From Monaco to Silverstone, in five races, numerous cars have changed their appearance, some of them completely reversing their development direction. The exception is Red Bull, with the RB19 being equipped with updates, although not to the same extent as their rivals. In Milton Keynes, they are still facing the disadvantage of the wind tunnel and CFD analysis penalty imposed after exceeding the 2021 budget cap. However, they have a car that is far superior to the competition, allowing the Austrian side to save resources and invest them directly in the 2024 Formula 1 project.
Sidepods and floor go hand in hand
Among the chasing pack, several teams have introduced their packages of updates as a new development path. The cases of Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams stand out. In the second year of the ground-effect technical regulations, teams are still studying the best concept, especially in terms of long-term development potential. This has led to sudden changes in direction and significant updates seen in the recent races. The new development directions are not so much related to the shape of the sidepods but rather to the ride heights at which the floor is set to achieve the best compromise between performance in high-speed and low-speed corners.
However, even in the cases of the less striking packages from Alpine, Alfa Romeo, AlphaTauri, and Aston Martin, each update to the floor is accompanied by a new sidepod geometry. After conflicting statements in the past season, teams in 2023 are realizing the mutual influence between the upper and lower aerodynamics of the car. In particular, the Red Bull-inspired “slim” sidepods are gaining the upper hand, thanks also to the increasing effectiveness of the floors, which are making their potential more and more evident.
Here is a list of all the updates and innovations brought by the teams up to the Silverstone round.
Red Bull
Bahrain: /
Jeddah: Rear wing, beam wing.
Australia: Front wing, rear air intake aerodynamics.
Baku: Side radiator air intakes, side edge of the floor, Venturi channel vanes, rear wheel flaps.
Miami: /
Monaco: Rear wing.
Barcelona: Floor, diffuser.
Canada: Front wing.
Austria: Rear suspension element fairings.
Silverstone: Front brake cooling ducts.
Ferrari
Bahrain: High-downforce rear wing.
Jeddah: Front wing, floor, beam wing.
Australia: /
Baku: Low-downforce rear wing.
Miami: Floor, Venturi channels, diffuser.
Monaco: Rear wing.
Barcelona: Floor, sidepods, engine cover, rear wing.
Canada: /
Austria: Front wing, Venturi channel vanes, floor, undercut sidepods, diffuser.
Silverstone: Beam wing.
Mercedes
Bahrain: Rear wing.
Jeddah: Venturi channel vanes, rear wing flap.
Australia: /
Baku: Rear wheel deflectors, front brake duct outlet section and suspension triangle fairing.
Miami: /
Monaco: Repositioning of the front upper suspension triangle, sidepods, radiator inlets, engine cover, vertical floor vanes, rear wing, rear wheel assembly aerodynamics.
Barcelona: Rearview mirror aerodynamics, outer diffuser fences.
Canada: Removal of lower mirror deflectors.
Austria: /
Silverstone: Front wing.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
Alpine
Bahrain: Front wing.
Jeddah: Beam wing.
Australia: Flow deflectors on the halo.
Baku: Low-downforce rear wing.
Miami: Alternative bodywork cooling panel configuration.
Baku: Floor, rear wing, low-downforce front wing flap.
Miami: /
Monaco: Front suspension fairings, floor, sidepods, rear wing, beam wing.
Barcelona: /
Canada: Rear wing, rear suspension fairings.
Austria: /
Silverstone: Front wing.
McLaren
Bahrain: /
Jeddah: Diffuser, rear wing.
Australia: Narrower engine cover, testing of Venturi channel vanes.
Baku: Floor, Venturi channels and diffuser, beam wing and low-downforce rear wing.
Miami: /
Monaco: Rear wheel assembly aerodynamics, rear wing, beam wing.
Barcelona: Front brake ducts.
Canada: Rear wing, beam wing.
Austria: Radiator inlets, sidepods, floor, cooling grilles, halo aerodynamics.
Silverstone: Front wing, rear wheel assembly aerodynamics, rear suspension fairings.
Alfa Romeo
Bahrain: Downwash bodywork.
Jeddah: Front wing flap, rear wing.
Australia: Front wing and nose, rearview mirror supports.
Baku: Rear wing, beam wing, low-downforce front wing flap.
Miami: Beam wing configuration without flap.
Monaco: Floor, engine cover, rear suspension fairings, rear brake duct inlets, rear wing, beam wing.
Barcelona: /
Canada: /
Austria: /
Silverstone: Floor, Venturi channel grille, diffuser, rear suspension fairings, rear brake ducts.
Aston Martin
Bahrain: /
Jeddah: Front wing flap, rear wing flap, beam wing.
Australia: /
Baku: Low-downforce rear wing.
Miami: Alternative bodywork cooling panel configuration.
Monaco: Front and rear suspension fairings, front wheel deflector, rear wing.
Barcelona: Front wing and nose, rear wing endplate, beam wing.
Canada: Floor, radiator inlets, sidepods, engine cover.
Austria: /
Silverstone: Front wing, rear brake ducts.
Haas
Bahrain: /
Jeddah: Front wing flap, rear wing, beam wing.
Australia: /
Baku: /
Miami: Floor.
Monaco: Front wing.
Barcelona: /
Canada: Floor, rear wing.
Austria: Pitot tube support on the nose.
Silverstone: Beam wing, rear suspension fairings, front brake ducts.
AlphaTauri
Bahrain: /
Jeddah: Rear wing.
Australia: Venturi channel, Venturi vanes, floor, diffuser.
Baku: Beam wing, low-downforce rear wing and front wing flap, low cooling bodywork panel, rear wheel assembly inlets and appendages.
Miami: Vortex generators on front wing endplates, rearview mirror fairing.
Monaco: Floor and vertical Venturi grille, diffuser, side radiator inlets, sidepods, rear wing.
Barcelona: Rear wing.
Canada: Front wing flap.
Austria: Rear wing and beam wing.
Silverstone: Floor, Venturi channel grille, diffuser, engine cover, rear wing, beam wing, rear suspension fairings.
Williams
Bahrain: Rear wing (dual configuration), beam wing.
Jeddah: Front wing Gurney flap, engine cover, rear appendages, front brake duct outlet, beam wing.
Australia: Medium-downforce front wing flap, rear wing endplate.
Baku: Low-downforce beam wing (dual configuration), lower nose fairing.
Miami: /
Monaco: Rear wing, beam wing.
Barcelona: Front wing, engine cover.
Canada: Floor, engine cover, sidepods, rear wheel assembly aerodynamics, halo aerodynamics, rear suspension fairings, rearview mirror aerodynamics, rear wing endplate.
Austria: Floor, front suspension fairings.
Silverstone: Front wing, beam wing.
Buy official Ferrari F1 products!
Leave a Reply