Over the course of each race, teams accumulate more data and have a better understanding of how to maximize productivity while combating the bad effects of guinea pigs.
The phenomenon that surprised most of the network when their cars first hit the track is the main focus for the teams, as reducing its amplitude will trigger more performance. All teams suffered from guinea pigs to one degree or another, due to a number of factors that led to its appearance.
The simplified approach to silencing the problem is to increase the driving height of the car, but this would not only compromise the aerodynamic characteristics, but also drastically narrow the available adjustment options. For many, this means looking for a more basic and branched approach, and some teams need to be more pragmatic about how long it will take to find an appropriate solution.
Meanwhile, the battle for development is raging and teams are busy using new floor designs – not only as a means to improve aerodynamic power, but also to save weight. The latter is extremely important, given that much of the grid has failed to reach the minimum weight, even when it was raised just before the season to an impressive 698 kg.
Given the increased loads that the floor now withstands, the teams had to build some extra profit. While some of this will be eliminated through a better understanding of the real loads that are placed on different areas of the floor, the late change in the provisions for the inclusion of a metal support in front of the rear tire is also significant. This not only reduces the guinea pig, but also compensates for the firmness it provides against any weight loss plans.
Given the time to produce the floor, which is the largest component installed on the car, the teams have chosen a patchwork quilt approach that allows them to change parts of the floor instead of having to produce a whole new floor each time. .
Although this adds some weight, it makes them extremely flexible when it comes to development and reduces costs, which is an extremely important factor when we consider the impact of the cost ceiling on teams this season.
Comparison of Ferrari F1-75 and McLaren MCL36
Photo: Giorgio Piola
Mercedes W13 new floor comparison
Photo: Giorgio Piola
One of the most obvious areas of development, up and down the grille, is on the floor edge, and teams can not only decide whether to use an “end wing” but also the geometry of the floor edge and its break in front of the rear tire. .
McLaren created an inconvenience during the pre-season tests when his interpretation of the winger was first seen. However, any wrongdoing was quickly removed and several teams – including Ferrari – have since copied the design, clearly seeing the promise when they did their own design analysis in the CFD and wind tunnel.
Although Mercedes did not follow McLaren’s route, its floor had an edge wing as part of the last major overhaul. W13 is more hair-shaped and has allowed the team to change the geometry of the floor it removes. Gurney-like flaps have been added to the floor periphery just in front of the end wing, and the raised section in front of the rear tire has also been optimized.
Comparison of keel splitters of Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo: Giorgio Piola
Another area where teams are monitoring advances in rival design is the keel, with Aston Martin activating the wheels of a solution that has found its way into several other cars. Ferrari was the fastest respondent in this regard, as there was a version of the ‘bib wing’ ready for the F1-75 just a week after it was seen on AMR22.
Red Bull quickly followed, with the Alpine A522 and Mercedes W13 now also having sporty wing versions, along with keel shape optimizations to take advantage of the new flow conditions.
Red Bull has forged its own path in many ways, with the RB18 featuring one of the most sophisticated grille floor designs. Not surprisingly, some of these design features are already finding their way into competitors’ designs, so let’s dive deeper into what Red Bull is doing …
Red Bull Racing RB18 floor
Photo: Giorgio Piola
The level of contouring observed from the underside of the RB18 is significantly different from that seen elsewhere. While most teams seem to have a slight curvature toward the center boat-shaped section, Red Bull has a sharp distortion [2] approximately in line with the place where the sloping lines end with the edge of the floor.
To soften this sudden transition, there are a number of clicks in the side wall of the tunnel [1], which itself seems to have a much more domed roof than many other solutions used by its competitors. Although this means that it does not use the maximum allowable space that the regulations allow, it is likely to reduce flow instability over a wider range of ride heights.
Red Bull has also used a multi-stage keel design as the floor narrows in the diffuser section at the rear of the car. [3] and is a feature that Ferrari has included in its latest redesign and something we’ve seen from McLaren.
Floor comparison of Ferrari F1-75
Photo: Giorgio Piola
McLaren MCL36 floor
Photo: Giorgio Piola
This region is not a universal solution, as each team has its own interpretation. For example, the floors of Red Bull and McLaren have three steps, Ferrari has only one.
Another interesting design feature of Red Bull’s that recently hit the headlines is its “ice skate”. Initially, there were questions about how it is possible to have such a feature here, but since then it has become clear that this is Red Bull’s interpretation of the end wing, located below the floor, not above.
The ice skate consists of a strip suspended from the underside of the floor by six permissible mounting brackets.
Detail for mini skirt Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo: Giorgio Piola
The brackets are made of metal, as well as the plate, as the team made a mistake on the part of caution, as it may come into contact with the surface of the track when the floor bends to the ground.
Although this is not its main function, the choice of material can also lead to the fact that the skate also offers some hardness to the floor, although it may not be necessary, as Red Bull has perhaps the most comprehensive internal strategy for staying. on the grid (see below).
The main function of the skate is aerodynamic, with a slope at this point, although not what is provided by the rules for the end wing, providing support for the various structures of the flow around it.
This will not only help to improve the performance of the tunnel under the floor, but will also reduce the penetration of sprayed tires into the diffuser section by changing the flow of air and vortices that are already in motion.
Floor details of Red Bull RB18
Photo: Uncredited
Going back from the top, the team made an interesting floor change as part of an update package introduced in Spain. A large teardrop-shaped blister can now be found embedded in the floor next to the side pad, which appears to open the way for airflow to expand from the side pad to the channel that passes next to it (red arrows).
The air flowing through this channel appears to come out of a nozzle-shaped outlet downstream (upper right insert), and the topography of the panel in which it is housed is optimized to suit both the outflow and the outflow. external flow conditions.
The blister also appears to offer clean flow control characteristics, as airflow also moves around the trimmed side pads (smaller, lower insert).
Red Bull RB18 Floor comparison
Photo: Uncredited
More floor changes have been made for Azerbaijan, as the team not only optimizes the slope of the floor and the border crossing of the floor (blue arrows, old insert), but also the height and geometry of the front edge of the floor.
Previously, the leading edge was lowered to meet the chassis below the equator line, leading to the outer part of the floor being higher than the inner end (red arrow, old insert).
The front edge is already raised in this area and instead sits on the side of the chassis, which leads to different flow characteristics not only for the floor, but also the air flow moving through the trimming of the side pad.
Red Bull has finally discovered the need for an outdoor floor stand, which was introduced by the FIA before the season to help teams mitigate the effects of the guinea pig.
The short wire requires a small change of floor to accommodate its attachment, and is much shorter than many of its competitors because it crosses the side wall of the floor next to it instead of having to travel the entire width to the hood .
Floor comparison Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo: Giorgio Piola
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