listed below are all of the secrets and techniques

January 5, 2025

11

All through our analyses, we’ve usually talked about “aerodynamic load,” “high-downforce circuits,” and “low-downforce circuits.” However what do these phrases imply? How can we differentiate between varied observe varieties? 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 fanatics. There’s been loads of motion on observe and several other drivers contending for victory. A contributing issue is that some vehicles tailored higher than others to particular tracks all through the season. This sometimes led to single-seaters displaying utterly 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 be capable to carry out optimally on any sort of observe. Nonetheless, this isn’t easy. For that reason, updates are launched to the vehicles throughout the season. The aim? To search out the correct compromise for a particular observe between downforce (also referred to as “aerodynamic load”) and drag (resistance to ahead movement). Subsequently, it’s essential to grasp 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 automobile’s ground in trendy autos. That is complemented by the load generated by the wings and the general automobile physique.

Downforce refers back to the power created by the airflow hitting the automobile, urgent it downward, and conserving it glued to the bottom. Larger downforce interprets into higher grip and, consequently, larger cornering speeds. Nonetheless, elevated downforce additionally leads to higher drag, which reduces prime velocity. Consequently, the ability unit must ship extra energy. Primarily based on these ideas, tracks are categorized as “high-downforce circuits” and “low-downforce circuits.”

Excessive-downforce circuits: how you can acknowledge them

The time period “high-downforce circuit” sometimes 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 automobile’s downforce is extra essential than the engine’s energy. Subsequently, in high-downforce circuits, a good portion of a automobile’s efficiency comes from the downforce it generates slightly than engine energy. Nonetheless, it isn’t correct to say that energy has no affect on efficiency. In reality, larger energy permits groups to go for extra aggressive setups and obtain optimum efficiency. On these tracks, groups use rear wings with larger incidence angles to attain higher downforce and grip in corners. Widespread examples of high-downforce circuits embody Monaco, Singapore, Mexico, Hungary, and Brazil.

Low-downforce circuits: how you can acknowledge them

The time period “low-downforce circuit” or “energy circuit” sometimes refers to tracks the place the prevalence of straights outweighs that of corners (lengthy straights and brief, gradual corners). On this case, engine energy is extra essential than downforce. For these tracks, a good portion of efficiency comes from engine energy slightly 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 dwelling race, groups carry excessive automobile setups that received’t be used once more throughout the season. On this case, rear wings have minimal incidence angles to attain larger prime speeds and decrease drag. Widespread examples of low-downforce circuits embody Miami, Azerbaijan, Canada, and Belgium.

Similar observe, differing types: it’s doable

Sure, it’s doable. Throughout the similar observe, it’s doable to determine each high-downforce and low-downforce sectors. Examples embody Silverstone, Spa, and Austin. Micro-sector analyses have proven that vehicles carry out higher in sure sections of the observe than others. As an illustration, McLaren has typically appeared extra aggressive in high-downforce sectors. For that reason, the automobile’s setup is set by discovering the correct compromise between downforce and prime velocity. Moreover, different track-specific elements, resembling observe evolution, grip, and asphalt abrasion, play a task.

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