2018 Presentation: A Revamped and Optimized Force India and Toro Rosso
Force India and Toro Rosso revealed their VJM11 and STR13 in the pit lane just before the start of the Barcelona winter tests. MotorsInside offers you a non-exhaustive technical summary of notable changes on both cars.
The last single-seaters that will compete in the 2018 season are now known, a brief technical analysis of the significant novelties on the Force India and Toro Rosso.
Let’s start with the Force India VJM11. At the front of the car, you can see that the step between the nose and the chassis is much less pronounced (see photo 4 below). This is due to the integration of a third, smaller shock absorber. The main aim is to improve the stability and traction of the car. The goal is also to have more suitable damping, which was not possible in 2017 due to late rules adopted in the field. Like other teams, Force India had to abandon certain modifications due to a lack of time.
Más del nuevo @ForceIndiaF1. El más bonito, pero también muy continuista respecto 2017 pic.twitter.com/wcThUa8H9b
— Albert Fabrega ES (@AlbertFabrega) 26 février 2018
Further back, the Force India hasn’t changed much in terms of bargeboards and side-pods, although the edges of the latter are now split into two parts to allow the airflow to pass and help streamline it (see photo 2 above).
Just above, you need to observe the work done on the mirror supports. The mirrors are mounted on two thin rods serving as aerodynamic elements. This is somewhat similar to the principle of the winglets attached to the side-pods of the McLaren (see photo 4 above).
Another element to note is the sleekness of the rear engine cover of the Force India, which follows the same philosophy as the entirety of the 2018 single-seaters. And finally, concerning the halo, the Silverstone team has added a fin divided into three parts on top of the element to allow better air circulation (see photo below).
FIF1 halo wings and triple mounted mirrors pic.twitter.com/1SHCOcVrJw
— Craig Scarborough (@ScarbsTech) 27 février 2018
Now let’s move on to Toro Rosso. The first noticeable thing is the return to a longer nose compared to last year. We can also notice the adoption of openings on the edges of the nose, similar to the 2017 McLaren, to better feed the underside of the car with air, and therefore the flat floor.
Here it is: the #STR13! 😍
Profile 👉 https://t.co/v63mcceLsu pic.twitter.com/HKskG96l1K
— Toro Rosso (@ToroRosso) 26 février 2018
Just at the level of the driver head, Toro Rosso adopted from the launch a three-part winglet to improve the aerodynamics of this critical part of the car. Note also the interesting integration of this element with the cockpit protection for increased benefit with the addition of a small extra winglet (see photo below). The goal being to serve as an aerodynamic tunnel towards the rear of the single-seater.
A wing under the Halo too pic.twitter.com/GVtEUDTHab
— Craig Scarborough (@ScarbsTech) 26 février 2018
On the sides, the engineers from Faenza have adopted the bargeboards used by the parent team Red Bull last year, which have proven their ability to efficiently circulate air and clean up the wake of the front tires (see photo 1 Toro Rosso above).
A small note regarding the side air intakes which have not been worked on as much as on other single-seaters. They have not been reduced in size at the openings nor set back. This is due to the late integration of the Honda engine, which did not allow for proper compaction of the engine cover located just behind (see photo below).
— Craig Scarborough (@ScarbsTech) 26 février 2018
To conclude, be aware that these two single-seaters, like all the others, are likely to evolve throughout the winter tests and by the first race in Melbourne.
