Adapting to new rules “a massive job” – Green

2014 F1 season

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Formula One’s new rules for 2014 amount to the biggest change in a generation, according to Force India’s technical director Andrew Green.

The overhaul in the engine regulations is the most significant change this year.

“It’s been a massive job to accommodate all the changes to the power unit,” said Green, “it’s the biggest change I’ve witnessed in the sport since I started in 1990”.

“On top of that, if you add the development that comes with it during the season, it’s going to take some managing. From the first time the car runs it will be continual development as we gather data, understand where the car sits relative to our models, refine it, and go back to the track again.”

Managing the heat produced by the V6 turbo engines and uprated energy recovery systems is the “biggest challenge” of the new rules, says Green.

“Most of last summer was taken up trying to understand the cooling requirements of the power unit, and how best to optimise it in the chassis. There’s a lot more to cool and you are weighing up the performance of the power unit versus the performance of the chassis and aerodynamics, and trying to hit the optimum on each one of them.

“We’ve had to develop a completely new tool set to examine, analyse and optimise it. We won’t get a real answer on how far out we were until we start running and then we’ll refine the tools again and have another go at it.

“I expect quite a big redefinition of the cooling system later in the season once we’ve gathered all the data from the winter testing and the first couple of races.”

The aerodynamic regulations have also seen major revision, with narrower front wings and the banning of the rear beam wings.

“The aerodynamic changes in themselves would have been significant, even if there had been no other regulation changes,” Green admitted.

“There’s quite a dramatic reduction in downforce, especially with regard to the exhaust – there’s now very little you can do to capture the exhaust energy. That’s a big loss on the exit of corners, so traction becomes a premium. That, combined with a change in the front wing width, has changed all the flow structures on the car completely.”

A further change in the rules requires teams to decide in advance of the season what gear ratios they will use.

“Although our ratios are supplied by Mercedes we also did our own simulations, and to be honest we came up with very similar answers,” said Green. “We were happy to carry on that route.”

“We are allowed one change and I think we’ll wait and see how it performs and how it compares to our simulation.”

2014 F1 season


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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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7 comments on “Adapting to new rules “a massive job” – Green”

  1. I like the premise of low downforce… We all remember the old turbo cars sliding everywhere, even on straights. And even if I don’t expect that to happen, some moments of coolnes should happen.
    It’s childish of me perhaps but, dammit it looks cool with on-the-edge-of-control driving of the car and a bit less sterile behaviour than previous seasons.

    1. But for how long will we have “low” downforce. Within 2-3 years I expect (with stable regulations) downforce levels to be recouped. This same re-finding of downforce was managed within 18 months of the ban of EBD i believe.

      1. probably true, It’s not like me to be optimistic. But at least we will get a few races where the pecking order isn’t clearly decided and that is certainly a step up!

        So i guess I’m just trying to enjoy it while it (might) last

  2. By the way, we know we’ll probably have stable regulations for the next 2/3 years but is another big change in regulations for 2017 realtistic?

    I was thinking that Pirelli is only the tyre supplier until 2016, it would be great if we see Michelin coming back with 18 inch tyres. That would maybe reverse an established order.

  3. Why are gear ratios regulated like they are this year? It can’t cost that much to change the gearing each weekend?

    1. I had the same thought. Also eight gears is two too many.

      1. I think there’s 8 gears to aid fuel economy, because in 7th gear they were bouncing off the rev limiter often last year.

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