RECENT TRENDS IN FORMULA1 TECHNOLOGY

RECENT TRENDS IN FORMULA1 TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

As much as Formula One changed this year, it is unlikely to be any different at the top of the tree when the off-season developments concluded in Melbourne, on March 4th. 2001.Technically, the Grand Prix car has changed significantly since the end of last season, and the impacts of the new regulations have been so significant that McLaren designer Adrian Newey claims a near-complete re-design was required for the MP4-16. "The upper wing is now limited in depth and to a total of three elements, whereas at places like Monaco and Hungary teams have run seven or eight elements in the past," Newey explains. "The lower part of the rear wing is limited to a single element, where previously some teams have run three elements. This also has to be mounted very low on the car, so those two changes drastically reduce the amount of wing down force available. This doesn't translate into a big change at circuits like Hockenheim and Monza, but at tracks like Hungary and Monaco there will be a pretty dramatic reduction in the down force levels." Newey added, "The crash structures haven't been too much of a problem. Obviously it's meant a slightly longer sidepod, but apart from that, no major problems. The higher roll hoop loads again have meant putting weight up high, but it's the same for everybody, and undoubtedly a good regulation change."

One of the key rule changes to the car this season is the 50mm increase in front wing height which, by moving the wing away from the track, reduces the ground effect on the assembly, and therefore reduces the overall down force at the front of the car. Simple enough, but that's not where it ends. The interaction between all the aerodynamic aspects of the car means that a change in airflow at the front will propagate all the way down the car, and because of this the teams have had to re-optimize their aerodynamics over the entire car.

There are two sections of the rear-wing, and both have come under the FIA knife in an effort to reduce the downforce and therefore the speed of the cars. The upper section must now contain just three wing elements, rather than the seven or eight that were previously permitted, and this in itself dramatically reduces the amount of downforce available. However, as well as the reduced number of elements, the wing is also limited in depth, and this means that with a reduced angle of attack, the wings themselves will not be able to produce as much downforce and the levels will be reduced even more. That is not all. Changes have also been made to the previously triple-element lower section, which will now only be allowed one element which must be mounted lower on the car. In its new position, the air flowing over the lower element will be much more disturbed, as the wing will interact much more with the rear end of the car.

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