有記者問到 Ross Brawn 對今年各戰車外形的首次印象
Q. Are there any surprises when you look at the other cars, are there any components which are worth looking at?
Ross Brawn : It's too early to say, to be honest, we haven't had a very good look. All the photographers are out there gathering data for the teams. I am sure when the engineers pour all over the photographs there will be some interesting things. Obviously most teams have gone to high front chassis of varying degrees - as we have.
Q. But yours is lower than others.
Ross Brawn : Hmm, the tip of the nose, but where we feel it most beneficial which is on the front bulkhead it is fairly high.
舊年冬季試車時, 由於09年賽例大改, 焦點落在大幅減細的尾翼面積, 再加上加大頭翼的 "火上加油", 令賽車的整體平衡對車尾雪上加霜, 所以09年各車隊工程師的課題變成是車尾 grip level, ( 亦因此卒之衍生出 double deck diffuser 事件 )
這其實是較罕見的. 因為一般來說, front end grip 是 "傳統" 的焦點, 車的轉向, 就像火車頭 (頭胎 front grip)拖著火車卡 (尾胎 rear grip) 的原理, 頭輪是因, 尾輪是果.
經過09年後, 各車隊已有晒數據後, 今年便回復"傳統" --- 關心 front end grip 多一些, 再加上今年的頭胎尺寸窄過舊年, 所以更加重要. 相信 2011 年 double deck diffuser 禁止採用時, 又再諗過.