Why do the 2012 F1 cars feature stepped noses?

New F1 design rules for 2012

When the Caterham F1 Team revealed their CT01 challenger last week, the fear that 2012 cars would feature ugly bodywork became a reality. Although the CT01 includes a number of interesting developments (such as the tightly sculpted sidepods and suspension mounts) the biggest talking point is undoubtedly the stepped nose. This new design is expected to feature throughout the majority of the field in 2012 due to a change in the technical regulations.

Why the change?

The FIA is seeking to lower the front of Grand Prix cars in an effort to improve safety. A car with a lower nose is less likely to launch over the top of a car it hits from behind, and will also cause less damage if it T-bones another car from the side. Driver visibility is also improved with the front of the car closer to the ground.

What rule has been changed?

The FIA has changed article 3.7 Formula One Technical Regulations.

In 2011, this regulation permitted cars to reach a height of 65cm from the front of the cockpit all the way through to the very tip of the nosecone. Teams usually went to the limit of this restriction to make the front of their car as high as possible. This creates more space below the nosecone for air to be channelled around the chassis and underneath the floor through to the diffuser.

This year, the rule has been changed so that cars can be 65cm tall from the cockpit through to the front bulkhead only. This is located near the front wheels. From this point onwards through to the tip of the nosecone, cars can only stand 55cm tall - a reduction of 10cm.

Since it currently suits teams to construct the front of their cars as high as possible, they are continuing to build right to the limit of this regulation. The result is the ungainly 'stepped' design seen on the Caterham.

Will all cars look like the Caterham?

Mike Gascoyne and Peter Sauber have both indicated that most cars will feature the stepped nose design in 2012. At the launch of the CT01 Gascoyne said “As we're the first car out it is obviously stirring up a lot of debate, but because of the 2012 regulations I think you'll probably be seeing this type of nose on most of the cars this year".

Peter Sauber has since added "for reasons of aerodynamics, this step in the nose is almost inevitable".

Ferrari President, Luca Di Montezemolo, has said the Scuderia's 2012 car looks "ugly" suggesting the top teams are also following this trend.

The last team win a Grand Prix with a low profiled nose was BrawnGP in 2009, so unless another constructor introduces a similar design it would appear that stepped alligator noses will feature strongly throughout the grid.

You would hope that some of the teams have come up with a more elegant solution to the new regulation.

Will the regulations be changed again to remove these?

In 2014 the (yet to be officially published) regulations state the tip of the nosecone must be no more than 25cm off the ground. This is likely to bring about a return of the Brawn-esque style noses, and will remove the incentive for teams to run the chassis as high as possible.

Hopefully the future rule will also usher in a new era of more attractive Grand Prix cars.

Posted by Martin Porter. - Follow him on twitter @mpondaweb.

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