Should Ground Effects be allowed?

[Ryan]

This has been a controversial matter ever since they were banned in the 1980's.

On one hand having the underbody of the car produce a significant amount of the downforce reduces reliance on wings for downforce, and since ground effects don't produce nearly as much turbulent air behind the car it will not affect the front downforce of the cars behind and allow more passing.

On the other hand with less drag on the cars due to less reliance on wings the cars will theoretically attain much higher speeds.

Personally I think they should be re-allowed, with the ability to rev limit engines today the cars can be prevented from gaining a huge amount of speed, and the effective of the wings can also be limited in various ways. It could bring great side by side battles back to F1.

Discuss!

[EIR Loe.307]

All things I like!!

[Ryan]

Well with the higher speeds comes the safety issue, which the FIA is always, at least in my opinion, overly concerned about.

[EIR Loe.307]

Safety shmaftey!! :lol: There are plenty of other ways to slow the car anyway. Limit the revs, tire compounds, gear ratio limits etc. I want overtaking. :thumbsup:

[Ryan]

You don't want to make overtaking too easy though.

[EIR Loe.307]

You don't want to make overtaking too easy though.

True. I just think that if the cars were able to run closer there would be alot better action. That and the loss of TC will put the work more on the drivers skill. You start running close and sliding around and you've got to keep it together. :eek:

[NetOz]

Yes i'd love to see ground affect again in F1.

But if the ground affect comes back, with slick tires, the speed is going to be very high, but with carbon brakes that are very powerful and brings more safety to the drivers because they are very efficient could formulate a really good combination to the F1 in my opinion.

[JoStream]

This has been a controversial matter ever since they were banned in the 1980's.

They haven't really been banned, but are of course limited. I think it would be helpful for other members if you could define 'Ground Effects' and how the venturi plays an important role here in generating downforce.

On one hand having the underbody of the car produce a significant amount of the downforce reduces reliance on wings for downforce, and since ground effects don't produce nearly as much turbulent air behind the car it will not affect the front downforce of the cars behind and allow more passing.

I have read some material that has suggested that the venturi effect only really works at speeds exceeding 300 km / h. If that is the case, then its expected influence on Formula 1 overtaking behavior may be limited.

Should the FIA relax its restrictions on 'Ground Effects'? Maybe a little bit and I think they are planning to do that :wonder:

[Harakimi]

This was a hard question, therefore I'm going with unsure. What I think that 2009 regulations will give the results everyone wants, and that is overtaking. After that I think this question becomes more current if the cars are sliding all over the place.