Ferrari test F-duct and new aero at Vairano

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Ferrari test driver Giancarlo Fisichella shook down a new F10 chassis at the Vairano circuit yesterday – featuring the latest version of the team’s blown rear wing.

The new chassis, number 284, will be used by Felipe Massa in the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend.

The blown rear wing is Ferrari’s implementation of the F-duct introduced by McLaren at the start of the season. The team did not say whether the device is driver-operated, as McLaren’s is.

The car also featured other new aerodynamic upgrades which the team will use at the Circuit de Catalunya, including revised wing mirrors to satisfying the FIA’s rules clarification banning sidepod-mounted mirrors.

Ferrari will decide which of the upgrades to use on it car after further tests in Friday practice in Barcelona.

Read more: Ferrari’s F-duct design and more pictures from Chinese GP Friday practice

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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27 comments on “Ferrari test F-duct and new aero at Vairano”

  1. If someone could please clarify. How does this test not fall under the in-season testing ban?

    1. You’re allowed a set number of straight-line tests throughout the season. Turning radii/speeds at the ends of your runs are also regulated.

      1. Exactly.

        1. “Ferrari’s Vairano test was part of the four days of aerodynamic testing allowed in the testing agreement, as defined by the 12 Formula One teams.” Formula1.com

      2. It’s actually 6 sessions. You can exchange it with windtunnel work, if you’d like to.

  2. “The team did not say whether the device is driver-operated, as McLaren’s is.”

    Is this similar to their earlier version? My understanding was that the wing would only stall if both of the “snorkels” were under the same pressure. When turning the pressure would be different on either side of the fin and the wing would not stall.

    1. Yep that’s how I understood it.

    2. Do they not need the rear downforce switched back on before the car is already turning (or even better by the start of the breaking zone)?

    3. I would think, the drivers have to get used to that! Aero jumping on and off suddenly, not completely in their control.

      Also would it work reliably when there is a stronger wind from one side?

      I suppose this needs some fine tuning before it is usable in the races.

  3. During the coverage of the last race, the on location commentator (for SPEED channel) explained that the Ferrari ducts (yes plural) were not driver operated. There are apparently two ducts, one on each side of the fin. When traveling in a straight line both ducts collect air and divert it rearward to stall the rear wing. When the car is not traveling in a straight line, one duct will be getting more air than the other (due to their position on the fin) and the device/design will not divert any air rearward. It seems like a pretty clever passive design.

    1. HounslowBusGarage
      2nd May 2010, 22:30

      So for long, fast turns like Blanchimont, it won’t work?

      1. In long fast turns I’m pretty sure you’d want the downforce!

    2. I thought, they were only testing the back half of the system in china. Now it turns out that is the whole thing?

      I suppose the one McLaren have would be a little bit more of an advantage and more controllable for the driver.

  4. Ivan Vinitskyy
    3rd May 2010, 0:03

    New chassis? I thought they can’t change them during the season?

    1. They’re not allowed to change the design of the chassis without permission but they are allowed to build new chassis. For example, they may need to replace a tub that’s being damaged in a crash.

  5. samakafuzzy
    3rd May 2010, 0:20

    It’s perfectly ok to change the chassis, as long as it’s crash tested, however certain areas are homologenised. Schumi is going back to his test chassis for Barca…… Alos if you completely wrecked your car, you would need an entirely new chassis then!

    1. Everything that needs crash testing is homologated also.

  6. Is it me, or does ferrari’s design seem a tad dangerous? Obviously they’re doing thier testing,but if its not driver operated i dont see how they can be 100% sure when the rear wing is going to provide downforce and when it’s not,and exactly when the downforce is going to kick in, or stop. Imagine a full throttle gentle curve, are they going to have downforce or not? How about a blustery crosswind? Could that be enough to equalise the pressure mid-corner and suddenly remove the downforce? I’m sure they’ve thought of there things, but i’m not sure i’d want to drive it. (obviously i’d love to chance to drive any f1 car, but thats not my point!)

    1. From this preview in Pitpass it seems Ferrari has a driver activated system as well:

      http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=40626

  7. Shouldn’t the circuit name be Fiorano not Vairano?

    1. Sorry my mistake, it is Vairano

  8. So does this mean only Massa gets the F-duct thing for Spain? Or will the second chassis be adapted to have it, or will they have another chassis prepared for Alonso?

    The mirrors will have to be on both cars for sure.

    1. I can’t imagine Ferrari only installing the F-duct on Felipe’s car. No, I’m pretty sure both will use it.

  9. does anybody happen to have pictures about this test? i’ve been eager to see Fisi in this years Ferrari, but no luck yet :( there was a promotional photo and videoshoot in February which he participated with the winter testcar, but no pix either :(

    1. I don’t think Ferrari want to show their F-duct system to the opponents!

      1. true, but if they bring it to a race, they will have to, anyway.

  10. As far as I understood Felipe will be testing the new bits in practice on Friday and if they work both cars will have whatever works for quali and race.

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