The Flying Lap with Peter Windsor

Do you think the Mclaren u side-pod concept can be exploited further and can you see other teams adopting something similar?

Question to Scarbs. Any information about a team using graphene in the new car?

The new rule about backmarkers unlapping themselves states that cars must remain on the racing line whilst lapped cars overtake. Does this mean possible penalties and resultant controversy for cars weaving to keep heat in their tyres?

Do you have any insight into whats going on at Williams with the second driver? particularly Barrichello, most want him to stay, its agonising for him and us waiting!!

The new safety car rules… Don’t understand why lapped cars should be waived around to get a lap back. Why dont they just drop to the back of the queue? Would avoid having to wait for them to do a whole lap – increasing the time of the safety car period?

Just what does requiring a driver to bring his own sponsorship money to a team say about the team itself?
I’m a believer the team should pay for the best drivers, not take the driver that can bring the most money.

Maybe in a team like HRT it’s OK to do that but should teams like Williams just fold up shop if they can not secure there own sponsors?

Which driver are you all most shocked at not having a 2012 F1 seat?

Hello Peter, Hope all at TFL had a wonderful new year, what do you think of Nicky Lauda’s comments on DRS?

Hi Craig, what do you think will happen in terms of the competitive order? Who will win/lose the most out of the new exhaust position, and does this mean we’ll see cars with a bit more slow speed oversteer characteristics?

TC hmmmm. Mclaren, lotus renault? fan of Williams and British drives.

Where do you see the biggest challenge or oppoertunity for improvement in the design concepts for 2012? To work better with Pirelli’s characteristics from 2011 or removal of blown diffusers?

Hi Craig, we often see words such as blistering, graining, wear and degradation thrown around. What some people don’tget is that they are different things. Could you maybe clarify what each is?

How do you think tyre life, in terms of those 4 buzzwords, will change in 2012 now that the EBD is gone?

Hi Craig, do you think we will still see V-noses in 2012?

What 2011 innovation do you think will be copied in more widespread fashion in 2012? McLaren/STR sidepods? Williams gearbox?

This is a question for both of you. If you had to pick one midfield team to keep your eye on for possible higher points finishes, who would you choose? My choice would be Force India.

Do you see the F1 as the main source of hybrid/electrical technology or are endurance series cars (LMPs particularly) more appropiate for that job?

How will affected new nose design on the the drive and aerodynamics of car?

To scarbs: Is a front wing more draggy when closer to the road or less draggy???

With the change in overtaking regs, what happens at a circuit like Canada which is narrow and has left turns followed by rights? Where does the driver have to leave a gap if he’s made a defensive move? Folk try both the inside and outside into the hairpin!

Hi Scarbs. What could the agressive cooling radiators postion (BT46 like) bring to aerodynamics and CofG of the 2012 car? I’m also interested in the idea that some teams could use front/rear linked suspension.

Rules rules rules, teams need to be different, how they see their solution to the problem…for speed, drafting, and the cost. The other way is Indycar, one car for all with the same aero and next year different engines. The teams should be different. thanks.

Using helium in wheel guns is banned next year. Do you have any knowledge what teams can use instead?

Hi Peter,

Not that I don’t think Frank is dedicated and passionte about his job, but do you think it is time for Frank to hand over to a Team Principal who is more hands on, Kolles/ Gerhard Berger for example? Problem is regarding Frank he doesn’t go to every race, therefore he cannot see fully what goes on, perhaps causing Williams problems?

Thanks

Hi,

Have the weight distribution rules been changed for 2012?

Of the regulation changes announced, which regulation would you most like to see that is not listed or needed

What rule change do you believe would best level the playing field?

o you believe the FIA has done a good job to make rules less ambiguous and open to interpretation?

Is there a show next week??

Craig, how do the teams use this exhaust air without causing damage to carbon parts w/ the extreme temps?

Peter,

Your point of the lack of understanding how best to deploy wings and aero in 1968, in light of aero development now, made me think of the deadly consequences back then if you got it wrong (i.e. Bruce McLaren and the M8D) when they got the designs or missed details. Fast-wind to 2011 with off-throttle blowing of hot gasses onto the floor, and risking fires, it seemed like the dangerous history of aero development was repeating itself.

Do you ever see F1 move back towards mechanical grip and away from aero? How might this impact safety and the “green” iniative?

Scarbs, Can you explain the importance of the engine cover hole (Red Bulls was pretty pronounced than others). and is that another form of aero device used for advantage

is it possible for the teams to use 2 exausts,in diferent parts of the yellow box?

