Bizarre BMW Wing

[nojvnof1 0]

One of the oddest aero devices I have ever seen. Still, if it works and isn't banned, then it'll look great!

[BradSpeedMan 6]

The shape as well as the position determine the use. The position of the wings in question wouldn't direct the airflow to any of the mentioned areas. The only areas that would benefit would be the main rear wing.

Another possibility is that the wings generate drag to aid in cornering. When turning right, the right front wheel will tend to loose a certain amount of contact with the road as the car's weight is loaded onto the left front. The wind will be blowing over the car's nose sideways (from the right to left). The wing could be connected to the upper strut so that when the sideways wind catches it during a turn, it pushes slightly in which would push the right front upper strut down, increasing contact with the track and giving more front-end grip.

Now I'm off to write another fantasy novel...

always a pleasure reading your technical postings mate

[Autumnpuma 0]

but i used to hear a couple of seasons back that micheals helmet itself helps his ferrari engine gain extra 50bhp mainly due to his helmet design, thats what prompted me to ask you if it could be for the air intake!

hey...actually i read it some magazine but i really dont remember which one nor the issue...

The wind hitting a driver's helmet straight-on would deflect up and to the sides. This upward deflection could disrupt the straight flow of air into the airbox, so I would imagine if a driver's helmet could minimize that upward 'deflection' it would increase the air going into the airbox....

Those two wings would have to be positioned horizontally to deflect more air into the airbox. As it stands now, they either help the front-end grip or they direct air to the edges of the rear wings (or perhaps to a secondary wing by the rear tires...)

This is a good thread. Far more interesting than the 'my driver is better than yours' stuff

[Jean Todt 4]

The wind hitting a driver's helmet straight-on would deflect up and to the sides. This upward deflection could disrupt the straight flow of air into the airbox, so I would imagine if a driver's helmet could minimize that upward 'deflection' it would increase the air going into the airbox....

Those two wings would have to be positioned horizontally to deflect more air into the airbox. As it stands now, they either help the front-end grip or they direct air to the edges of the rear wings (or perhaps to a secondary wing by the rear tires...)

This is a good thread. Far more interesting than the 'my driver is better than yours' stuff

if we can get more pics of the car with those wings(dimensionally) i guess we can find out their use....but i think you could be right in one way....it could direct more air into the edges of the rear wing....but....i guess there is no use of directing more air to the edges of the rear wing right????

if we can get more pics of the car with those wings(dimensionally) i guess we can find out their use....but i think you could be right in one way....it could direct more air into the edges of the rear wing....but....i guess there is no use of directing more air to the edges of the rear wing right????

Team test driver Robert Kubica has played down the significance of the radical vertical bodywork that sprouted from his BMW-Sauber during testing at Jerez this week.

''I do not really know what they do,'' said the Pole, according to 'AS' publication in Spain. The aerodynamic pieces were fitted to the sides of the bulkhead; just in front of the driver.

Kubica continued: ''I have not noticed a great difference and I do not believe that we are going to use them in a race.''

The team's innovation is despite news that the governing FIA has ordered BMW-Sauber to modify its allegedly illegal rear wing ahead of the Magny Cours race.

...

[Ferrariphile 0]

The shape as well as the position determine the use. The position of the wings in question wouldn't direct the airflow to any of the mentioned areas. The only areas that would benefit would be the main rear wing.

Another possibility is that the wings generate drag to aid in cornering. When turning right, the right front wheel will tend to loose a certain amount of contact with the road as the car's weight is loaded onto the left front. The wind will be blowing over the car's nose sideways (from the right to left). The wing could be connected to the upper strut so that when the sideways wind catches it during a turn, it pushes slightly in which would push the right front upper strut down, increasing contact with the track and giving more front-end grip.

Now I'm off to write another fantasy novel...

I was conjecturing given their placement, I would think they would supply the same result as this:

http://www.formula1.com/insight/technical_...06/759/297.html

except they are a more radical version.

[sevag00 0]

Hardly. If it's there, there's a reason. Looking at the shape, they are airfoils turned sideways with the 'action' side facing out. The air will go faster over the outside of them, forcing them to 'pull' towards the tire. This could increase front-end grip.

why are they not using it then?

[Autumnpuma 0]

I was conjecturing given their placement, I would think they would supply the same result as this:

http://www.formula1.com/insight/technical_...06/759/297.html

except they are a more radical version.

I see what you mean, but the Renault's winglets are horizontal, not vertical like the BMW's. If you are directing airflow from the front of the car to the sidepods, you would want a low horizontal winglet like the Renault's. The vertical one on the BMW is far too high to affect the sidepods and would direct the air either left or right, not down. Also the shape of the BMW's wings are like a sideways airfoil (wing). This sideways position would speed the air on the outside curved part of the airfoil, causing the airfoil to 'pull' in that direction (similar to how a sail functions)....

To answer another poster, I think it's a pretty standard sort of response to assume all greeblies are there to direct air to the rear wing. You strive for ballance with the aero and there's only so much you should direct to the rear of the car. To figure out these sorts of things, you need to look at where the cars have been weak. This season, almost every team has been fighting with understeer; which this season has been caused by the front tires not gripping enough at lower speeds. Seeing greeblies sprout from the area directly above the front suspension would lead me to believe they are for gaining front-end grip.

