The different appendices to generate downforce on an F1 car
Aerodynamic elements play an essential role in the performance of Formula 1 cars. They generate downforce, which helps increase tire grip and improve handling in corners. In this article, we explain how all of this works.
The front wing: the first contact with the air
The front wing is used to generate downforce, in other words to apply a force downwards on the front wheels, to increase grip. This is particularly crucial in high-speed turns, where the car must remain stable to maintain an optimal trajectory.
However, its function does not stop there. The front wing is also responsible for managing the airflow around the car, channeling it towards specific areas.
The front wing is composed of several elements, called “flaps” or slats, which are adjustable to modulate downforce according to race conditions.
One generally finds between three and five overlapping panels, each with a specific curvature and inclination. These panels are designed to channel and manipulate the airflow, maximizing downforce while minimizing drag.
The main parts of the front wing:
° The endplates: they are the vertical plates located at the ends of the wing. They control the turbulence generated by the front tires and direct the air towards specific areas, such as the floor or the sidepods.
° Vortex control fins: they create vortices that help channel air precisely. These vortices play a key role in sealing the airflow under the car, maximizing the efficiency of the floor.
The settings of the front wing are also influenced by weather conditions. On a wet track, teams will increase downforce to ensure better grip, while on a dry track, the goal will be to find a balance between speed and control.
Some front wing designs incorporate active or flexible sections, capable of adjusting slightly depending on the speed, allowing to minimize drag at high speed while maintaining maximum downforce at low speed.
Although these solutions are regulated, some teams, such as McLaren, find creative ways to maximize performance while remaining compliant with FIA regulations.
The floor: air flow accelerator
The floor is a horizontal plate located under the single-seater, which extends from the front wing to the rear diffuser. It creates a smooth surface that channels the airflow under the car. Unlike external elements like wings, the floor uses the air passing underneath to generate downforce by exploiting the ground effect.
When air flows under the floor, its speed increases due to the reduced surface. This acceleration creates an area of low pressure under the car. This depression literally sucks the car to the ground, generating downforce without increasing drag. This improves tire grip without compromising straight line speed.
The elements of the floor:
° The Venturi channel: On some single-seaters, the floor is slightly curved upwards at the diffuser level, creating a Venturi effect. This configuration further accelerates the air flow under the car, increasing the depression and therefore the generated downforce.
With the introduction of new regulations in 2022, the floor has been redesigned to increase ground effect. The return of Venturi tunnels and the authorization of additional vortex generators have allowed teams to refine the way air flow is controlled under the car.
The winglets on the mirrors and the halo
In the design of Formula 1 cars, every detail matters, including elements such as the mirrors and the halo (a protective structure for the driver’s head).
Engineers use winglets, small fins added to these structures, to direct the airflow more precisely, minimize wind resistance and optimize the efficiency of other aerodynamic components.
By altering the airflow trajectory, these fins help direct the flow towards other aerodynamic elements such as the floor and the diffuser, maximizing their efficiency.
This is particularly important on straight lines, where each additional point of resistance can have a significant impact on the car’s maximum speed.
Winglets generate vortices that help stabilize the airflow. These air swirls act as barriers that prevent turbulence from disrupting the smooth flow around other parts of the car. This is crucial to maintaining a good level of grip and performance.
Three distinct parts on the rear train to generate downforce.
The rear end of a Formula 1 car consists of several interconnected aerodynamic elements, working together to maximize downforce and top speed: the upper wing, the beam wings, and the diffuser.
The upper rear wing is equipped with two blades: one fixed and one intended for the DRS. The combination of these two blades forms a reverse airplane wing.
Contrary to an airplane, the goal in Formula 1 is to keep the car glued to the ground to generate downforce, particularly in high-speed corners.
Contrary to what one might think, it is not the air pushing on the wing and pressing on the back of the car, but rather a suction effect.
A depression is created under the wing, because the air accelerates more rapidly below than above, thus generating a force downwards to compensate for this depression.
The second blade of the rear wing is the one that houses the movable part of the DRS.
When activated, the flap flattens, allowing the air flow to pass directly through the fin, without creating resistance with the air. Thanks to this reduction in downforce, the engine can then release the power of its hybrid V6 more quickly.
The beam wings or lower fins (in orange)
Since the introduction of the 2022 regulations, Formula 1 teams once again have the possibility to use beam wings, also known as lower wings.
The beam wings are generally made up of four horizontal planes that extend to the rear of the car. Their strategic position between the rear wing and the diffuser allows them to interact effectively with the airflow, thus maximizing their contribution to the aerodynamics of the single-seater.
They create a depression above their surface, which helps to “suck in” the car towards the ground. This increases tire grip, allowing the car to adhere better in corners and improve driver confidence.
The beam wings are designed to work in synergy with the upper rear wing.
The diffuser: ground effect amplifier (in pink)
This is an enlarged and sloping section of the floor, designed to increase the volume available to the air flowing under the single-seater. The diffuser is crucial because it allows the air to be “diffused” in a controlled manner, while accentuating the ground effect.
By gradually increasing the height of the floor towards the back, the diffuser allows the air under the car to relax and expand. This expansion creates an acceleration of the air upstream (under the floor), thus generating a greater depression. The role of the diffuser is to maximize this air extraction by accelerating the flow that escapes under the car to maintain an effective low pressure.
Formula 1 teams often design diffusers in multiple sections, with internal channels that direct air towards specific areas. These channels allow precise management of airflow, optimizing ground effect without creating excessive drag.
Just like the floor, the diffuser is equipped with vortex generators to maintain air flow stability. These vortexes help keep a constant and laminar airflow, which maximizes high-speed air extraction.
The effect of DRS and its impact
The three elements of the car’s rear train function in perfect harmony. When the DRS is activated, it reduces downforce, allowing the car to go faster. Conversely, when the DRS is closed, the downforce is at its maximum.
This relationship is integrated from the very beginning of the design process, particularly with the floor, which helps to generate downforce in connection with the rear wing and the diffuser.
Thus, when the DRS is activated, changes in airflow affect the floor, reducing drag and increasing top speed.
