listed below are all of the secrets and techniques

January 5, 2025

16

All through our analyses, we have now typically talked about “aerodynamic load,” “high-downforce circuits,” and “low-downforce circuits.” However what do these phrases imply? How can we differentiate between numerous observe sorts? We’ll discover these questions on this article with the assistance of our graphics.

Beginning with the fundamentals: aerodynamic load

The 2024 F1 season has undoubtedly delivered thrilling moments for motorsport lovers. There’s been loads of motion on observe and a number of other drivers contending for victory. A contributing issue is that some vehicles tailored higher than others to particular tracks all through the season. This often led to single-seaters displaying fully completely different behaviors from one GP to the following.

However why does this occur? Primarily, two elements are concerned. On one hand, it’s in regards to the means of the vehicles to “digest” sure observe traits. On the opposite, it’s in regards to the tracks themselves.

Let’s begin with the vehicles. In idea, they need to have the ability to carry out optimally on any kind of observe. Nonetheless, this isn’t easy. Because of this, updates are launched to the vehicles through the season. The aim? To search out the best compromise for a selected observe between downforce (also called “aerodynamic load”) and drag (resistance to ahead movement). Due to this fact, it’s essential to know the distinction between downforce and drag. The picture beneath reveals how these two forces act. It’s evident that the load is primarily generated by the automotive’s ground in fashionable automobiles. That is complemented by the load generated by the wings and the general automotive physique.

Downforce refers back to the pressure created by the airflow hitting the automotive, urgent it downward, and holding it glued to the bottom. Larger downforce interprets into higher grip and, consequently, increased cornering speeds. Nonetheless, elevated downforce additionally leads to higher drag, which reduces high pace. Because of this, the facility unit must ship extra energy. Primarily based on these ideas, tracks are categorized as “high-downforce circuits” and “low-downforce circuits.”

Excessive-downforce circuits: find out how to acknowledge them

The time period “high-downforce circuit” usually refers to tracks the place the prevalence of corners outweighs that of straights (a excessive variety of corners and few straights). On this case, the automotive’s downforce is extra vital than the engine’s energy. Due to this fact, in high-downforce circuits, a good portion of a automotive’s efficiency comes from the downforce it generates relatively than engine energy. Nonetheless, it’s not correct to say that energy has no affect on efficiency. In truth, increased energy permits groups to go for extra aggressive setups and obtain optimum efficiency. On these tracks, groups use rear wings with increased incidence angles to realize higher downforce and grip in corners. Frequent examples of high-downforce circuits embrace Monaco, Singapore, Mexico, Hungary, and Brazil.

Low-downforce circuits: find out how to acknowledge them

The time period “low-downforce circuit” or “energy circuit” usually refers to tracks the place the prevalence of straights outweighs that of corners (lengthy straights and brief, sluggish corners). On this case, engine energy is extra vital than downforce. For these tracks, a good portion of efficiency comes from engine energy relatively than downforce. Nonetheless, it’s incorrect to say that downforce is pointless on low-downforce circuits. Monza is the quintessential energy circuit. It’s estimated that 75% of a lap right here is accomplished with the throttle totally open. For this house race, groups carry excessive automotive setups that gained’t be used once more through the season. On this case, rear wings have minimal incidence angles to realize increased high speeds and decrease drag. Frequent examples of low-downforce circuits embrace Miami, Azerbaijan, Canada, and Belgium.

Identical observe, differing types: it’s doable

Sure, it’s doable. Inside the similar observe, it’s doable to determine each high-downforce and low-downforce sectors. Examples embrace Silverstone, Spa, and Austin. Micro-sector analyses have proven that vehicles carry out higher in sure sections of the observe than others. For example, McLaren has usually appeared extra aggressive in high-downforce sectors. Because of this, the automotive’s setup is decided by discovering the best compromise between downforce and high pace. Moreover, different track-specific elements, comparable to observe evolution, grip, and asphalt abrasion, play a job.

To conclude, we current beneath a abstract desk of the F1 2024 season circuits with their downforce ranges (Pirelli information).