar and damper units which are mounted Inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminium uprights and Oz machined magnesium wheels. *Standard"with Brembo callipers Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear "Quickshift" system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts. Rear: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion springs and transverse- mounted damper units mounted in the top of the gearbox casing Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels. PAUL DI RESTA - NICO HÜLKENBERG SAHARA. Vorce india formula one team FORCE INDIA VJMO5 POWERED BY MERCEDES Q. KINGFISHER Vladıvar SAHARA PZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren Racing 7-speed. semi-automatic, 'e-shift. Carbon fibre composite monocoque with Zylon legality side anti intrusion panls Front: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod. Inboard chassis mounted torsion springs, d and anti-roll bar assembly. AP Racing callipers and Brembo discs Rear: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pullrod. Inboard gearbox mounted torsion springs, dampers and anti roll bar assembly. PASTOR MALDONADO - BRUNO SENNA WILLIAMS FW34 POWERED BY RENAULT r randstad RENAULT Embratel PDVSA 18 PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre double wishbone Monocoque construction laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb composite structure, surpassing FIA impact and strength requirements. Williams F1 seven speed seamless sequential sermiautomatic shift plus reverse gear. Gear selection electro- hydraulically actuated. AP 6 piston callipers all round, carbon discs and pads. arrangement, with composite to and pushrod activated springs and anti-rol bar Rear: Double wishbone and pullrod activated springs and anti roll bar. CATERHAM CTO1 POWERED BY RENAULT V8 RS27-2012 HEIKKI KOVALAINEN - VITALY PETROV CATERHAM Air Asia PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre Red Bull Racing Carbone Industrie or Hitco pads Pull rod rear suspension with AP Racing callipers. | SAUBER C31 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 KAMUI KOBAYASHI - SERGIO PÉREZ telcel NEC ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon-fibre monocoque. Ferrari7-speed quick-shirt carbon gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch Soepiston brake callipers Brembol. carbon-fibre pads and discs Front: Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pushrods (Brembo). Rear: Upper and lower v inboard springs and dampers actuated by pullrods with Sachs Race Engineering dampers. DANIEL RICCIARDO - JEAN-ÉRIC VERGNE SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO STR7 SCUDERIA Toro Rosso- POWERED BY CEPSA Red Bull NOVA Chemicals FA LCON ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure. Seven-speed hydraulic. Brembo Callipers with Brembo pads and discs Front: Upper and lower carbon wishbones, torsion bar springs and anti-roll bars. Sach dampers Rean Upper and lower carbon wish- bones, torsion bar springs and anti-rol bars, Sachs dampers 2012 RACE CALENDAR RACE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT DATE 1. 16-18 March Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Albert Park) Sepang International Circuit Australian Malaysian 23-25 March Chinese ------- Bahrain ----- Shanghai International Circuit Bahrain International Circuit 13-15 April 20-22 April -------------- --------- -- 11-13 May Circuit de Catalunya Spanish ------ Monaco ------- Canadian --- European Circuit de Monaco ---------- -- 24-27 May Circui Villeneuve t Gilles 08-10 June Valencia Street Circuit ---------------- Silverstone Circuit 22-24 June British 06-08 July ----- Hockenheimring ------- German 20-22 July 27-29 July 10 ------- Hungarian 11 Hungaroring Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 31 August - 02 September Sentebe------ 07-09 September 12 Belgian Autodromo Nazionale MoonTa - ------------- Marina Bay Street Circuit ------------- Suzuka International Racing Course 13 Italian ------ Singapore 21-23 September -------- 05-07 October 14 -- 15 Japanese Korean International Circuit --------------------- 12-14 October -------- Korean ------ Indian ------- Abu Dhabi 16 