Lots of people think of aero lift and downforce as a complex subject shrouded in mystery. But it’s actually easy to understand: It’s just the result of the difference in the air pressureson the top and bottom of the car. Therefore, if you want to increase downforce, just get a lower...
Although rear wings are great for creating downforce, it does create a separation point at the end of a roof that allows the airflow to diffuse off into free airspace – in turn reducing a wing’s efficiency. This is where a vortex generator comes in. As the separation point is inevitabl...
“It does feel a bit different in certain areas like in the high speed, the wings are new, so the downforce levels are a bit different. But, when you jump in, you can still tell it’s an F2 car with a turbo and Pirelli tyres, 18-inch wheels. The big things feel...
“We’ve had access to the Ferrari simulator in Maranello and yes we have been using it, but not in anger,” said Komatsu. “We use it for pre-season but during the season, what we can do in the Maranello sim is limited. We only have a limited nu...
"It is always nice to be here at Spa-Francorchamps and getting to drive a car in anger around this incredible circuit. The resurfaced tarmac has also made it extra fast this year. We’ve got some work to do overnight to find some lap time. The McLarens and the Red Bull ...
This is done by moving the counterweight on the back of the arm and adjusting the bias (sideways force) to compensate for the inward pull of the record groove. The cartridge manufacturer will recommend a suitable range of downforce, usually between 1.5 and 2.5g, with a specific weight listed...
Drivers do not have to activate DRS if running within one second of another car. Plus, pressing the button too early means it will not open at the desired point, leading to a delay before the wing can then be opened. DRS cannot be used on the first two laps of a race or after stan...
Drivers do not have to activate DRS if running within one second of another car. Plus, pressing the button too early means it will not open at the desired point, leading to a delay before the wing can then be opened. DRS cannot be used on the first lap of a race or after standing ...
The faster an F1 car goes, the more turbulent the aerodynamic wake it leaves behind it. Following in a car's dirty air is tricky for two reasons: firstly the unsettled air can reduce downforce, which means drivers have to corner more slowly. Secondly, it can cause tyres and...
A breakthrough 2021 season racing Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) cars in Europe and Asia, downforce-type cars that more closely mirrored his junior open-wheel programs, quickly reestablished Blomqvist on the map. Arguably his biggest “wow” moment came in defeat, when he lost to another LMP2...