Ferrari, Project 676: pressure recovery to be crucial aspect of 2024 Formula 1 car

We recently delved into a central theme of Project 676, namely the redesign of the transmission and gearbox. In Maranello, they leveraged the reliability factor to rethink the gearbox’s dimensions and, automatically, extract a secondary benefit. The change, in fact, cannot be justified to the FIA with the intention of gaining a clear advantage by increasing performance. However, the new, reduced-volume gearbox will allow benefiting from aerodynamics.

The space saved on the transmission can be used to increase the volume of the diffuser and consequently increase expansion. Pressure recovery is crucial. In this section of the car, the kinetic energy of the fluid transforms into pressure energy. The flows, moving towards the rear, encounter a negative gradient, as there is low pressure under the car and high pressure behind it.

This aspect generates a lot of turbulence that tends to slow down the upstream fluid. For this reason, it is crucial to gradually decrease the flow velocity. In other words, the greater the rate of fluid expansion, the higher the low pressure generated upstream, i.e., in the “flat” bottom area. Through this concept, we understand how crucial it is to gain even just a few cubic centimeters in the diffuser.

According to information gathered by the editorial team of FUnoanalisitecnica, we could also witness an increase in the section of the channels inside the red car’s floor. Although the keel’s design will remain somewhat similar, considering the interventions made during the last season, larger Venturi channels would help allocate the main vortices present in the floor, contributing significantly to containing the lateral entry of “contaminated fluids.”

From a macroscopic perspective, the different shape of the extractor should be able to change the pressure characteristics upstream of it, i.e., in the area preceding the diffuser itself. This feature can lead to a different pressure distribution along the width of the car’s floor, also considering the substantial updates to the channel inlets and sidepods that the 2024 Ferrari will show.

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The Italian team’s technicians will have to deal with a fundamentally different pressure distribution that would lead to a dissimilar relative peak positioning of the force exerted. The region of maximum depression of the car, therefore, by increasing its dimensions, would produce an extensive increase in local downforce. This aspect aims to produce a different positioning of the pressure center, to improve the overall balance of the car.

Ferrari SF-23