Hours available for each F1 team in wind tunnel and CFD | 2023 season. Wind tunnel and CFD time.

The aerodynamic handicap is now fully operational in Formula 1. The mechanism, which came into force in January 2021, provides for a distribution of resources for computer and wind tunnel aerodynamic analyzes with a length inversely proportional to the constructors’ championship standings. On 1 January 2023, the hours valid for the first part of the next Formula 1 season were updated, which the teams are already complying with as they continue the development of the new cars.

Hours in the wind tunnel are a rather generic term, as the aerodynamic handicap also refers to the resources for computerized CFD analyses, which is calculated taking into consideration both the number of processors used and the simulation time. The exploitation of the wind tunnel is also regulated in three different aspects: permanence, number of tests and test hours. In fact, the sporting regulations differentiate between the time of pure occupation of the wind tunnel, the number of single tests and the hours of ‘Wind on Time’, that is the time in which the speed of the flow in the air tunnel exceeds 15 m/s, i.e. 54 km/h. A reference value is assigned to each parameter from which the resource distribution tables are then calculated using correction coefficients. The current values for the aerodynamic handicap are calculated on the basis of the 2022 Formula 1 manufacturers’ standings and will remain in force until the end of the twenty-fifth week of 2023, i.e. until 25 June.

From then on, the tables will be recalculated on the basis of the championship standings after this year’s Canadian Grand Prix.

From January 1st to June 25th, the basic values for the various parameters are 1200 hours for occupation of the wind tunnel, 960 executable tests and 240 hours of Wind on Time. A coefficient C is then applied to these, also valid for CFD resources, the value of which is 75% for Ferrari, 80% for Mercedes, 85% for Alpine and so on up to Williams, credited with 115%. Aston Martin, seventh in the last World Championship, will have 100% of the resources, while Red Bull, which under normal conditions would have had a coefficient of 70%, sees its value reduced to 63% due to the penalty for the budget cap infringement in 2021.

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Therefore, compared to Red Bull, Mercedes will have an advantage of 163 tests that can be carried out, 204 more hours of wind tunnel occupation and 41 hours more of Wind on Time until 25 June. The advantage of the Brackley team over Scuderia Ferrari is instead 30 hours of Wind on Time, 60 hours spent in the tunnel and 48 more tests. The focus will also be on the big differences between Alpine and Aston Martin, indicated by many as a potential candidate for the fourth place finish. In fact, Lawrence Stroll’s team will have 180 more hours of occupation than Alpine, as well as an advantage of 144 tests and 36 hours of Wind on Time. Below is the table with the resources assigned to each team from 1 January to 25 June.