EVOLution of Formula 1 Cars

Amit Mangtani Aerospace Engineering

WHAT IS FORMULA 1???

 Highest class of auto racing sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de IAutomobile (FIA) Formula one cars race at high speeds up to 360 km per hour with engines reviving up to a formula imposed limit of 18,000 rpm Performance of the cars is highly dependent on Aerodynamics, Suspension, Electronics and Tyres Teams spend tens of millions of dollars on research and development in the field of aerodynamics each year

EARLY DEVELOPMENTS
No knowledge of aerodynamics Engine Power was important in producing faster lap times

Use of soft rubber compounds and wider tyres demonstrates the importance of good adhesion and cornering ability

G0t AnY IDEA??

Concept: Inverted Wing

Fixed Angle of Attack of the wing Mechanism for controlling the incidence angle Mounted the wing directly on the unsprung wheel assembly Very High mounted wings

Formula 1 Teams: Vision

Creation of Downforce Push the car's tyres onto the track and improve cornering forces Minimising the drag Caused by turbulence and acts to slow the car down

1970 1980

Ground Effect Aerodynamics (Introduction of Skirts)

Ground effects was another innovation brought to F1 by Colin Chapman's Lotus team Idea: Making the entire car function as one giant wing to increase downforce

Desire For More Downforce

Diffuser
Sculptured under-body tunnels were prohibited Idea: Sculpting the underbody of a car into 2 tunnels and the effect is similar to a venturi effect Aim: To decelerate the air without it separating from the tunnel walls Installing an inverted wing close to the diffuser exit is possible to produce higher downforce

REAR WING
Comprised of two set of airfoils connected to each other by the wing end-plates Use of endplates to prevent air spillage around the wing tips

Splitting the aerofoil into separate elements as seen in is one way to overcome the flow separation Rear Wing varies from track to track

Smoothening the flow and reducing the drag

Bargeboards first seen in 1993 Smoothen the airflow around the car and into the radiator intakes

To overcome the problem of unnecessary turbulence in front of the wheels Many teams sculpted outside edges to the endplates to direct the air around the front wheels

Major Innovations IN Last Decade

McLaren Mercedes Vs
F-Duct System

Red Bull
Flexi WIngs

Improving The Show

Drag reduction System (DRS) aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag in order to promote overtaking Adjustable flap on the the rear wing of the car which opens and closes in correspondence with a drivers commands

Conditions for using DRS: Pursuing car within a second and in activation zone Once two racing laps

Current Design

Evolution of F1 cars