Two extreme aerodynamic ideas introduced by Mercedes and Aston Martin this year have been banned from the 2023 F1 season.
A revolutionary concept involving the front wing endplate of the Mercedes and the rear wing of the Aston Martin has been made illegal by changes to the F1 technical regulations.
While fully compliant with the wording of the rules and considered legal by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), both teams’ design to enhance performance is a broad concept that makes the car less difficult to follow. raised eyebrows when both concepts were introduced, as they seemed to go against the.
Mercedes’ radical front wing endplate first appeared at the Miami F1 GP. A unique design has been applied to the intersection of the flap section and the end plate. The flap was pushed forward very aggressively into the outer section and the rear lower edge of the endplate was completely cut out of the flap. This was done to try and recover some of the runoff lost due to the new regulations.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin hit the limelight at the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix when it introduced a rear wing design that broke one of the main intentions of the 2022 F1 regulations. Its design involved a unique positioning of the front of the endplates, allowing the main planes to collide in a more traditional way, increasing the amount of downforce and downforce that could be generated.
The new F1 regulations wanted a curvilinear transition between elements, saying goodbye to the traditional endplate-wing interactions of the past. This is designed to reduce leading edge vortex force, thus limiting airflow turbulence and aiding the overall goal of making it easier for cars to follow each other.
The FIA was happy to be able to use both concepts for 2022, but a formal tweak to the technical regulations for 2023 ensured that the gray areas permitting them were clarified.
FIA single-seater technical director Nicholas Tombazis said: “This year, obviously, they were both legal. The regulations have changed in different ways, both front and rear, blocking those solutions.”
This was done by a stricter rule change regarding front wing flap sweepbacks and a more specific change regarding the definition of rear wingtips.
Aston Martin’s idea is now banned, but team performance director Tom McCullough has now confirmed the fact that his team has created something very bold amid restrictive regulations for 2022. But I’m proud.
“The good thing about this year is that we’ve created something fresh and new,” commented Tom McCullough.
“The interpretation of the rules that added performance to our car was very esoteric. People couldn’t replicate it quickly because of how complicated it was to get around different regulations. It was a part
“So, in a way, we had a certain edge this year, because when we brought it to Budapest, it was late enough for people to react to realize that, and in terms of the cost cap, they were already high. I was really happy because they made me a wing with downforce”.
“Many people have been involved in that project for a long time. He’s been going back and forth with the FIA for months, but I understand that our job is always to make the most of the regulations. And when the regulations change, we really have to adapt.”
Nicholas Tombazis reveals that while there is language in the rules that prohibits teams from introducing projects that negatively impact racing, the FIA will always follow the proper regulatory process to close down such possibilities.
This means discussions with F1 teams and working through the F1 Commission and FIA World Motor Sport Council to make changes for next season.
Article 3.2.1 of the F1 Technical Regulations states: “Article 3 has the important purpose of minimizing the deterioration of aerodynamic performance due to following other cars and enabling close quarters combat. This purpose. Competitors may be requested to provide relevant information to the FIA upon request in order to ascertain whether the data belongs to the holder, is protected and will not be disclosed to third parties.”
“Some of these rule changes fall into that category,” said Nicolas Tombazis, asking if the changes for 2023 were driven by concerns that both teams’ designs would negatively impact racing.
“But that clause (3.2) doesn’t mean ‘if you’re smart and find a solution, we’ll get it out of the car as soon as possible’. Why should we intervene on the regulation? I’m just explaining how
“But we still did it through governance. You don’t have the right to say, ‘I don’t like it, let’s ban it.'”
Category: F1 / F1 car / mercedes / aston martin