Buddh International Circuit -------------------- Yas Marina Circuit 17 26-28 October ------- - 02-04N 18 -- 19 United States Circuit of the Americas 16-18 November 20 Brazilian Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos) 23-25 5 November PRE-SEASON TESTING: JEREZ How did teams and their drivers do in the first testing session at Jerez in February? FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME Nico Rosberg ------------- Romain Grosjean Mercedes - Mercedes (2011 Car) -----------------------L 1:17.613 ------- 1:18.419 ------- Lotus - Renault ----------------- 1:18.561 Michael Schumacer --------------- Fernando Alonso --- ------- Mercedes - Mercedes Ferrari - Ferrari 1:18.877 Mark Webber --------- Sebastian Vettel Red Bull - Renault 1:19.184 Red Bull - Renault 1:19.297 Lewis Hamilton McLaren - Mercedes 1:19.464 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:19.587 ----- ----- Jean-Eric Vergne --------------- Toro Rosso - Ferrari ------------ Lotus - Renault 1:19.597 Kimi Raikkonen 1:19.670 ------------ Sergio Perez Paul di Resta ----------- Kamui i Kobayashi ----------- Sauber - Ferrari --------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- 1:19.770 ------- 1:19.772 ------ 1:19.834 12 13 uber - Ferrari Force India - Mercedes ----- Ronault Williams -------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- -- Ferrari - Ferrari Nico Hulkenberg ----------- Bruno Senna -------- Jules Bianchi 1:19.977 1-20.132 15 16 1:20.221 ------- Felipe Massa --------. Jenson Button 1:20.454 ------------ McLaren - Mercedes ------- 1:20.688 18 ------- Pastor Maldonado Williams - Renault ------ ---- Caterham - Renault 1:21.197 Heikki Kovalainen 1:21.518 ------- 20 ------ Pedro de la Rosa HRT - Cosworth Caterham - Renault ---------------- Caterham - Renault 1:22.128 22 Jarno Trulli 1:22.198 23 Giedo van der Garde 1:23.324 PRE-SEASON TESTING: BARCELONA Pre-season testing came to a conclusion in Barcelona, where Kamui Kobayashi put it the fastest lap time of the session. As we're never sure on the settings and fuel loads on any of the cars, it's quite difficult to assess how close these times are going to be to the first race. BIG NUMBER 0.902 seconds covering the best lap by each 2012 car in pre-season testing at Barcelona this winter. FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME TOTAL LAPS Kobayashi Sauber 1:22.312 244 Maldonado Williams 1:22.391 +0.079 240 Hülkenberg ----- Pérez Vettel Force India 1:22.608 +0.296 209 Sauber 1:22.648 +0.336 151 Red Bull 1:22.891 +0.579 183 Di Resta Force India 1:23.119 +0.807 184 ------ Ferrari --------- +0.868 Alonso 1:23.180 162 -------- -------- Button McLaren 1:23.200 -------- +0.888 229 Schumacher Mercedes 1:23.384 ---- - 1:23.563 -------- 1:23. 590 +1.072 178 ---- 10 Massa Ferrari +1.251 ----- 187 11 Hamilton McLaren +1.278 234 Ricciardo ------- Webber Toro Rosso 1:23.618 +1.306 126 1:23.774 +1.462 ------. 13 Red Bull 182 Vergne Toro Rosso 1:23.792 +1.480 170 15 Rosberg Mercedes 1:23.843 +1.531 --- Williams 16 Senna 1:25.711 -------- 1:25.738 +3.399 97 17 Bottas Williams +3.426 117 ------- 18 Kovalainen Caterham 1:26.035 +3./23 101 --- 19 Glock Marussia - -- Caterham 1:26.173 +3.861 108 -------- ----- 20 1:26.448 +4.136 21 Grosjean Lotus 1:26.809 +4.497 22 Marussia 1:27.343 +5.031 229 F1 CARS AND TEAMS 2012 SEASON IN THE AROUND AN F1 CAR "COKE BOTTLE" REAR-END REAR WING DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM NOSE FRONT WING REAR DIFFUSER NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE PULL/PUSH ROD SUSPENSION CHASSIS & T-TRAY V-SECTIONED SIDEPODS EXHAUST DEVELOPMENT: CHANGES IN F1 2012 THE NOSE WHY THAT STRANGE LOOKING NOSE? The nose on an F1 car is a removable extension that forms the front crash structure and mounting for the front wing assembly. 