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I know this reasoning has some flaws, but my question is: what do you think?
What are best cars in terms of mechanical grip?
How much are the differences between the cars affecting their performance?
Is it really making that big difference?
Taken from: http://www.sportnetw...91/st115217.htm
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BMW Sauber car the most stable & with best grip? By Jaime M. - April 21 2007
After doing some research and analyzing certain infos, I have found some interesting comments related to the BMW SauberF1 car, that can make us believe that it is the car with best mechanical grip and stability, and with the best qualities when following another car.
That’s surprising, especially if you remember that BMW would be the best in aero mainly, as the Hinwil factory has the best windtunnel in F1 and has the most powerful computer in the European industry, that is used in CFD calculations for optimizing the aerodynamic performance.
Here are the comments I found that talk about the issue:
How much of this is true or not is something only the BMW-Sauber technicians know, but at least this analysis looks sensible (well some parts don't, but most of it does) and quite close to the truth. We will see if this facts help the BMW Sauber Team to reach the top soon.
After doing some research and analyzing certain infos, I have found some interesting comments related to the BMW SauberF1 car, that can make us believe that it is the car with best mechanical grip and stability, and with the best qualities when following another car.
That’s surprising, especially if you remember that BMW would be the best in aero mainly, as the Hinwil factory has the best windtunnel in F1 and has the most powerful computer in the European industry, that is used in CFD calculations for optimizing the aerodynamic performance.
Here are the comments I found that talk about the issue:
Quote
Currently the best car when following up close is, as you guessed the BMW Sauber. BMW have the best stability when passing cars and riding the rear wing of others.
This is due to the fact that the BMW Sauber F1.07 is the most mechanically stable car, with the best suspension, hence the best mechanical grip. The BMW is just great when it comes to slower more mechanically dependant corners and thus can slow and accelerate through and out of these much faster then McLaren or Ferrari.
I really think that at a race like Monaco, BMW is going to be very tough to beat and next year when there is no TC it's going to be even more advanced.
Ferrari's problem is not their aero, as you can't really design a car that's going to be more aero efficient when following other cars that close. The problem is that the car in front is slicing though the air and putting all of it onto its rear wing, the car behind as a result gets NO AIR of its own. Therefore, you can have all the aero advancements you want, but it wont does squat when there is not air to act on the aero pieces.
Ferrari's problem has always been this season at least it's Mechanical grip, we are THE most advanced aero car, but lack good Mechanical grip and when the car in front takes the air away, all that's left holding the car to the road are crappy Bridgestone’s riding on Ferrari suspension which in our case is not enough.
To add more, the BMW-Sauber F1.07, although a more mechanical grip reliant car, has got one of the best wind tunnels to develop this mechanical grip system and test aero affects on its performance
Before you jump all over me about the fact that mechanical grip has nothing to do with performance let me explain
BMW is the ONLY team in F1 today that is able to have 2 cars in the wind tunnel at the same time. They are the only team that doesn't have to get out on track and drive behind another car and ask their driver for how the car will behave.
By having 2 cars in the wind tunnel at the same time, they are able to test just how much downforce is lost at what speed and predict how it will affect their car. They can then design a suspension system and do some minimal aero work to help with this loss of downforce experienced during the loss of front aero grip.
This is due to the fact that the BMW Sauber F1.07 is the most mechanically stable car, with the best suspension, hence the best mechanical grip. The BMW is just great when it comes to slower more mechanically dependant corners and thus can slow and accelerate through and out of these much faster then McLaren or Ferrari.
I really think that at a race like Monaco, BMW is going to be very tough to beat and next year when there is no TC it's going to be even more advanced.
Ferrari's problem is not their aero, as you can't really design a car that's going to be more aero efficient when following other cars that close. The problem is that the car in front is slicing though the air and putting all of it onto its rear wing, the car behind as a result gets NO AIR of its own. Therefore, you can have all the aero advancements you want, but it wont does squat when there is not air to act on the aero pieces.
Ferrari's problem has always been this season at least it's Mechanical grip, we are THE most advanced aero car, but lack good Mechanical grip and when the car in front takes the air away, all that's left holding the car to the road are crappy Bridgestone’s riding on Ferrari suspension which in our case is not enough.
To add more, the BMW-Sauber F1.07, although a more mechanical grip reliant car, has got one of the best wind tunnels to develop this mechanical grip system and test aero affects on its performance
Before you jump all over me about the fact that mechanical grip has nothing to do with performance let me explain
BMW is the ONLY team in F1 today that is able to have 2 cars in the wind tunnel at the same time. They are the only team that doesn't have to get out on track and drive behind another car and ask their driver for how the car will behave.
By having 2 cars in the wind tunnel at the same time, they are able to test just how much downforce is lost at what speed and predict how it will affect their car. They can then design a suspension system and do some minimal aero work to help with this loss of downforce experienced during the loss of front aero grip.
Sorry, but I 've been reading your latest posts and all of them keep saying the same on different threads. And you even make the effort to type it every time as none of them is just a copypaste! 
