listed below are all of the secrets and techniques

January 5, 2025

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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 fans. 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 totally 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 of carry out optimally on any kind of observe. Nonetheless, this isn’t easy. For that reason, updates are launched to the vehicles through the season. The aim? To search out the fitting compromise for a particular observe between downforce (also referred to as “aerodynamic load”) and drag (resistance to ahead movement). Due to this fact, it’s essential to grasp the distinction between downforce and drag. The picture under exhibits how these two forces act. It’s evident that the load is primarily generated by the automobile’s ground in fashionable autos. That is complemented by the load generated by the wings and the general automobile physique.

Downforce refers back to the pressure created by the airflow hitting the automobile, urgent it downward, and protecting it glued to the bottom. Larger downforce interprets into higher grip and, consequently, greater cornering speeds. Nonetheless, elevated downforce additionally leads to higher drag, which reduces prime velocity. 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: tips on how to 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 necessary than the engine’s energy. Due to this fact, in high-downforce circuits, a good portion of a automobile’s efficiency comes from the downforce it generates fairly than engine energy. Nonetheless, it’s not correct to say that energy has no impression on efficiency. In actual fact, greater energy permits groups to go for extra aggressive setups and obtain optimum efficiency. On these tracks, groups use rear wings with greater incidence angles to attain higher downforce and grip in corners. Frequent examples of high-downforce circuits embody Monaco, Singapore, Mexico, Hungary, and Brazil.

Low-downforce circuits: tips on how to 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, sluggish corners). On this case, engine energy is extra necessary than downforce. For these tracks, a good portion of efficiency comes from engine energy fairly than downforce. Nonetheless, it’s incorrect to assert 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 absolutely open. For this residence race, groups deliver excessive automobile setups that received’t be used once more through the season. On this case, rear wings have minimal incidence angles to attain greater prime speeds and decrease drag. Frequent examples of low-downforce circuits embody Miami, Azerbaijan, Canada, and Belgium.

Identical observe, differing kinds: it’s doable

Sure, it’s doable. Throughout the identical 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 example, McLaren has usually appeared extra aggressive in high-downforce sectors. For that reason, the automobile’s setup is decided by discovering the fitting compromise between downforce and prime velocity. Moreover, different track-specific elements, corresponding to observe evolution, grip, and asphalt abrasion, play a job.

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