2010 "Lotus" F1 Rear Suspension

[lightweight]

The latest incarnation of what used to be Team Lotus, has revealed next year's F1 contender

Let me comment beforehand, that this team Lotus has no affiliation with the historic team. Today's owners, a partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs, have just bought the brand name from its previous owner.

Most of the members would have already seen the photos

Lotus F1 Car Photo (http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/lotus_2010_f1_car_1.jpg)

The reason I am posting this is for the design of the rear wishbones. The wishbones are mounted in such a way, that the wheelbase will be different as the suspension moves up/down.

Has this happened in any other F1 cars in the past?

[johnnynumfiv]

I think you'd have to see the exact mounting points to see how it'd function. You can't really see how far forward the front of the wishbones are mounted.

[W.R.]

I feel an appeal from other teams coming on.

[TheScrutineer]

As said, its difficult to make judgements without close up pictures to see how they are mounted. The rear of the wishbone is indeed at an angle rather than striaight with the car. I am not sure how this would affect the car without seeing how it is mounted.

It is important to remember that the suspension travel is extremely minimal, so any change in rear wheelbase from such a system would be tiny. In any case I can't see how the driveshafts would be able to 'flex' to size.

Can't remember seeing a car having is suspension like this, but I may be wrong.

[Suka]

I would like to point out that this is a wind tunnel test car. It's not by any means a functional design since Lotus have said they expect to reveal their actual car mid February.

[Matra et Alpine]

Nothing of real interest at Lotus F1 Racing (http://lotusf1team.com/) :(

Intersting as by movign the mounting points, they've really cleaned up airflow to the rear and the wing.
Also, it's goign to be heavily debated as to whether it's a movable aerodynamic device with the angle of attach it present s to the airflow :)

As already stated, without seeing where it mounts and the rest of it, it's impossible to say what it does. Concur with the comment though that movement in F1 is so little that it's fairly academic -- does suggest it will hav increased camber on compression which is good.

Re the driveshafts coping, they already cope with the movement up and down, so a similar amount back to front would be managed. But can see no benefit to the handling and only problems for the driver :)

[LeonOfTheDead]

Let me comment beforehand, that this team Lotus has no affiliation with the historic team. Today's owners, a partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs, have just bought the brand name from its previous owner.

Actually, as the Malaysian Givernment (trough Proton) owns the Group Lotus Plc, the are much more related to the original Lotus team than the guy, David Hunt, who owns the "Team Lotus" brand name.

Indeed the are called "Lotus F1 Racing".
You may be confusing them with the ex-F3 English team Litespeed who applied the first time to enter F1 using the "Team Lotus" name. At that time, Group Lotus plc officially distanced themselves from the new team, something that this time isn' happening at all, as they actually are Lotus.
To be precise, they own Lotus, as the only point of Lotus to be involved in the new team is Mike Gascoigne.

[Suka]

Actually, as the Malaysian Givernment (trough Proton) owns the Group Lotus Plc, the are much more related to the original Lotus team than the guy, David Hunt, who owns the "Team Lotus" brand name.

Indeed the are called "Lotus F1 Racing".
You may be confusing them with the ex-F3 English team Litespeed who applied the first time to enter F1 using the "Team Lotus" name. At that time, Group Lotus plc officially distanced themselves from the new team, something that this time isn' happening at all, as they actually are Lotus.
To be precise, they own Lotus, as the only point of Lotus to be involved in the new team is Mike Gascoigne.

Plus of course the current development is happening in sunny Norfolk although it will be moved to a purpose built facility at the Malaysian circuit at a later date.

[faksta]

Some time ago I have found a painted scale model of next year's Lotus, but now lost the link. It was painted in Malaysian flag colors mostly, as far as I remember. Did anyone succeed to stumble upon it as well?

[LeonOfTheDead]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/1malaysia_2010_f1_car_model.jpg

was it this? :)

lol at painted suspensions.

[Ferrer]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/1malaysia_2010_f1_car_model.jpg

was it this? :)

lol at painted suspensions.
I hope the new Lotus doesn't look anything like that...

[lightweight]

You may be confusing them with the ex-F3 English team Litespeed who applied the first time to enter F1 using the "Team Lotus" name. At that time, Group Lotus plc officially distanced themselves from the new team, something that this time isn' happening at all, as they actually are Lotus.
To be precise, they own Lotus, as the only point of Lotus to be involved in the new team is Mike Gascoigne.

Hmmm, you are probably right. :o

[lightweight]

But can see no benefit to the handling and only problems for the driver :)

I would have thought (having no technical background on the topic) that the increased length of the wishbones would offer an improvement in handling. But the supposed altering wheelbase would result in handling compromises

[LeonOfTheDead]

Hmmm, you are probably right. :o

Don't worry, I was confused as well at first. :)

[Matra et Alpine]

the increased length of the wishbones would offer an improvement in handling. I was on the variable wheelbase issue.
Re the length iself, it's a compromise. Longer usually means less angular change and the benefit you identify, BUT at the cost of more weight to make them strong enough and less rigidty and packagng difficulties.
But the supposed altering wheelbase would result in handling compromises
Anything that alters the geometry of a race car is n issue. Each time it moves the driver has to adjust their line/hrottle/braking. Look at the mes KERS has caused :)

[RacingManiac]

The rear movement suspension movement of F1 car is not insignificant, the front is pretty much static, but the rear do have quite a bit(by F1 standard) of travel, if anything this is quite evident on the onboard shot. Which also explains that installation of inerter/3rd damper is primarily on the rear. While true that without seeing the actual location of suspension inboard pickup that its impossible to say what the kinematic may be, its not unusual I think to have a slight wheelbase change in travel especially if they use any anti-squat in the rear, which would mean slight inclination in the fore to aft pickup point of rear a-arm(or a-arms). A lot of the time too they might just do that so it can create a more desirable packaging for diffuser/rear wing/bodywork...etc, since 99% of the F1 design now is pretty much aero-driven with compromise to kinematics...

[TheScrutineer]

Plus of course the current development is happening in sunny Norfolk although it will be moved to a purpose built facility at the Malaysian circuit at a later date.

All the development will be Malaysia. Nothing will come from Norfolk which is a real shame. There is nothing Lotus about this team and it is pretty sad to see the Lotus banner being used for a pretty much all Malaysian outfit with no racing pedigree. Should be Proton F1, but you can't fool anyone into buying those crappy cars.

Only thing I like about this team so far is Mike Gascoigne.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Only thing I like about this team so far is Mike Gascoigne.

Which is from Lotus

[faksta]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/1malaysia_2010_f1_car_model.jpg

was it this? :)

lol at painted suspensions.

Yes, this one, but different picture. Thanks :)

[fpv_gtho]

That looks more like a 2006-2007 Renault.

[faksta]

At least it doesn't comply with the next year's rules, as well as with this year's :)