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Jock Clear does not think Ferrari's troubles are related to supposed tricks some rivals may be deploying to lower tyre pressures in 2016. In the last two races in particular, the Maranello team has fallen behind Red Bull and even further behind Mercedes, mainly due to a mysterious struggle in the latter stages of qualifying.
One theory might be that other teams are doing a better job with supposed trick technology in dipping crucial tyre pressures below the mandatory minimums set by Pirelli. But Clear, an experienced and well-known F1 engineer who started work at Ferrari this year, doesn't think so. "Lower pressures give you more grip," he admitted to Auto Motor und Sport, "but for one lap in qualifying, it is easier to keep the pressures in the window where you want them."
Clear said regulating tyre pressures in the race - no matter the technology - would be much harder. "We do not believe the stories that some teams can lower their tyre pressures significantly," he insisted. "Perhaps half a PSI, but not two. We think that's impossible. There's a lot of talk about smart solutions that get the heat out of the wheels, but they are all illegal," Clear added. "The FIA has confirmed that all the cars are legal and we have no reason to doubt that."
As for Ferrari's apparent performance dip, Clear also downplayed suggestions in the media that it is a 'crisis'. "The gap to Mercedes is bigger than we had calculated," he admitted, "but it's smaller than the average of last season and the last race of 2015. That's the positive side. We are closing the gap to Mercedes, and we are sure that the two performance curves will overlap in the future. The only question is when," said Clear. (GMM)
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (2)
Login to replymclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
Here is a thought, you dont need fancy systems to control the tyres themselves. Not possible either because tyres are structured and done by Pirelli. However the brake duct area can be done in way to send air into the wheels because the rims can act as a heat sink. You cool the heat sink and you cool your tyres. Pulling in air for the tyres affects the back end of the car since that air was supposed to be heading rear wards, so it's a question of trade offs a team is willing to do if at all possible.
As for Ferrari catching upto Merc yeah it's always the same thing every year, we'll get there we'll get there we'll get there. Maybe by 2036 they will.
Vet5
Posts: 225
They wouldn't need to modify much really because they use a front axle blown diffuser, but they will not catch Mercedes and RedBull will start to beat Ferrari. I have lost a lot of patience with the prancing horses aswell as Ron Dennis, they should never say they can challenge for wins &/or the championship. If I was Arrivebene i'd just say "We have worked really well over the car over the winter, but we will just take it race by race"