Scuderia Ferrari arrives in Spain with two different rear wing configurations. One is a medium/high downforce specification with a double-pillar design, while the other features a lighter main plane with a single support, which, at least on paper, should provide lower downforce.
The two solutions differ “only” in the main profile, as the additional flap remains unchanged. These are simple adaptations to the track, not necessary for Red Bull, which has a more versatile wing.
The engineers in Maranello are trying to make the lighter wing work to contain the gap on the straights, which, as mentioned in the preview, could once again be a weak point of the Italian car in view of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya. In medium/load configurations, the RB19 gains an average of about 6-8 km/h over the SF-23 single-seater, as explained by F1 expert Alessandro Arcari for funoanalisitecnica.com.
By adopting a lighter specification, it is possible to regain some speed points, which are very useful in reducing drag. However, this lower level of downforce must still provide sufficient vertical lift to balance the car between the two axes.
The optimization software used by the teams indicates that the correct load to install on the car is medium/high. That being said, by finding the right balance, different compromise setups can be used to counterbalance the deficits of the car.
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Spain GP 2023: Mercedes follows the Red Bull philosophy
In Red Bull, we find the same wing used in Monaco that provides the highest possible downforce. This single-peaked specification worked well in the Principality, and it should do the same here in Spain. This configuration is expected to limit the sliding of the rear tires during cornering, which would aid in temperature management.
As we can see from the photo taken directly in the pit lane and reported by funoanalisitecnica.com, this version is the third introduced by the Milton Keynes team during the 2023 Formula One season. Although such a setup may limit top speeds, the great efficiency of the Austrian cars should compensate for it in the Spanish Grand Prix.
Focusing once again on Mercedes, we notice that the aerodynamicists from Milton Keynes are trying to follow Red Bull’s choices by opting for a high downforce wing, which we saw in Monaco less than a week ago. This specification resembles the shapes used in the previous Formula One season.
However, unlike other teams, the configuration of the W14 has a double-peaked pressure distribution. The maximum pressure is positioned at 1/4 of the wing. This way, they aim to generate maximum downforce in that portion of the profile, which is fed by cleaner airflow.
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