Motor Racing

Jul

15

How do aerofoils make formula 1 cars go faster?

Posted in: Formula One

Off With Her Head! asked:


How does the design & shape of the car make it go faster?

Tags: Design Shape, Formula 1 Cars

1. 
   chickie
   July 16th 2009

   the air that runs over the top of the foils help by pushing down on the car thereby keeping it on the track when it it moving at a high rate of speed

2. 
   BP35
   July 19th 2009

   Airfoils make the cars more aerodynamic. They reduce wind resistance. By reducing wind resistance, you allow the car to accelerate faster and have a higher top speed.

   They also push the cars down towards the ground giving them more traction.

3. 
   Robert Abuse
   July 19th 2009

   As the car moves forwards the air flows over the body, good aerodynamic shape controls the flow, creating high pressure points on the upper surfaces and on top of the wings. High air pressure in these places pushes the car down onto the road. The designers also aim to create a low pressure area under the car, this sucks the car onto the track.
   The skill comes from balancing the areas of pressure so that the car maintains a `balance` as it accelerates, brakes and turns, whilst at the same time eliminating as much `drag` from the overall shape as is possible, ensuring that the car `slips` easily through the air.
   The overall shape is, in essence, that of an inverted aeroplane wing, forcing the vehicle downwards rather than upwards.
   It best utilises the power of the engine and the grip of the tyres allowing immense cornering and straight line speeds

   It is theoretically possible for an F1 car to drive upside down at speed with it`s wheels on the ceiling of a tunnel.

4. 
   mirose85
   July 23rd 2009

   Aerofoils only make the cars faster in the corners. A car with a minimum wing setting has a higher top speed due to less downforce but a higher wing setting slows the car but as much as 10-15 Kph on the straights but a lot quicker through the corners.
   For a track like Monza the wings are set to their minimum setting so the cars are faster but they lose downforce in the corners.
   For the more technical circuits there is a fine balance between straight line speed and grip through the corners. Some teams will be slower down the straights but their extra downforce through the corners make up for it as they will be coming out of the faster turns quicker due to better grip and stability through the turn.