Would it make more sense from an environmental point of view, to have more races in Europe or have a schedule that follows a “round the world” approach as opposed to traveling back and forth (and going to markets that may not appreciate F1 as much)

Can they actually use the way Dyson vacuum cleaners work to get the air out of the sidepods more efficiently thus decreasing the size of the sidepod exits and improving aerodynamics?

Do you or Craig think their will be any radical car designs this year even with the small reg changes

Do either of you agree that in-season testing should be allowed, Why or Why not?

Scarbs depicted a solution to detect front wing movement, any chance the FIA might show interest?

In the tech regs, there’s an explicit mention that only tyre warmers can warm the tyres. Is this to do with the rumoured warming of tyres with the exhaust by Red Bull?

Didn’t the original Merc KERS involve Zytek, I think they made the motor (Now Merc do those themselves). Zytek of course are probably the market leader in battery KERS for motorsport, having run such a system at Le Mans back in 1997.

Whos going to get the upper hand out of the Mclaren drivers…..And do you think that Mclaren have “relaxed” their team atmosphere in the light of Red Bulls “party” style.

Mercedes have mentioned that they won’t make the first test. Could it be that they won’t have their chassis crash test approved in time, or is it simply that they prefer to do simulation work?

Peter, couldn’t agree more, Ruebens is one of the most talented drivers and most charismatic F1 drivers ever! What a beautiful way to allow fans to show their support and admiration to him over his long career!

Hey guys! Not sure if it has been covered yet, just curious what you think about Ferrari’s technical restructure and if you would bet on them actually making a big step in downforce in 2012. Thanks for the consideration!

Sorry I missed the first half hour so you may have covered this but do you reckon we will see any flames from the new engines. Looking at other turbo series it seems common but the FIA may not want any flames because it doesn’t look very “green”.

Will The Flying Lap be reporting “on site” from the winter tests?

With the teams tweaking their fuel loads to optimise their strategy over a race distance, this leads to periods of fuel saving. Surely the pinnacle fo motorsport should be a race from start to finish? Why don’t the FIA mandate the fuel load that must be carried at the start of the race?

Hi Peter and Craig, Apparently RBR returned Mark Webber’s start system to the 2010 spec for Japan GP and onwards last year, resulting in only 1 loss off the start until the end of the season compared to the poor starts earlier. Any idea what the changes were?

Any news on Rubens and his future in F1

Will we see USGP in the new future on the grid?

Hi Peter, what’s your thoughts about DRS in respect to Nicki Lauda’s trashing of the DRS and how it’s unfair to leading drivers!

Great 1st season and thank you. Before McLaren’s unveiling on Febuary 1st, do you think the MP4-27 will be an evolution of the MP4-26?

With the amount of very good drivers that cannot find a race seat, do you think there is a gap in the market for another high level race series that can match the technical level of F1??

Hi again! Sorry but I’ve never properly understood weight distribution rule changes but can there ever be a ruling that means driver weight is not an issue and sees the end to ‘jockey’ height or ‘malnourished’ looking drivers? (Waterlogged rugby pitches have allowed me to enjoy the show live this week).

My question goes for Craig: I read on your website about the possible reasons behind FIA’s clarification on the use of clutch and 1st gear. Were teams implementing some electronic assisted launch control with these paremeters? Do you suspect on any team in particular towards which this clarifications might be directed?

Thanks a lot for your work, Mr. Windsor and Scarborough; a pleasure as always watching TheFlyingLap.

The new sporting regulation of F1 provides that lapped cars can overtake the leaders during SC periods. In the text, the FIA describes that “This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car was deployed”. Can you clarify the meaning of that specific part of the rule?

How does HERS work?

wouldnt limiting fuel and turbo use and removing DRS be better in 2014???

I take it we’ll be seeing turbo compounding in 2014?

Farewell tour is not a good idea – lots of Cricketers have done that, only to distract the team’s attention from task at hand.
If music bands are to go by every Farewell is followed by Reunion tour.
In case of Rubens good reunion would be driving with Michael Schumacher perhaps.

Hi Peter, i spoke to you on Twitter and you said you had an email interchange just now? Vettel today said he wants him to stay, can we get a mole to tell us more?

What’s the chance of Embratel becoming Williams’ title sponsor, along with Bruno as the other driver?

On my blog i reported Williams losing the AT&T deal, when i was reading some information i saw they have also lost 2 other important sponsors over the past 2 years? What impact would that have on them as a team?

Based on the 2011 Pirelli tyres’ characteristics, what challenges will this present for the design of the 2012 cars?

I’ve been hearing some teams will not make the first test, with the lack of in season testing how can any team miss a test & what are the implications?
Do they have something they don’t want the other teams to see or are they late in development?