The new Formula 1 cars are extremely different when it comes to the shape of the noses. German automobile magazine ‘Auto Motor und Sport’ takes a close look at the front wings and the nose designs of the new race cars based on the images from the first pre-season testing session which took place at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Many areas of the new technical regulations are written restrictively. In 2022, the engineers have significantly less freedom in design than before, which mainly affects the aero and wing elements between the axles. But the aerodynamicists could really let off steam with the nose. Much more variety is possible with this technical regulation as compared to other parts of the racing car.
The fans have to get used to the look of the front wing and nose which are completely new. The front wings are no longer attached to the nose with two vertical elements as they used to be. Instead, the wings and nose now elegantly merge into one another. The regulations stipulate that at least the three upper flaps must be connected to the nose.
Three teams with long noses
Mercedes, Ferrari and Alpha Tauri have even pulled their noses over the lowest element. So these three teams have the longest noses in the field, but they differ significantly in shape. The rounded and elegant tip of the silver arrow protrudes particularly low.
“The Mercedes solution with the deep nose generates more downforce at the front. They need it for balancing because they obviously have a lot of it at the rear,” explains an engineer from the competition. A short nose, on the other hand, allows more air to flow under the car towards the rear.
The engineers at Alpha Tauri have come up with a very special variant. The AT03 has a black knob on the front that even protrudes beyond the main sheet. However, the overlap is also due to the special shape of the wing, which bends far upwards in the central area. Overall, the nose does not protrude any lower than that of the competition.
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Different shapes
The nose is also a real eye-catcher at Ferrari. The front end tapers like no other car in the field: the nost nestles elegantly against the lowest front wing element. Also eye-catching is the triangular hole on the top, which directs cooling air to the driver in the cockpit. These openings can be seen on almost all new cars.
Unlike the Scuderia Ferrari F1-75, most cars have the hole right at the tip of the nose. But here, too, strongly varying forms can be seen. For example, Aston Martin designed the opening in the traditional style of the grille of its road cars. At Mercedes there are two small holes. And at Alpine, the “mouth” was painted a striking silver and provided with vertical elements to prevent foreign objects from entering.
Because the FIA has tightened its crash tests on the new 2022 Formula 1 cars, the noses must now be built even more resistant. In the case of upgrades in this area, the first new copy is always reserved for a controlled crash test under the close observation of security delegates.
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