2012 regulations stipulate that the nose height must be reduced to 550mm above the base of the car. This is to stop a "T-Bone" crash where a driver can be hit by the nose of another car. At the bulkhead (above the front wheels) the nose can be 625mm. This means most F1 engineers have opted for a step between the two sections. NOSE MOUNTED TURNING VANE Nose mounted turning vane: Some 2012 cars (like the Torro Rosso STR7) use large vertical turning vanes that fit on the outer corners of the nose. This is an attempt to scavenge airflow ow from under the front of the nose towards the v-section of the car. The Mclaren MP4-27 uses a "snow plough" turning vane. FRONT WING The front wing is a critical aerodynamic component, configuring airflow for almost the entire mid-section of the car. Most of the aerodynamic downforces comes from the front wing, and is therefore restricted by the FIA on various specifications. The lowest surface of the front wing assemby must be no more than 75mm below the reference plane "the flat plane running along the car's undersurface". PUSH/PULL ROD SUSPENSION Pull / Push rod suspension: A pull rod (and push rod in some 2012 cars) allows for tighter suspension geometry allowing better airflow optimisation around this turbulent area. The Lotus uses pushrod suspension at the front of the car and pull rod suspension at the rear. V-SECTIONED CHASSIS AND T-TRAY The scoop like v-section at the front of the chassis is designed to optimise airflow around the sides of the chassis and to assist in downforce creation. Lotus use a splitter joining the t-tray area to the underneath of the chassis - this separates the airflow in this area. SIDEPODS The sidepods are packed full of important components, including oil cooling radiators, ECU and in some cars, in some cases KERS batteries, a clutch disengage system (for marshals (F1 Marshal System). In 2012, many sidepods have a deeper undercut (like the Red Bulls of 2011) to assist with airflow around the car and into the rear. sto disengage the clutch in an emergency), GPS location "COKE BOTTLE" REAR END The coke bottle rear end is extremely tightly designed to optimise the airflow at the back of the car. F1 cars with smaller gearboxes and tighter panelling tend to have an aerodynamic advantage. In 2012 many of the F1 teams have improved the tightness of this area of the car, notably Sauber, who have an extremely steep drop off at the rear of the sidepods. Williams, despite a poor performance last season were leading the way with a smaller, tighter rear-end thanks to a small gearbox casing. EXHAUST SYSTEM In 2011, most teams had "blown diffuser" technology, where exhaust gasses were used to create downforce in the rear section by blowing hot gasses over the rear diffuser. Using clever engine mapping, engines blew "off throttle" to give extra downforce in corners. In 2012 blown diffusers are banned and exhaust exit angles . controlled. Some teams direct their exhaust gasses to the rear beam wing, but this is nowhere near as effective a method to generate that precious downforce - much of 2012 will be about "finding" that extra downforce to get the advantage. tightly DRS - DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM The DRS (Drag Reduction System) rear wing can be opened by the driver to reduce overall drag (and as a result, downforce) in areas where downforce is needed less and speed is critical. The system's availability is electronically governed - it can be used at any time in practice and qualifying (unless a driver is on wet-weather tyres). but during the race can only be activated when a driver is less than one second behind another car at pre-determined points on the track. The system is then deactivated once the driver brakes. REAR DIFFUSER The diffuser is heavily regulated (the FIA having banned the double diffuser in 2011 and the exhaust blown diffuser 2012). Diffusers help to re-equalise pressure of the faster-flowing air that has passed under the car, without which the air would create a low-pressure balloon' dragging at the back. F1- INCREDIBLE PRECISION ENGINEERING CHANGING GEAR An F1 gearbox can shift gears in 0.05 seconds. Each team can have up to 30 pairs of gear ratios during the racing season, which must be declared to the FIA. Carbon fibre cased gearboxes, like engines, are sealed units and must be used for five consecutive events. Every unscheduled gearbox change will require the driver to drop five places on the grid at that meeting. A PRECISION RACING ENGINE The tolerances on an F1 engine are only a few microns (Imm = 1000 microns). As all components