xpb Formula 1 regulations 2013
07/12/2012
D he public outcry before the season was great. Even the teams had to admit that the 2012 generation Formula 1 cars are not particularly pretty to look at. Discussions focused on the noses, which in most teams have an ugly step at the level of the front axle.
The rules were changed before the 2012 season so that the nose in the front area is lower than before (<550 millimeters). The chassis height (<625 millimeters) was not lowered in this context. In order to make maximum use of the regulations and to get as much space as possible under the car, the majority of designers opted for the unaesthetic level. Only Marussia and McLaren swam against the tide.
New Nose Regulations 2013
After the outcry from the fans, the FIA law enforcement officials announced early in the season, together with the teams to seek a solution. At the last meeting of the technical working group (TWG) before the race weekend in Silverstone, a proposal was now agreed on how to remove the kink in the optics for 2013.
From next season, it is now allowed to iron the step too smooth. This means that the designers are allowed to build a little higher in the area in front of the chassis so that the edge disappears. There is one restriction, however: the parts that are used in this area must not be structurally relevant. This means that the step may only be stuffed with filler material or covered with a thin cover.
No impact on crash behavior
The FIA had introduced deep noses to ensure better crash safety. The main aim of the rule change was to mitigate the consequences of a frontal impact in the side of an opponent. In addition, according to the FIA, a lower front reduces the risk that a car can step up with its nose on the rear wheel of a competitor, as was the case with Mark Webber in Valencia in 2010.
The now permitted smoothing of the step by more unstable ones Materials should not have any influence on crash safety. The fixed structure of the nose must also be in the currently valid area in the future.
Will F1 teams stay with tiered nose?
It is doubtful whether the measure will work. The teams in the TWG worked on the proposal themselves, whether they would do it tooapply is still unclear. 'Most of them have probably got used to the step by now,' assumes Sauber designer Matt Morris. 'I suppose they will just stick with it next season.'
According to the regulations, smoothing the level is not an obligation, it is only an option. 'And with the big change in the regulations in 2014, it looks completely different in this area anyway,' adds Morris. The fans must therefore hope that the designers will develop new noses for one season purely for aesthetic reasons.
In our picture gallery we have put together the different noses of the teams for comparison.
