One of the main focal points was the soil as it is considered an area with low-hanging fruit to improve downforce following the change in FIA regulations in winter.
The team’s final change came at the Belgian Grand Prix when the angled strake closest to the Z-shaped floor cutout was given a more generous arch at the top while an additional strake was placed next to it.
These changes, along with a slight change in the floor cutout, add to the effect the team is looking for and have likely played a key role in staying ahead of Mercedes in the last few races.
To understand Red Bull’s motivation for the optimizations, let’s take a look at their journey so far.
2020
Red Bull Racing RB16 floor detail
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Red Bull was one of the teams that tried the floor cutout before the new regulations were introduced. The RB16 was fitted with a conical floor with two strands in front of the rear tire during free practice last year when the team set a baseline for compliance with the new regulations.
Preseason
Red Bull Racing RB16B floor detail
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
The first floor used during the pre-season tests had a similar layout to the one tested in 2020, with the familiar tapered edge to the floor and the double strake layout in front of the rear tire (Specification 1).
However, the team moved quickly and installed a floor with the Z-shaped cutout and angle stripe (Spec 2) in the afternoon session before a pair of smaller stripes appeared in front of the outermost stripe to direct the flow over the rear tire on day two ( Spec 3).
Red Bull Racing RB16B floor comparison
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Red Bull focused its attention on the area just before the angled strake and then cut out, changing the length of the scroll flaps at the Portuguese GP. The flaps were extended so that they met the strake (insert) instead of ending in front of it.
Red Bull Racing RB16B new ground
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
The team then added another novelty to the British GP when it introduced a stepladder-like winglet that creates a nozzle that fans the airflow in front of the strakes that have grown in front of the rear tire.
Will this be the last time Red Bull will develop the soil this season? Well, there’s always an opportunity to clean up things and tweak the design of surfaces already in the game, but with everyone now focusing on their 2022 designs, it’s unlikely we’ll see anything too revolutionary.
Aston Martin is going back
Aston Martin AMR21 floor comparison
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
While Red Bull has added additional weapons to its arsenal, Aston Martin has removed some of its weapons.
The trio of fins that had been lying on the ground since pre-season testing was removed (inset) at the British Grand Prix, while the crescent-shaped group added during the season was retained.
Just like Red Bull, Aston Martin has made major changes to the bottom of its car to make up for the losses associated with the new regulations and lower rake setup.
Aston Martin AMR21 ground development
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Aston Martin has the largest floor cutout on the grille and, consequently, the most aerodynamic furniture to correct the airflow towards the rear of the car and reduce the impact on the vehicle of the turbulence created by the rear tire diffuser.
The aerodynamic devices just in front of the rear tire were changed the most to optimize the air flow around and over the rear tire, with the six fins at the edge of the floor receiving a roof and an additional flap early on.
Then in Portugal an R-shaped cascade winglet was mounted between it and the two inner strakes (red arrow) before the flap section was combined with the main structure as part of a larger aerodynamic upgrade package introduced in Austria.
The post What’s behind Red Bull’s latest F1 floor tweak? first appeared on monter-une-startup.
