Look Who's Talking Now!

[la force supreme des mclaren 0]

FIA acts on movable floor controversy

The FIA has modified its bodywork tests to ensure a floor mounting system used primarily by Ferrari does not circumvent the regulations, autosport.com can reveal, after McLaren asked the governing body for a clarification over the matter.

The issue of movable floors reached a head at the Australian Grand Prix when McLaren boss Ron Dennis suggested that some rivals had interpreted the rules in a way that his team did not agree with.

Although he did not specifically name Ferrari or mention the area of movable floors - sources subsequently revealed that his team were primarily concerned about a spring device fitted to the front section of the F2007 floor.

Article 3.17.4 of Formula One's technical regulations states that no bodywork, such as the floor, can deflect more than 5mm vertically when exposed to a 500 Newton load upward.

The spring device was allegedly calibrated to have enough resistance to allow the floor to pass this FIA flexibility test when the car was in the garage, but then give way when the car was exposed to higher forces out on the circuit.

This would potentially allow the front of the floor to rise up when the car is at speed, which would improve its aerodynamics and specifically increase straight-line speed.

McLaren became aware of Ferrari's device, believed to be used by BMW Sauber as well, early in the Melbourne weekend. Subsequently, autosport.com has learned that McLaren's engineering director Paddy Lowe wrote to the FIA in Australia, asking if his team could fit a similar system to their car.

In his letter, which also contained a diagram of McLaren's plans, Lowe wrote: "We would like to consider the installation of a mechanism on the front of our floor, consisting of springs and pivots.

"By a suitable arrangement and configuration of the springs (rates and preloads) within this mechanism, we will be able to control the flexibility of the bib so as to meet the requirements of the test specified in Article 3.17.4, but to otherwise allow greater flexibility at higher loads by a non-linear characteristic."

Lowe's letter was clearly aimed at clarifying whether or not the use of such a device was deemed legal if its sole intention was to get around the FIA's flexibility tests.

A week later, FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting responded to McLaren, and in a letter also distributed to every other team, he clarified the allowed usage of such a device - and revealed that bodywork testing would be altered accordingly.

Whiting wrote: "The test described in Article 3.17.4 is intended to test the flexibility of bodywork in that area, not the resistance of a device fitted for the purpose of allowing the bodywork to move further once the maximum test load is exceeded.

"Quite clearly, any such device would be designed to permit flexibility and is therefore strictly prohibited by Article 3.15 of the Technical Regulations.

"We have no objection to a device in this area which is fitted to prevent the bodywork from moving downwards, provided it is clear that it is not designed to circumvent the test described in Article 3.17.4.

"Therefore, with immediate effect, we will be testing bodywork in the relevant area with any such devices removed."

The move could effectively outlaw Ferrari's system, which would be a welcome boost to McLaren after Ferrari dominated the first round of the championship.

"We are going to improve our car one tenth to two tenths every single race weekend, and that is now the race that is on," Whitmarsh said in Australia.

"If Ferrari respond and they can improve at the same rate or quicker than us, then we will find it tough. If they cannot, we will overhaul them. And that is the challenge.

"They are a strong, competent team and that is why we are in F1 - that is why we enjoy that challenge, that chase, and we will be pushing hard this year."

[Player(1) 0]

Got to love how they ask the FIA if they can use it to get around their current testing

[pabloh20 1]

Got to love how they ask the FIA if they can use it to get around their current testing

I like the 'non-linear characteristic' bit!!

[Player(1) 0]

Should really have posted this in the general F1 section.

[ecapdeville 0]

Should really have posted this in the general F1 section.

Ok...moved.

[Shane2 0]

Well it explains where BMW gained some of their speed, and it explains some of Ferrari's extra speed if it is being gained illegally. Interesting read that, and nice to see that Ferrari won't be getting away with it.

[james 0]

From the sounds of it the FIA is just p**sed that teams are finding ways to circumvent the purpose of the rule while still being legal.

[dribbler 6]

From the sounds of it the FIA is just p**sed that teams are finding ways to circumvent the purpose of the rule while still being legal.

Oh i'm sure they are used to it. Look at what STR and Super Aguri are doing. They don't seem to bothered about that.

[Autumnpuma 0]

Got to love how they ask the FIA if they can use it to get around their current testing

Yeah, that was very, very clever. And hilarious.

[aussief1 4]

From the sounds of it the FIA is just p**sed that teams are finding ways to circumvent the purpose of the rule while still being legal.

It's all part and parcel of the sport. You need to find the smallest advantage anywhere and if that advantage comes from interrupting the rules in a way that will bend the rules but not break them the teams will take that chance in a heartbeat. OK it's been outlawed but look at what Ferrari and BMW Sauber have gained out of it, 13 & 5 points respectively & they have managed to upset McLaren. Mission accomplished.

