German Car Zone

Teams take steps to improve overtaking
Monday 13th August 2007

The F1 teams are currently taking steps to improve overtaking by meeting to discuss new designs of the cars.

According to Autosport, the Overtaking Working Group (OWG) met during the Hungarian GP weekend where they agreed on a new diffuser designer aimed at helping cars overtake.

The design, which has already been extensive wind tunnel testing, could be implemented as early as the 2009 F1 season.

Following this the teams are set to discuss a new rear wing design, which will hopefully put an end to cars being affected when following close behind a lead car.

Another change the OWG is looking at is the banning of winglets and bargeboards. However, should they agree to outlaw these, the ban will only be introduced in 2010.

McLaren engineering director Paddy Lowe, Renault director of engineering Pat Symonds and Ferrari consultant Rory Byrne are all chair the OWG.

Teams take steps to improve overtaking - Planet-F1 News - from planet-f1.com

silly fellas. they should have figured this long time ago. i suppose the Monaco GP and the recent HUngarian GP gave them a wake up call.

Actually they have been working on it for a while.

I know from the Renault blog and its podcast. I've been told they've also experimented with amongst other ground effects.

well, the current aero rules, and the silly 19k rev limit, V8s, are all part of the factors why it's so hard to overtake. they should just stick to the old rules, like,

V10s, a min of 22k rev limit,
qualifying, free for all.

and perhaps, put 2 races on sunday. 45 mins per race, reverse grid for the 2nd race. then, we'll see some fireworks.

just like the A1......

Less expensive cars and equal competition will see overtaking.

yes. i think GP2 has the same format as well.

Spec cars don't belong in F1. And even spec cars series have their big teams/favorites.

I agree, but the aero still needs (severe) modification, and we still need more mecanical grip.

Ever since the ban of active-ride cars (1993 to 94) with their active suspensions, followed by the ban on slicks, then by the narrowing of the cars, we've lost mecanical grip (and let's not forget the lift of the front wing and the new spec Flintstone tires witch also contributed big time) and the time moved to winglets, ears, horns, chimneys, barges.

I really want slicks and active suspensions back.

The latest:


Group proposes changes for more F1 passing
Changes in the pipeline to liven up the action
31/08/07 11:30 F1-Live.com

Little passing last time out in Turkey...
F1's Overtaking Working Group (OWG) has agreed on its first recommendations to improve the spectacle of Grand Prix racing.

Following the mostly processional Turkish Grand Prix, the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport reports that the group - headed by team technical boffins Paddy Lowe (McLaren), Pat Symonds (Renault) and Rory Byrne (Ferrari) - is now ready to push ahead with its concepts for improving overtaking through more conducive FIA design rules.

After extensive tests with a 25 per cent model in the Fondmetal wind tunnel in Italy, funded by all the teams except Spyker, it emerges that the OWG will propose a range of changes to be phased-in between around 2009-2010.

Among them are: a wider front wing, a narrower and higher rear wing, a steeper diffuser, and the banning of winglets and bargeboards ( ).

Slick tyres may also be reintroduced in 2009 ( ).

Source GMM
CAPSIS International