This presentation gives a brief description of the evolution in the designs of Formula 1 cars

1. EVOLution of Formula 1
Cars
Amit Mangtani
Aerospace Engineering

2. WHAT IS FORMULA 1???

3.  Highest class of auto racing
sanctioned by the Federation
Internationale de I’Automobile
(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 develop-
ment in the field of aerodynamics
each year

4. 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

5. G0t AnY IDEA??

6. 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

7. 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

8. 1970 – 1980

9. 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

10. Desire For More Downforce…

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Major Innovations IN Last Decade

15. McLaren Mercedes Vs Red Bull
F-Duct System Flexi WIngs

16. 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 driver’s
commands
 Conditions for using DRS:
Pursuing car within a
second and in activation
zone
 Once two racing laps

17. Current Design

18. Evolution of F1 cars