[la force supreme des mclaren 0]

'Illegal' Ferrari quarrel rumbles on

McLaren complained about no fewer than three separate elements of Ferrari's dominant 2007 car at the Australian grand prix. It was reported recently that the underbody of the F2007, as well as the floor of BMW-Sauber's car, came under scrutiny in Melbourne amid suggestions that the designs might give an illegal performance advantage by flexing. But the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport now reports that, following the objections in pitlane, a separate issue regarding the Ferrari car's floor, and also the small wing above the gearbox, were also investigated by Charlie Whiting. It is understood that Whiting, the FIA's technical delegate, declared the F2007 legal.

[F1 FANatic 1]

how is it that these issues always only come up after the first race but over the entire 3 months before the season during testing everything is fine. Can people just get over the fact that Ferrari is better then the rest and deal with it.

Look, Fernando is not the wonder driver people proclaim he is, Merc haven't built a car capable of matching Ferrari, and BMW is now close in Mercs heels. Reading rules is about reading what is in them, not what you want to be in them.

If the rules don't disallow it then you can do it

[Player(1) 0]

how is it that these issues always only come up after the first race but over the entire 3 months before the season during testing everything is fine. Can people just get over the fact that Ferrari is better then the rest and deal with it.

Look, Fernando is not the wonder driver people proclaim he is, Merc haven't built a car capable of matching Ferrari, and BMW is now close in Mercs heels. Reading rules is about reading what is in them, not what you want to be in them.

If the rules don't disallow it then you can do it

Never see the massive screens they use to block the view into a pit garage? teams only get to see others cars completely still and with open bodywork until the season starts might explain that.

McLaren are in a much much better position this year then 2005 when they made a car stupidly faster then anything else on the track best start to a season they had since 2003 actualy.

[Autumnpuma 0]

how is it that these issues always only come up after the first race but over the entire 3 months before the season during testing everything is fine. Can people just get over the fact that Ferrari is better then the rest and deal with it.

Look, Fernando is not the wonder driver people proclaim he is, Merc haven't built a car capable of matching Ferrari, and BMW is now close in Mercs heels. Reading rules is about reading what is in them, not what you want to be in them.

If the rules don't disallow it then you can do it

Well, if flexible wings are illegal, so too is a flexing underbody; both are 'moveable aerodynamic devices'. If all this crappola is true, then Ferrari are the best only by breaking a rule. I'd love to see them be the best whilst not breaking a rule. I suppose you could say McLaren haven't built a car capable of matching an illegal Ferrari, right?

[raikkonen_dominates2 0]

If all such modifications, which give unfair benefit to car speed, are illegal, then also Kimi should be banned.

[la force supreme des mclaren 0]

If all such modifications, which give unfair benefit to car speed, are illegal, then also Kimi should be banned.

Yeah,because Kimi has flexible................underpants and vodka bottles.

[Autumnpuma 0]

If all such modifications, which give unfair benefit to car speed, are illegal, then also Kimi should be banned.

I like this.

[goferrarigo 0]

If all such modifications, which give unfair benefit to car speed, are illegal, then also Kimi should be banned.

Good comeback.

[Player(1) 0]

Kimi's well within the rules, he's the stiffest driver in F1

[aussief1 4]

Kimi's well within the rules, he's the stiffest driver in F1

[BradSpeedMan 6]

If all such modifications, which give unfair benefit to car speed, are illegal, then also Kimi should be banned.

BRILLIANT!!!!

[cavallino 2]

The situation is identical to the mass damper ruling. But since Ferrari is on the receiving end, everyone will celebrate instead of complaining. Hypocrisy...

[Jean Todt 4]

If all such modifications, which give unfair benefit to car speed, are illegal, then also Kimi should be banned.

[Player(1) 0]

The situation is identical to the mass damper ruling. But since Ferrari is on the receiving end, everyone will celebrate instead of complaining. Hypocrisy...

I recall alot of celebrating at the TMD being banned actually then later the majority took to thinking the middle of a season was a pretty stupid time to ban a key component to a cars design philosophy. Flexi-floor is hardly going to unbalance the F2007 and effect its tyre use dramatically, more importantly theres 16 more races to go and alot more develpment left in this year.

Oh and it didnt happen right before a testing ban. Ferrari's got it easy compared to Renault last year.

[cavallino 2]

I recall alot of celebrating at the TMD being banned actually then later the majority took to thinking the middle of a season was a pretty stupid time to ban a key component to a cars design philosophy. Flexi-floor is hardly going to unbalance the F2007 and effect its tyre use dramatically, more importantly theres 16 more races to go and alot more develpment left in this year.

Oh and it didnt happen right before a testing ban. Ferrari's got it easy compared to Renault last year.

That's irrelevan.t Points lost at this stage count as much as any others. Testing is very limited this season, and don't you think it is funny tht this comes right after the Sepang test, too late for Ferrari to test their modifications if they have to make any?