Aerodynamics in Formula 1 is often described as a black art, the real secret to success on the track. In the second part of Panasonic Toyota Racing's 'Inside a Formula 1 Car' series, Head of Aerodynamics Mark Gillan explains that the answer is blowing in the wind.
First and foremost, aerodynamics is the science of manipulating and making use of air flow. In Formula 1, high speeds mean the air is a formidable force and it can be used to the car's advantage, as well as presenting an obstacle to speed.
Put simply, the bigger the frontal area of an object, the more wind resistance it will encounter, so a bigger object will travel slower than a smaller object with the same amount of power to propel it.
As always in Formula 1, things are not that simple. Downforce complicates matters, because wind resistance can be used to improve a car's performance, if the forces are transferred in the right way to provide extra grip around corners.
Mark explains: "Downforce is simply the force acting down on the ground. If you think of an aircraft, it has lift - a force acting upwards. On our car we have wings which work in the opposite direction to those on an aeroplane. On our car we have a force which acts down on the ground to keep the car fixed to the track as it is going around corners."
Maximising the positive effects of the air and minimising the negative effects is the aerodynamicist's challenge. The first attempts to harness aerodynamics in Formula 1 were relatively crude and dangerous, but the technology and knowledge has evolved into a fine art, which literally dictates who succeeds and who doesn't in Formula 1.
"Aerodynamics in Formula 1 has been around a long time," Mark says. "Way back in the late 1960s the first aerodynamic wings were sprouted and then, in the 1970s, understanding of aerodynamics on racing cars became more apparent. But it's really in the last 10 years that Formula 1 aerodynamics has progressed beyond all recognition. It is really very impressive.
"Aerodynamics is now the most important item on the car which a team can actually change, because if you look at the tyres, everyone has the same tyres and the engine is homologated. So aerodynamics is the single biggest item we can change - the biggest performance item on the car."
Although every part on the outside of Panasonic Toyota Racing's TF107 car is designed with aerodynamics in mind, the most obvious aerodynamic elements are at the very front and rear of the car.
As the first part of the car to encounter air resistance, the front wing is a key to the aerodynamic puzzle. It channels the air around and over the car, ensuring it reaches the right areas to generate downforce but avoids places where it has a negative effect.
Mark explains: "The front wing is one of the more efficient areas on the car. It basically provides the downforce at the front of the car, to provide stability and increase grip. But it is also a mechanism for directing the air away from the tyres. The tyres are one of the main items which generate drag. From a legality point of view, we cannot cover the tyres so we have to find a way to move the air around and over them.
"To get the perfect set-up, we typically start at the front and work our way back because each item at the front, for example the front suspension, will have a knock on effect on the rest of the car."