are made to work within the engine's operating temperature, an F1 engine can't be started from cold. The engine must be brought up to operating temperature before starting via an umbilical cord. All engines in F1 are 2.4 litre normally aspirated V8's which are "fully stressed" components (they are part of the chassis along with the gearbox and clutch housing). KERS RELEASE BUTTON KINETIC ENERGY FROM BREAKS KERS ALTERNATOR/MOTOR: Converts energy KERS BATTERY CPU: Sends charge to and from batteries KERS - "KINETIC ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM" ENGINE STATS MAXIMUM RPM MAXIMUM WEKGHT MAXIMUM ALLOCATION This electrical device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car's breaking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration via KER SIZE 2AL V8 18.000 95KG 8 PER SEASON atteries. In the regulations, the cars are permited to input a maximum of 60kw (approximately 80bhp), while the storage capacity is limited to 400 kilojoules. This means that the 80bhp is available for anything up to 6.67s per laps, which can be released either all in one go, or at different points around the circuit. Lap time benefits range from approcimately 0.1 to 0.4s. F1- FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW An F1 engine revs up to 18000 rpm. This means that the piston travels up and down 300 times a second. An F1 car weighs around 550 kg. 85% of an F1 car comprises of carbon-fibre. ロ 6 An F1 steering wheel costs around £20,000 An F1 car can accelerate from 0 to 160 kph and decelerate back to O in just 4 sceonds. NORMAL The aerodynamic drag on an F1 car is such that the driver experiences 1g of deceleration off throttle without brakes. Drivers are subjected to forces of up to 5g - meaning that in a very high-speed corner, their body will experience pressure 5 times greater than their body weight. 16 PRESSURE FORCE (G) Under extreme braking, some drivers have said that this force is so great that their tear ducts squirt water into their visors. 50 PRESSURE Before the Monaco Grand Prix, the manhole covers on this street circuit are welded down - the downforce created by an F1 car has enough suction to rip them off. When an F1 car is driving in the wet, the tyres funnel away 250 litres of water every second - enough to fill a large bath. THE CARS *MARUSSIA AND HRT CARS NOT READY AT TIME OF PRODUCTION SEBASTIEN VETTEL- MARK WEBBER RED BULL Red Bull Facing RB8 FORMULA ONE TEAM - POWERED BY - RENAULT RS28 TOTAL RENAULT -RedBull TOTAL ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the renault V8 engine as Seven-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted with hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation. AP Racing clutch. Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon- composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar, multimatic dampers. Brembo calipers, Brembo carbon discs and pads. fully stressed member. Mclaren MP4-27 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Z JENSON BUTTON - LEWIS HAMILTON Mobil 1 O Mercedes-Benz vodafone ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre composite incorporating front and side impact structures Front: Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre Akebono callipers and master composite. MLaren seamless shit, hand-operated, seven speed with one reverse gear, Rear Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement. FERNANDO ALONSO - FELIPE MASSA FERRARI F2012 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 OV-Power Santander AMDA acer ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Independent suspension, pull-rod activated torsion springs front and Carbon-fibre and honeycomb Ferrari longitudinal gearbox. Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes composite structure. rear. