RB8

[morgahorse]

http://photos.gpupdate.net/large/192021.jpg

At least Newey used the step down for a scoop to air out the drivers balls.

[cameraman]

Why would you need an air intake there?

[Rogue Leader]

Why would you need an air intake there?

I don't know but whatever it is it will surely be banned by race 3

[Trevor Longman]

I think it has something to do with the vertical black vent that goes down to the undertray.

[Methanolandbrats]

Why would you need an air intake there?

To route air to the bodywork and create off-throttle downforce. Now that the blown diffuser advantage is gone, he probably found another edge.

[morgahorse]

Didn't they also have trouble with their kers overheating last year also?

[TedN]

The F1 world noticed that Newey's 'step nose' differs from its rivals in the form of an air inlet where the monocoque height meets the new lower nose height.

Some surmised it must be for KERS or engine cooling, or perhaps even an F-duct style channel through to the diffuser.

Designer Newey, however, said it is to just cool the drivers.

"The toes are a bit too cold now actually," grinned Mark Webber to Italy's Autosprint.

"Traditionally the driver cooling slot is at the front of the nose," explained Newey, "but really for styling as much as anything we moved it to where you now see it to break up the aesthetics of the ramp."

Source (http://www.motorsport.com/#!/f1/news/red-bull-letterbox-slot-for-driver-cooling-newey/?v=2&s=1&i=13)

Ted

[chop456]

:laugh:

Seems a pretty high drag penalty to pay if it's not being made up elsewhere. ;)

[Methanolandbrats]

"just to cool the drivers" :rofl: