F1 technical analysis – aerodynamic load and track types: here are all the secrets

Throughout our analyses, we have often mentioned “aerodynamic load,” “high-downforce circuits,” and “low-downforce circuits.” But what do these terms mean? How can we differentiate between various track types? We’ll explore these questions in this article with the help of our graphics.

Starting with the basics: aerodynamic load

The 2024 F1 season has undoubtedly delivered thrilling moments for motorsport enthusiasts. There’s been plenty of action on track and several drivers contending for victory. A contributing factor is that some cars adapted better than others to specific tracks throughout the season. This occasionally led to single-seaters displaying completely different behaviors from one GP to the next.

But why does this happen? Essentially, two factors are involved. On one hand, it’s about the ability of the cars to “digest” certain track characteristics. On the other, it’s about the tracks themselves.

Let’s start with the cars. In theory, they should be able to perform optimally on any type of track. However, this is not simple. For this reason, updates are introduced to the cars during the season. The goal? To find the right compromise for a specific track between downforce (also known as “aerodynamic load”) and drag (resistance to forward motion). Therefore, it’s crucial to understand the difference between downforce and drag. The image below shows how these two forces act. It is evident that the load is primarily generated by the car’s floor in modern vehicles. This is complemented by the load generated by the wings and the overall car body.

Downforce refers to the force created by the airflow hitting the car, pressing it downward, and keeping it glued to the ground. Higher downforce translates into better grip and, consequently, higher cornering speeds. However, increased downforce also results in greater drag, which reduces top speed. As a result, the power unit needs to deliver more power. Based on these concepts, tracks are categorized as “high-downforce circuits” and “low-downforce circuits.”

High-downforce circuits: how to recognize them

The term “high-downforce circuit” typically refers to tracks where the prevalence of corners outweighs that of straights (a high number of corners and few straights). In this case, the car’s downforce is more important than the engine’s power. Therefore, in high-downforce circuits, a significant portion of a car’s performance comes from the downforce it generates rather than engine power. However, it is not accurate to say that power has no impact on performance. In fact, higher power allows teams to opt for more aggressive setups and achieve optimal performance. On these tracks, teams use rear wings with higher incidence angles to achieve greater downforce and grip in corners. Common examples of high-downforce circuits include Monaco, Singapore, Mexico, Hungary, and Brazil.

Low-downforce circuits: how to recognize them

The term “low-downforce circuit” or “power circuit” typically refers to tracks where the prevalence of straights outweighs that of corners (long straights and short, slow corners). In this case, engine power is more important than downforce. For these tracks, a significant portion of performance comes from engine power rather than downforce. However, it’s incorrect to claim that downforce is unnecessary on low-downforce circuits. Monza is the quintessential power circuit. It is estimated that 75% of a lap here is completed with the throttle fully open. For this home race, teams bring extreme car setups that won’t be used again during the season. In this case, rear wings have minimal incidence angles to achieve higher top speeds and lower drag. Common examples of low-downforce circuits include Miami, Azerbaijan, Canada, and Belgium.

Same track, different types: it’s possible

Yes, it’s possible. Within the same track, it is possible to identify both high-downforce and low-downforce sectors. Examples include Silverstone, Spa, and Austin. Micro-sector analyses have shown that cars perform better in certain sections of the track than others. For instance, McLaren has generally appeared more competitive in high-downforce sectors. For this reason, the car’s setup is determined by finding the right compromise between downforce and top speed. Additionally, other track-specific factors, such as track evolution, grip, and asphalt abrasion, play a role.

To conclude, we present below a summary table of the F1 2024 season circuits with their downforce levels (Pirelli data).