<< Return to the news list

Mercedes wants active suspension back in Formula 1

Published on 31 Jan 2018 08:46
4
By: Rob Veenstra

Mercedes has reportedly suggested that active suspension should be reintroduced in F1. The suggestion follows news that some teams including Red Bull will no longer be able to use a 'trick' involving clever systems to lower ride height in corners.

The controversy has been the subject of discussions within the F1 technical working group, with two proposals on each end of the suspension spectrum proposed as a result. The first is a return to simple suspension layouts with dampers and springs, while the other is the re-introduction of radical 'active suspension' which was last seen in 1993. It is believed Mercedes is championing the cause of the latter.

An engineer told Auto Motor und Sport: "It's cheaper because you can develop the system once and then freeze it. It will save a million euros a year and there would be no more grey areas. It would be much easier for the FIA to control, and it would help overtaking because you can programme the system to minimise the impact of the turbulence behind the car," the engineer added.

It is believed Ferrari is opposed to the active suspension proposal. (GMM)

F1 News Mercedes

Replies (4)

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
I absolutely disagree and don't understand why Mercedes would want that. The cars are already so overly-programmed that they mask a drivers true performance (or lack thereof). For once, I agree with Ferrari
- + 0
- Jan 31 2018 - 18:52
Pauli

Posts: 140
Active suspension is more about aerodynamic optimization for different situation. Basic idea is to reduce downforce and drag in straight by raising the car higher than when cornering. If active suspension would allow reduced ride height (like F1 used until Imola 1994) then we could have more downforce generated from ground effects in corners. That would help a lot for overtaking because ground effect generates less turbulence for same downforce and it takes lesser penalty from turbulent air than front wing.

Of course active suspension would be used to improve cars handling in bumping parts of track. There might be other fancy uses for it too but I don't currently know any.

But I strongly disgaree than you can jsut develop active suspension and leave it there. You are very likely constantly trying to improve algorithms controlling it and sensors detecting bumps in the surface. Teams would likely also want to tweak the ride height parameters to improve track specific setup during weekend.
- + 0
- Jan 31 2018 - 23:04
RogerF1

Posts: 501
Suits Merc’s bottomless pockets and likely already have the technology on road cars so they hide all the development cost - just in case of a budget cap! Same issue - get rid of the aero and as AJPP says let’s see who really can drive a race car.
- + 0
- Feb 1 2018 - 00:22
- f1ski
  
  Posts: 726
  actually if you didn't need to hide it it would be cheaper
  + 0
  
  Feb 1 2018 - 02:01