Research level only seems to play a part (although this is unconfirmed) in the design of new parts. I know for sure any parts based on current parts will not be determined based on the research level from what i have experienced. Fine tuning your example part is unlikely to see its level rise to good though, you would be better focusing the part on the particular stat you want to improve... e.g. Aerodynamics. Even then that wont guarantee an increase.
Unfortunatly Dan i believe that is the case yes... id assume you would have to have a top designer but if you did and you were designing new parts every season that were based on the old parts with a conservative focus then they are likely to come out the same as the previous part.
However my chassis this year took quite a dive even though it had potential and my research level was higher. This suggests perhaps that the research level and design appraoch mean diddly squat these days. Im hoping Frank will ellaborate once he has the new system working as he wants.
Maybe there needs to be a script so that old plan parts can only be used for say 2 seasons. Its not like a real 2015 f1 car would be based on a 2012 chassis.
Therefore you need to evolve your parts to their full potential and only when research exceeds the current evolution, you build a new part, a revolution.
it appears that way Jason yep. Just makes it easy and cheap for teams with Superb parts though as there doesn't appear to be a need for research. I can't put that to the test as I don't have any superb parts lol!
I think the blueprint parts should naturally decrease in absolute value by 1 every year.
ie, Season 3 'Superb' part would become a 'Excellent' for Season 4; and 'Very Good' for Season 5 if the same blueprint was used to base the car part on.
This keeps designs fresh, and stops teams from producing consistently good cars for several successive years on the luck of having one good part one year.
