A new front wing for Ferrari, a revamped McLaren: Here are the updates made for the Austrian Grand Prix

The evolutions of Ferrari

For the Austrian Grand Prix, Ferrari has made several improvements to their Formula One car. Special attention has been given to the performance of the front wing and flow conditioning. A complete redesign of all the elements of the front wing, such as the main plane, flap, and endplate, has been carried out. The objective of this update is to reduce aerodynamic losses from the structure and their impact on downstream areas. Moreover, these modifications are meant to provide greater flexibility for adjusting the aerodynamic balance, which is essential for maximizing the car’s performance.

Another major improvement has been made to the performance of the floor and flow conditioning. The front fins of the floor, the floor edge, the central floor, and the sidewalls of the diffuser have been revised. Additionally, the underside of the side hood has been redesigned to match these changes. The main objective of this upgrade is to effectively manage aerodynamic losses and redistribute the loads on the vehicle, which should result in an overall increase in the car’s efficiency.

The evolutions of McLaren

For the Austrian Grand Prix, McLaren has brought several improvements to its car to enhance its performance. One of the main modifications concerns the performance of the sidepod inlet. The shape of the sidepod inlet has been completely redesigned to favor the conditioning of airflow over the bodywork and the floor. This modification aims to optimize the car’s aerodynamics and improve its stability.

Another important area for improvement concerns the halo, the safety device that surrounds the driver’s cockpit. McLaren has introduced a new fairing and accessories for the halo, which have been specifically designed to improve the management of airflow over the top of the bodywork. This modification helps reduce aerodynamic drag and enhance the overall efficiency of the car.

The floor of the McLaren has also undergone significant modifications. The wings, floor edge, and diffuser shape have been completely revised. These changes, combined with the new body shape, increase the car’s aerodynamic load, which should result in improved grip and overall performance.

Finally, McLaren has also made improvements to the engine cover in order to enhance the airflow condition towards the floor. These modifications help increase the car’s aerodynamic load, improving both its downforce and stability while cornering.

Improvements of Haas

Haas has chosen to make modifications to the reliability of the nose of the car. A new installation of the Pitot on the chassis has been completed, which reduces aerodynamic disturbances and improves functionality during operations and data analysis. The static Pitot sensor plays an essential role in wind tunnel work and obtaining precise aerodynamic parameters for a racing car. To ensure accurate data acquisition and optimal reliability in all race conditions, Haas has opted for a state-of-the-art combination.

Several developments for AlphaTauri

At the Austrian Grand Prix, AlphaTauri is looking to improve the performance of its rear wing. They have modified the way the wing elements deploy within the endplate body, which should effectively increase the local load generated by the whole upper rear wing.

Another improvement concerns the beam wing, which has also undergone modifications. The elements of the wing have been revised in terms of cord and curvature. This new configuration generates an intermediate level of load on the wing, which corresponds to the efficiency requirements of the Red Bull Ring.

Regarding cooling, AlphaTauri has implemented specific modifications to the circuit. The “louvre panels” on the engine hood have been redesigned to increase the outlet surface. This adaptation is particularly important due to the circuit conditions, which combine high ambient temperatures and significant altitude above sea level. The new “louvre panels” allow for an extended range of maximum body cooling, ensuring optimal operation of the car under these demanding conditions.

Williams improvements

Regarding Williams, regarding the new floor plank that was introduced on Alex Albon’s car in Canada, the team updated the outermost deflector. The upper trailing edge is more inwardly oriented and the radius of curvature of the leading edge is larger. This modification of the floor deflector allows for better utilization of the initial flow to generate a slight increase in local downforce.

The front brake duct fin has also been redesigned around the tire edge. The position of the lower section is also adjusted. This modification of the local load in the front corner allows for a better utilization of the initial flow to generate a slight increase in local load.