The end of the 2014 Formula 1 season is just two races away, but in America teams were still trialling new aerodynamic and chassis developments, ready for 2015.
Ferrari
The Italians had assembled a complex new endplate for the US GP. It features a much flatter profile, with the rear wing flap no longer merging into the rear wing endplate. Instead, the flap pushes up to the endplate’s flat inner face. This reduces the levels drag which are created by the vortices created in the endplate. Secondly Ferrari also ran revised rear suspension geometry on Kimi Raikkonen’s car. This was a new development and aimed at improving the F14T’s traction and in turn reduced tyre degradation.
McLaren
McLaren’s “finger” nose extension has an underside blended into the crash structure behind it. This is likely to be a bonded-on section, rather than a new nose, so should not require further crash testing to be conducted. This has now been called the “pelican concept” and shall be introduced next year. Now, the extension forms a strange tear-drop shape in the cross-section, and to be more aerodynamic the new fairing extends far behind the upper nose shape.
Force India
Force India have introduced upgrades infrequently in the second half of the season. They trialled a new head-up display on the VJMO7. They have a new complicated steering wheel set up so it can now display more information to the driver. This allows them to keep tabs on the car’s performance, rather than relying on team radio which is banned in certain circumstances.