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER - NICO ROSBERG MERCEDES MGP W02 POWERED BY MERCEDES-BENZ FO 108Y シ EaPOSTBRIEF O Mercedes-Benz aabar PETRONAS MIG MIG CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Front: Wishbone and pushrod activated torsion springs and rockers. Moulded carbon-fibre and Mercedes seven-speed semi- automatic carbon-fibre sequential gearbox with reverse gear hydraulic activation hand-operated, seamless shift. honeycomb composite monocoque. Rear: Wishbone and pullrod. KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN - ROMAIN GROSJEAN LOTUS E20 POWERED BY RENAULT RS27-2012 TOTAL Rexona RENAULT CLEAR ANTI-DANDRUP IINEÐ TOTAL ZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by Lotus F1 Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. RS27-2012 V8 engine installed as a fully-stressed member. Front: Carbon fibre top and bottom wish-bones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torison bar and damper units which are mounted Inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminium uprights and Oz machined magnesium wheels. *Standard"with Brembo callipers Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear "Quickshift" system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts. Rear: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion springs and transverse- mounted damper units mounted in the top of the gearbox casing Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels. PAUL DI RESTA - NICO HÜLKENBERG SAHARA. Vorce india formula one team FORCE INDIA VJMO5 POWERED BY MERCEDES Q. KINGFISHER Vladıvar SAHARA PZERO ZERO. CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION McLaren Racing 7-speed. semi-automatic, 'e-shift. Carbon fibre composite monocoque with Zylon legality side anti intrusion panls Front: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod. Inboard chassis mounted torsion springs, d and anti-roll bar assembly. AP Racing callipers and Brembo discs Rear: Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pullrod. Inboard gearbox mounted torsion springs, dampers and anti roll bar assembly. PASTOR MALDONADO - BRUNO SENNA WILLIAMS FW34 POWERED BY RENAULT r randstad RENAULT Embratel PDVSA 18 PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre double wishbone Monocoque construction laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb composite structure, surpassing FIA impact and strength requirements. Williams F1 seven speed seamless sequential sermiautomatic shift plus reverse gear. Gear selection electro- hydraulically actuated. AP 6 piston callipers all round, carbon discs and pads. arrangement, with composite to and pushrod activated springs and anti-rol bar Rear: Double wishbone and pullrod activated springs and anti roll bar. CATERHAM CTO1 POWERED BY RENAULT V8 RS27-2012 HEIKKI KOVALAINEN - VITALY PETROV CATERHAM Air Asia PZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon fibre Red Bull Racing Carbone Industrie or Hitco pads Pull rod rear suspension with AP Racing callipers. | SAUBER C31 POWERED BY FERRARI 056 KAMUI KOBAYASHI - SERGIO PÉREZ telcel NEC ZERO ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Carbon-fibre monocoque. Ferrari7-speed quick-shirt carbon gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch Soepiston brake callipers Brembol. carbon-fibre pads and discs Front: Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pushrods (Brembo). Rear: Upper and lower v inboard springs and dampers actuated by pullrods with Sachs Race Engineering dampers. DANIEL RICCIARDO - JEAN-ÉRIC VERGNE SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO STR7 SCUDERIA Toro Rosso- POWERED BY CEPSA Red Bull NOVA Chemicals FA LCON ZERO CHASSIS TRANSMISSION BRAKES SUSPENSION Composite monocoque structure. Seven-speed hydraulic. Brembo Callipers with Brembo pads and discs Front: Upper and lower carbon wishbones, torsion bar springs and anti-roll bars. Sach dampers Rean Upper and lower carbon wish- bones, torsion bar springs and anti-rol bars, Sachs dampers 2012 RACE CALENDAR RACE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT DATE 1. 