As an aside, the Renault's front winglets also gain a bit of front-end grip by provided a touch more downforce to the front of the car.

I've been scouring the internet sites (team as well as technical) and I can't find any in-depth references to the wings...The best I can find is a comment by the team that the results were "interesting". Kubica may or may not know what the wings are supposed to do. He probably is told to go do some laps without being told what each new greeblie does.

Kubica wasn't markedy faster with the wings but Villeneuve was. Driving style difference perhaps. JV likes a pointy car and if the wings gave more front-end grip that would explain it.

[c21 0]

These wings are directing the air away from the c#ckpit area and around the sides of the drivers helmet.

I think this must be the most unaerodynamic area of any car.

[YHR 0]

Interesting thing as well was that JV had them for testing as well, and finished ahead of the Renaults in recent testing. BMW downplaying the wing and then continuing to use them on both cars is "interesting"

Much talk has been around getting heat to the tires this year. Do these wings create forces on the front end of the car that help generate heat into the tires???

My bet is they clean up air and position it better for the rear wing. Most likely the most benefit comes when drafting the car ahead. This wings help clear up the turbulence to increase the efficiency of the rear wing.

This could be why Kubica never felt any difference. He is used to testing where you seldom get hung up in the crowd.

I would be really intersting to see where JV was spending his time testing. If he was going out of his way to tuck in behind cars, we may have our answer.

[Shadow 0]

One of the oddest aero devices I have ever seen. Still, if it works and isn't banned, then it'll look great!

crossed fingers and toes that it works pal......

[sevag00 0]

this wings are also blocking the driver's view, right?

[Autumnpuma 0]

These wings are directing the air away from the c#ckpit area and around the sides of the drivers helmet.

I think this must be the most unaerodynamic area of any car.

Not really. The tires are the most unaerodynamic area of a Formula 1 car. Alot of drag behind the wheels due to their shape. That's why the LeMans prototypes have an airfoil shape covering their tires (the rear of the old GT40 is the same).

The air going towards the driver's helmet wouldn't be directed away with those wings. The air hitting straight-on would still be hitting straight-on as the wings are positioned to the left and right of the driver's helmet. I'm afraid that's not the solution.

[c21 0]

Not really. The tires are the most unaerodynamic area of a Formula 1 car. Alot of drag behind the wheels due to their shape. That's why the LeMans prototypes have an airfoil shape covering their tires (the rear of the old GT40 is the same).

The air going towards the driver's helmet wouldn't be directed away with those wings. The air hitting straight-on would still be hitting straight-on as the wings are positioned to the left and right of the driver's helmet. I'm afraid that's not the solution.

I stand corrected on the tyres being the most unaerodynamic part, but its what I heard the wings were for.

[Autumnpuma 0]

I stand corrected on the tyres being the most unaerodynamic part, but its what I heard the wings were for.

If you could post a quote or something...I've been looking myself for a quote and haven't had much luck

This is an interesting discussion and though I know quite a bit about aero, I'm hardly part of the team, nor do I have access to the overall aero DATA. This is all just fun supposition

[c21 0]

If you could post a quote or something...I've been looking myself for a quote and haven't had much luck

This is an interesting discussion and though I know quite a bit about aero, I'm hardly part of the team, nor do I have access to the overall aero DATA. This is all just fun supposition

Sorry, I cant post a quote, I dont have one.

[Loser Boy 0]

If those vertical wings are allowed to flap ,will the car fly?

[aussief1 4]

If those vertical wings are allowed to flap ,will the car fly?

What the ................... !!!!!!!!!

[markus5a 0]

If those vertical wings are allowed to flap ,will the car fly?

yes...the wings are designed in such a way, that they slightly lift the car of the ground thus reducing tire friction and allowing for higher top speeds....

[rodders47 2]

just another slant on this vertical wing design .....

maybe it is meant to keep the NOSE in the air in the unfortunate accident where the car is 90 degrees to the ground Like the elevators on an aircraft LOL

looks bloody STUPID to me

[c21 0]

just another slant on this vertical wing design .....

maybe it is meant to keep the NOSE in the air in the unfortunate accident where the car is 90 degrees to the ground Like the elevators on an aircraft LOL

looks bloody STUPID to me

I think all the pokey out bits on the cars look STUPID, but in this day and age, if it works, use it.

But dont expect them to be the only new aero tweaks in France...

[Wez 0]

One of the oddest aero devices I have ever seen. Still, if it works and isn't banned, then it'll look great!

How true!!!

[Null 0]

OH CHRIST, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO RACE :-|

[c21 0]

OH CHRIST, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO RACE :-|

Its nice to seethat now Sauber can use the wind tunnel, that things are now coming out of it!

Bring them on!

[Null 0]

They tested McLaren horns too, wonder if they'll be on the car in Magny Cours too

That's got to be one of the weirdest looking F1 cars to race ever

the crappy prongs just don't look pretty

[Ferrariphile 0]

They tested McLaren horns too, wonder if they'll be on the car in Magny Cours too

That's got to be one of the weirdest looking F1 cars to race ever

the crappy prongs just don't look pretty

wtf? surley, you must be joking...