theprancinghorse.co.uk - News Features / F2007 Updates For Australia

Last season, Ferrari adopted shields to cover the rear wheel rims. These additions meant the mechanics could only access the wheels with their wheel guns through a small central hole. To improve the timing and precision of this operation, the F2007 has been fitted with a wheel nut extension, which enables the mechanics to fit the wheel gun onto the nut more easily. This modification has already improved the timings of the team's pit stops.

This is a small but important change for 2007. The camera housing is now placed on the top corner of the nose cone, where it acts as a proper winglet, diverting airflow around the front suspension's upper wishbone. Previously it was in the middle of the vertical side of the nose cone, where its position reduced the aero efficiency of the car's front end by affecting the airflow exiting off the front wing.

This series of changes is part of the aero package introduced at the recent Bahrain tests. They were developed to up aero efficiency while also assuring adequate engine cooling. The winglets (1) behind and connected to the chimneys now sport a single, rather than a double element, reducing drag. The cooling slits (2) are now asymmetrical in their layout, with the right sidepod featuring one less slit than the left. This will, of course, vary from race to race. Also asymmetrical is the positioning of the exhausts (3), with the one on the right slightly further forward than that on the left.

This latest rear wing sports a double-sculpted main profile (lower arrow), with a much smaller flap that decreases in section at its extremities (upper arrow). The effect is raised rear downforce, without a noticeable increase in drag. This improves the car's overall aero balance, providing better handling, especially in the transition from fast to twisty sections of track. The engine cover is also slightly revised, its narrow 'shark fin' profile enhanced still further by a narrowing of the cover's base.

This latest barge-board evolution was spotted on the Melbourne grid. The front edge bends noticeably outwards (black arrow), while the bottom edge is neatly rounded. The increased angles of the pillars connecting the board to the chassis (blue and yellow arrows) highlight the board's new, more curved shape. These changes are designed to divert more airflow away from this area and hence keep the bottom of the car free from turbulence. As on the launch version of the F2007, the barge boards retain a wing-like element on their top edge, designed to help raise the pressure of air passing towards the bottom of the car.