BMW Sauber to introduce a huge car update in Barcelona
By The Offsider
May 1 2009
Almost effectively a B-car, BMW Sauber is set to introduce a major update to it's F1.09 racer. Here we will analyse the changes, and if it will be enough to bring the German-Swiss squad back to the front...
Rampf commented "We will be lining up in Barcelona with an extensive development package for the F1.09, which we have put together for the start of the European season. The nose section, more deeply undercut sidepods and the rear wing are all totally new. Added to which, modifications have also been made to the front wing, engine cover and underbody. We expect these improvements to significantly reduce our lap times.
Added to that, as Rampf confessed, they will bring a further lightened chasis (and KERS package) to allow for more ballast, which will be especially beneficial for Kubica. As well, we can expect some other minor changes, such as brake ducts refinements.
Automotor und Sport revelead that Mario Theissen is expecting "at least" another 0.5 sec from the new aero package.
Our Analysis:
-More deeply undercut sidepods: thanks to reduced batteries, both in weight and volume, as well as refrigeration demands, due to further developements in batteries technology and optimization, it will allow for less section at the lower part of the sidepods, hence following the general trend of the last years to have wider section at the top than at the bottom.
-New nose: the current one had a neutral profile (kind of the front of the "water drop" profiles, used in wings), which seemed to aim to reduce drag, but didn't manage to direct the flow around as well as other more sofisticated designs ,ala Red Bull. It seemed as if it was more aimed to allow to understand how the rest of the car worked under the new aerodynamic rules
-New rear wing: all BMW Sauber's rear wing have looked rather simplish, at least compared to competitiors such as Ferrari or Mclaren, so no surprise they bring an update, even if the endplates design had changed back in pre-season's Barcelona test.
-New front wing: as I have been saying hundreds of times, and missing the implementation date I must admit, the current one wasn't a definitive one. It looked like an "unfinished work", even despite the minorchanges implemented back in Bahrain's pre-season tests.
-Engine cover: most likely a variation of the one seen in the Barcelona tests, back in March. That is, a shark fin-like design.
-Underbody: new difuser, with perhaps an interrim double decker design. We may see as well some turning vanes/barge boards and "snow plough" in the front underbody. If the interim double decker diffuser couldn't be introduced for this package expect it to be for Monaco, although in the street circuit its influence will be smaller.
All in all, If all those changes are coming, then that confirms James Allen's (shared by me and others around ) theory of "half cooked car", and the changes look very promising. Certainly a new looking car. Enough to be back at the top? Perhaps not, but at least much better than before, and expect BMW Sauber to get a higher step than anyone else.
And would explain why the F1.09 didn't get small steps each race.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:01:11:24:16 by J-Raid.
It is very encouraging, after such a bad season start. This is what we needed.
Racing against the machine!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:01:11:25:01 by J-Raid.
with good lead time in 2009 preparations we end up with 'half cooked' car...
above makes me really worried that if that updates are managed by same people who managed 'half cooked' car all we will end up in Barcelona is............ 'half cooked' updates...
I wish I am proven wrong
It's an educated stab in the dark. No need to overcook the topic, we'll know some of the story after qualifications and all of it following the checker flag on Sunday.
sessions
Quote:sessions
It depends on if the half cooked revisions are on the money.
It's an educated stab in the dark. No need to overcook the topic, we'll know some of the story after qualifications and all of it following the checker flag on Sunday.
sessions
Well said.
BMW Power
Quote:barteks
Another area where Ferrari could have leapfrogged BMW. They slimmed down the car by 15kgs. And according to the recent interview with Rampf BMW lightened F1.09 by a few kilograms only... Maybe in Spain the car will be further slimmed down?
At the same time, they are also wary of BMW;
“Last week in Bahrain, we were around half a second slower than the Brawns but we are hoping to close such gap next week in Barcelona. We know however, that most of the teams will have substantial upgrades for the Spanish Grand Prix - especially the BMW Sauber team. It will be a crucial race as we will have a better picture where every team stands.”
BMW brings to Barcelona heavily modified car, and our highest intoilijjat evästävät the F1.09 should be even 20 kilos lighter than the stable period began. The new parts made of various materials and the new KERS system's be used. Rumored to just KERS-weights have been dropped into no fewer than 12 kilos.
It is lightening then whatever manner, it nevertheless gives the team an opportunity to facilitate the adjustment of work lisäpunnusten placement, what Kubican the car is not the whole season could be. Turun Sanomat, according to Bahrain KERS device Kubican car was four kilograms more than the minimum weight.
It was the Kubicalle kilojen reduction is a massive help.
The new BMW's the car is, of course, developed in-floor solution, although the two-storey diffuusori really comes up until two weeks later in Monaco. F1.09 be to Barcelona in the new etusiiven and the rear wing of modified end pieces and the reformulated sivuponttoonit.
Baijerilaistalli expects improvement in speed by more than half seconds, which should be enough time ajofinaaliin up and fight for the points competition.
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Though in my opinion both figures are off the mark. 10kg is a more likely figure.
Bad to hear DD won't be ready until Monaco, hope its wrong.
PS: If someone could translate properly original article
Racing against the machine!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:03:16:21:18 by J-Raid.
Anyway it's hard to believe in these numbers. It's seems like PR stuff in response for McLaren knock-out. But if it's true then Kubica has no excuse anymore and will have to use KERS in every race.
BTW. Jaime, our highest what?
Quote:barteks
BTW. Jaime, our highest what?
You don't know it? Every F1 fan should know what a intoilijjat evästävät is!
Leaves the room
Anyway, thats what happens when you use crappy automatic translators...oh well. STill better than nothing, I guess
Racing against the machine!
regards tt
soarq, I wouldn't be so sure. Given BMW development rate I guess that even Monaco GP term is in doubt.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:04:12:11:43 by barteks.
Racing against the machine!
Quote:the fiercest enthusiasts informJ-RaidQuote:barteks
BTW. Jaime, our highest what?
You don't know it? Every F1 fan should know what a intoilijjat evästävät is!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:04:22:14:27 by Qlka.
I'm really glad BMW will bring all these updates, included a new diffuser perhaps, but until the Q1 I'll be dead wonderin about our speed!
I really hope Albert3 has blown all its chips up, trying to recover us from mediocrity!
Full Q&A with the Pole here:
[www.autosport.com]
All my attention is on Spain.
BMW Power
Maybe I'll have to drop a line to Craig, so we collaborate for doing further technical analysis of the bimmers
Racing against the machine!
Rear wing copywork at BMW:
[www.f1technical.net]
What Ferrari and Toyota have is an opening in the lower flap, to prevent flow stalling. BMW, on the other hand, created 2 new profiles. It is indeed an innovation, which will be probably soon copied by others.
BTW, on the vid you posted, the endplates don't seem to be connected to the bodyworks, so the rear wing is just supported by the two central pillars. Its a bit like former CHampcar/IRL ones. Is that the case in the real F1.09?
COuld make sense, as the new pillars are massive, probably enough to do all the job.
I haven't paid that much attention to that area lately...
Racing against the machine!
BMW Sauber have almost a totally new car in Barcelona, lighter, with a new nose and front wing, new sidepods, engine cover and this rear wing, which exploits the 15 cm of design freedom along the centre line of the car. With its additional central elements and what resemble miniature endplates, it's a solution that creates more downforce and one that will be very useful at the next round in Monaco, a particularly slow circuit. The F1.09's rear diffuser is unchanged and the team's new twin version will only be introduced once they are positive it will show a significant improvement.
source: f1.com