Interview with Bob Bell: “In-season Development is Becoming Extremely Important”

Bob Bell, Technical Director, MERCEDES GP PETRONAS

Mr. Bell, what are the major steps involved in designing a new Formula One car?

The key starting point is the new regulations which generally change, to varying extent, every year. We look for changes to major items such as the tyres or aerodynamics, and we also consider if the team has changed drivers, which can have an impact on the car design. Then we look at any issues or faults with the current car, such as performance deficits or specific weak areas, to see how we can overcome these and go beyond to find further performance. All of these considerations are involved in the initial concept process for the car. From there, the planning and logistical organisation begins, followed by the start of the design and development programme with the aerodynamics experts. Then the process moves into main design and production design which flows into our manufacturing system and then finally to assembly and the build of the new car.

Formula One is often considered to be an aerodynamic formula. Why are aerodynamics so important, and how do you work in the wind tunnel to achieve maximum performance?

Aerodynamics really is the king of performance for a Formula One car. With homologated tyres and engines improving aerodynamic efficiency is key and the single most important performance effect on the chassis. We do everything possible to improve the aerodynamic efficiency and performance of the car, within the limits set by the FOTA regulations on wind tunnel and CFD usage. It’s important to find the right balance between those two technologies to maximise the car’s performance.

How do you plan and prioritise a development programme during the season? How do you balance problem solving with generating increased performance?

In-season development is becoming extremely important, and you need to develop at a faster pace than your rivals and find as much performance as possible between the first race and the last. The in-season development pace is just as fast as in the pre-season development of the car. It’s a constantly high workload as we aim to find performance from one year to the next. You have to be very selective and prioritise those developments which are efficient to produce and will bring the most speed onto the car, whilst also considering costs. It’s a difficult balance between problem solving and increased performance, as you also have to spend time on fixing any issues and reliability.

When do you begin designing the next year’s car, and how does this begin? Do you use the previous year’s car as a basis or start with a blank sheet of paper? And how do you balance design of the new car against development of the old one?

We tend to start when the current car has taken part in its first race, so around eight months prior to a new car’s first track run. The work begins in the wind tunnel with a low-level programme and then is ramped up with a gradual transfer of resource from the current programme. The current car is always the basis for development as there is a great deal of evolution from year to year, particularly when the regulations are stable. You have to make a judgement on the balance of the focus on the new car or current car by taking into consideration factors such as your levels of resources or championship position. It’s a judgement made season-by-season.

CURRICULUM VITAE

+++ Born 1958 in County Down, England +++ PhD in Aeronautical Engineering, Queen’s University, Belfast +++ 1982 Aerodynamicist, McLaren +++ 1988 Head of Research & Development, McLaren +++ 1990 Project Technical Director, MAVerick Land Speed Record Vehicle, McLaren +++ 1995 Future Projects Manager, McLaren +++ 1997 Senior Aerodynamicist, Benetton F1 +++ 1999 Head of Vehicle Technology, Jordan Grand Prix +++ 2001 Deputy Technical Director, Renault F1 Team +++ 2003 Technical Director, Renault F1 Team +++ 2009 Team Principal & Chief Technical Officer, Renault F1 Team +++ 2010 Managing Director, Renault F1 Team +++ since 2011 Technical Director, MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team +++