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That Ferrari nose cone

		
		      Aerodynamics
			
				
				
  

    
Yesterday Felipe Massa debuted the much discussed radical nose cone on his F2008. He promptly went over 2 seconds faster than the next best driver. How does the nose cone work and is it really that good? John Beamer investigates.


How it works


When the air races over the front wing it is deflected upwards slightly (because of the downforce inducing shape of the front wing). This air then buffets the underside of the nose cone, which creates drag and reduces the overall aerodynamic efficiency of the car. 


There are a couple of reasons for this. The air is slower (a bit turbulent) and therefore higher pressure — this creates drag in itself.. Consequently this means that air passing over the front wing at a slightly later point encounters dirty air more quickly, which reduces the efficiency of the wing.


An old aerodynamic maxim is that what affects the front wing affects the entire car. And that maxim holds true in this case. The concept of the raised nose cone was to help channel air under the car as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Creating drag below the nose stops us from doing this to some extent. 


The hole is designed to bleed the high pressure air from under the nose and reduce drag, thereby increasing the underbody/ diffuser efficiency and also the efficiency of the front wing.


It is also alleged that as air flows through the nose slot it is channeled over the body of the car and below the rear wing in a more efficient manner thereby making the rear wing work better. Although without the aerodynamic models it is too early to say whether that is the case.


Although this nose looks like a radical invention it in fact isn't. Many Sport Cars have a similar sort of arrangement and such an idea has been much discussed on some of the F1 technical forums you can find on the Internet.


The nose cone needs to pass the crash test before we see it at the Spanish Grand Prix. However, I suspect it is advantage Ferrari.


Testing times


Also before everyone gets too excited by Ferrari's times in testing at Barcelona it is worth bearing in mind that Massa was running the 2008 car with slicks. McLaren, for instance, was running a 2009 aero package on slicks.


It is the 2009 regulations that caused the 2 second gap, not the crazy nose cone!


  

	
     By John Beamer last updated on 15/04/08
		

		
  	 




 









      1. By Shashank SK on 15/04/08
  
  
  
    
awwwww!!!!
The testing times


    

      
awwwww!!!!


The testing times :D .... I thought Ferrari had a 2 sec advantage... Making me excited abt the crazy nose cone...


anyway.. Is this Legal??

    


      

  







      2. By Shashank SK on 15/04/08
  
  
  
    
im talkin abt the nose


    

      
im talkin abt the nose cone.. is it legal?

    


      

  







      3. By sroy on 15/04/08
  
  
  
    
Unless there is some kind of


    

      
Unless there is some kind of channeling we can't see it looks like the exit is aimed straight at the driver's head rather than past the side of the cocpit to the rear wing.  Of course with all the compex aero parts there may be something we don't understand that causes it to run past the cockpit.


If it was aimed at the driver's head I would assume that it is designed to affect the airbox inlet although quite what could be achieved with rev limited engines is beyond me.  There was a story around at the end of last season saying that traction control could be achieved by controlling the aerodynamics of the airbox inlet but I would have thought any effect this would have on that part of the car would only come into play at speeds that were too high to have anything to do with traction control.

    


      

  







      4. By JBeamer on 15/04/08
  
  
  
    
It is absolutely legal, as


    

      
It is absolutely legal, as long as it passes the crash test. From a Physics angle there is no reason why this design wouldn't be structurally sound


There is no word on whether this has passed the crash test -- it will have to before it appears at a race.

    


      

  







      5. By dbrunell on 15/04/08
  
  
  
    
I don't know if you also saw


    

      
I don't know if you also saw what Renault and Honda were doing.


- Renault was testing their version of Red Bull's "fin" engine cowling.


- Honda was doing some funky nose wing packages.


In terms of Ferrari' new nose, I don't think it is a two second advantage... maker. I would need to get my science in formula one book out and my calculator but it seems to me that the down force that would be create, even at high speeds, can't be that great.


I have to say, the cars look so much better with slicks on!

    


      

  







      6. By JBeamer on 15/04/08
  
  
  
    
Yeah I did see.


    

      
It is unclear exactly what the Red Bull fin does? It could generate a vortex to channel air over the rear wing but it feels unnecessary ... or it could be to make the back end more stable. When red bull wheeled that innovation the speculation was that its purpose was to hide something else ... but who knows. Renault is clearly desperate for for any performance upgrade.


As for those honda elephant wings .... urggghhhhh. Bring on the 09 regs

    


      

  







      7. By Lady Snowcat on 16/04/08
  
  
  
    
And today Fernando was top


    

      
And today Fernando was top with slicks on the 2008 car but close behind was a certain Mr Schumacher......Nooooo, not Ralf, the other one..... and he was in the 2009 spec car.... and although he was nearly a second behind the Spaniard that still makes the Ferrari for 2009 pretty good....

    


      

  







      8. By JBeamer on 17/04/08
  
  
  
    
Snowcat


    

      
Yes, agreed. But the fact that Alonso was able to get very close to Massa' first day time shows in 2008 + slicks set-up shows actually the "Ferrari gap" perhaps isn't as great as first feared!

    


      

  







      9. By Lady Snowcat on 17/04/08
  
  
  
    
You may well be right... but


    

      
You may well be right... but somehow I find it difficult to believe the Renault is close.... especially given Pat Symonds comments about the 2008 car...


It could be more to do with the track rubbering in and fuel levels.... and Fernando really really wanting to put on a good show for his loyal supporters..... but we'll soon see.... I can't wait for Barcelona....but I'll take my mac....

    


      

  







      10. By Lady Snowcat on 17/04/08
  
  
  
    
You may well be right... but


    

      
You may well be right... but somehow I find it difficult to believe the Renault is close.... especially given Pat Symonds comments about the 2008 car...


It could be more to do with the track rubbering in and fuel levels.... and Fernando really really wanting to put on a good show for his loyal supporters..... but we'll soon see.... I can't wait for Barcelona....but I'll take my mac....