Formula 1 is starting the European summer in Barcelona – the ultimate test track. The Racing Bulls were the focus of particular attention in the run-up to the event, as a major update had been announced. But Ferrari isn’t holding back either, and Red Bull is sporting a summer dress. All updates from all teams at a glance.
RedBull: Red Bull’s latest sidepod modifications focus on cooling efficiency. The geometry of the intakes has been adjusted to make better use of air pressure and to minimize the number of cooling gills at the rear. This also requires a slightly modified engine cover to adjust the cooling outlets, as well as a modified underbody. A purely performance update is a new rear wing end plate, which goes hand in hand with a new beam wing with a larger span. This is intended to make better use of available air pressure.
- Side box air intake
New geometry for higher inlet air pressure - Engine cover
adapted to new sidepods - Underbody body
adapted to new sidepods and engine cover - Beam Wing
larger span for more load together with new end plate - Rear wing end plate
adapted to new beam wing
Ferraris: A new rear wing for tracks with medium to high downforce requirements is on the car. The shape of the sidepods with upper lip introduced in Imola has been slightly adjusted; their undercut is intended to improve the airflow to the rear onto the underbody. There are a few adjustments there: More volume on the rear side edge is intended to make better use of the airflow there.
This is not only due to the sidepods, but also to a newly designed air intake of the ground effect tunnels. Here, the angle of attack of the front guide elements has been changed, along with the front underbody cover. The cleaned air flow allows the volume in the entire diffuser to be optimized for more load. Last detail: the guide element at the end of the halo is further optimized.
- Rear wing
More options for medium to high downforce tracks due to more heavily loaded main elements - Engine cover and side boxes
adapted undercut for better air flow to the rear - Front underbody guide elements
adjusted angle of attack for better air flow under the car - Underbody body
Front underbody roof lowered for better airflow - Underbody edge
more volume on the rear side edge to take advantage of the better flow mentioned - Diffuser
Body, expansion and keel tailored to the new river - Halo
Rear guide element optimized for better air flow to the rear
AstonMartin: The front suspension fairing is modified to better match the brake cooling ducts (which have also been modified with a new outlet). At the rear, the lower deflector on the cooling ducts is slightly modified to accommodate more load.
- Front suspension
Fairing adapted for better interaction with brake cooling shaft - Front brake cooling shaft
adapted for better interaction with suspension - Rear suspension
Lower deflector repositioned and lower edge adjusted for more load
Racing Bulls: Perhaps the biggest package in Barcelona, although the approach is basically similar to Ferrari. A new panel for the sidepods, intake and engine cover is intended to improve the airflow to the rear. This is complemented by a new underbody body, starting with new guide elements at the front, followed by an adjusted ceiling height and shape.
The Racing Bulls are also adding a new rear wing for tracks with medium to high downforce requirements. They are also adding a new beam wing as a complementary part, based on the Monaco wing, with a reduced angle of attack and reduced incidence. This means it fits between the two specifications that the team was already using. In return, the front brake cooling is being converted back to the pre-Monaco specification.
- Front brake cooling
Change to old specification due to reduced cooling requirements - Engine cover and side boxes
rebuilt in combination for better air flow to the rear and underbody - Side box air intake
front edge with new profile to better interact with new panel - Underbody body
Height and shape of the front area adjusted, guide elements modified to generate more load - Rear wing
new for medium to high downforce levels - Beam Wing
matching the new rear wing
Clean: A new rear wing can be seen on the Sauber again, and the next level of downforce with only one central bracket will be introduced in Barcelona. The team has been working on this for several weeks. The main elements are also new, the upper one is no longer rounded and connected to the end plate. In addition, the outlet ducts for the front brake cooling have been adjusted.
- Rear wing
single bracket, new main elements, top without connection to end plate - Front brake cooling
redesigned exit for better airflow
Haas: The next major package is in production, but will not arrive until Silverstone. In Barcelona there will only be a small winglet for the rear crash structure. There is talk of a “marginal increase in load.” Williams, Alpine, Mercedes and McLaren have nothing for Barcelona.