16-18 March Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Albert Park) Sepang International Circuit Australian Malaysian 23-25 March Chinese ------- Bahrain ----- Shanghai International Circuit Bahrain International Circuit 13-15 April 20-22 April -------------- --------- -- 11-13 May Circuit de Catalunya Spanish ------ Monaco ------- Canadian --- European Circuit de Monaco ---------- -- 24-27 May Circui Villeneuve t Gilles 08-10 June Valencia Street Circuit ---------------- Silverstone Circuit 22-24 June British 06-08 July ----- Hockenheimring ------- German 20-22 July 27-29 July 10 ------- Hungarian 11 Hungaroring Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 31 August - 02 September Sentebe------ 07-09 September 12 Belgian Autodromo Nazionale MoonTa - ------------- Marina Bay Street Circuit ------------- Suzuka International Racing Course 13 Italian ------ Singapore 21-23 September -------- 05-07 October 14 -- 15 Japanese Korean International Circuit --------------------- 12-14 October -------- Korean ------ Indian ------- Abu Dhabi 16 Buddh International Circuit -------------------- Yas Marina Circuit 17 26-28 October ------- - 02-04N 18 -- 19 United States Circuit of the Americas 16-18 November 20 Brazilian Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos) 23-25 5 November PRE-SEASON TESTING: JEREZ How did teams and their drivers do in the first testing session at Jerez in February? FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME Nico Rosberg ------------- Romain Grosjean Mercedes - Mercedes (2011 Car) -----------------------L 1:17.613 ------- 1:18.419 ------- Lotus - Renault ----------------- 1:18.561 Michael Schumacer --------------- Fernando Alonso --- ------- Mercedes - Mercedes Ferrari - Ferrari 1:18.877 Mark Webber --------- Sebastian Vettel Red Bull - Renault 1:19.184 Red Bull - Renault 1:19.297 Lewis Hamilton McLaren - Mercedes 1:19.464 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:19.587 ----- ----- Jean-Eric Vergne --------------- Toro Rosso - Ferrari ------------ Lotus - Renault 1:19.597 Kimi Raikkonen 1:19.670 ------------ Sergio Perez Paul di Resta ----------- Kamui i Kobayashi ----------- Sauber - Ferrari --------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- 1:19.770 ------- 1:19.772 ------ 1:19.834 12 13 uber - Ferrari Force India - Mercedes ----- Ronault Williams -------------- Force India - Mercedes ---------- -- Ferrari - Ferrari Nico Hulkenberg ----------- Bruno Senna -------- Jules Bianchi 1:19.977 1-20.132 15 16 1:20.221 ------- Felipe Massa --------. Jenson Button 1:20.454 ------------ McLaren - Mercedes ------- 1:20.688 18 ------- Pastor Maldonado Williams - Renault ------ ---- Caterham - Renault 1:21.197 Heikki Kovalainen 1:21.518 ------- 20 ------ Pedro de la Rosa HRT - Cosworth Caterham - Renault ---------------- Caterham - Renault 1:22.128 22 Jarno Trulli 1:22.198 23 Giedo van der Garde 1:23.324 PRE-SEASON TESTING: BARCELONA Pre-season testing came to a conclusion in Barcelona, where Kamui Kobayashi put it the fastest lap time of the session. As we're never sure on the settings and fuel loads on any of the cars, it's quite difficult to assess how close these times are going to be to the first race. BIG NUMBER 0.902 seconds covering the best lap by each 2012 car in pre-season testing at Barcelona this winter. FASTEST LAPS POSITION DRIVER TEAM TIME TOTAL LAPS Kobayashi Sauber 1:22.312 244 Maldonado Williams 1:22.391 +0.079 240 Hülkenberg ----- Pérez Vettel Force India 1:22.608 +0.296 209 Sauber 1:22.648 +0.336 151 Red Bull 1:22.891 +0.579 183 Di Resta Force India 1:23.119 +0.807 184 ------ Ferrari --------- +0.868 Alonso 1:23.180 162 -------- -------- Button McLaren 1:23.200 -------- +0.888 229 Schumacher Mercedes 1:23.384 ---- - 1:23.563 -------- 1:23. 590 +1.072 178 ---- 10 Massa Ferrari +1.251 ----- 187 11 Hamilton McLaren +1.278 234 Ricciardo ------- Webber Toro Rosso 1:23.618 +1.306 126 1:23.774 +1.462 ------. 13 Red Bull 182 Vergne Toro Rosso 1:23.792 +1.480 170 15 Rosberg Mercedes 1:23.843 +1.531 --- Williams 16 Senna 1:25.711 -------- 1:25.738 +3.399 97 17 Bottas Williams +3.426 117 ------- 18 Kovalainen Caterham 1:26.035 +3./23 101 --- 19 Glock Marussia - -- Caterham 1:26.173 +3.861 108 -------- ----- 20 1:26.448 +4.136 21 Grosjean Lotus 1:26.809 +4.497 22 Marussia 1:27.343 +5.031 229

F1 Cars & Teams in the 2012 Season

shared by OliArchibald on Mar 27
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A visual overview of the ins and outs of the mechanics and engineering behind Formula 1 vehicles, as well as a look at the cars and teams participating in the 2012 season.

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