Title: AlphaTauri AT04 Update: Enhancing Performance in Slow Corners
Introduction:
The AlphaTauri AT04, the sister team of Red Bull, has struggled to match the performance of its counterpart in recent years. Its average qualifying pace has been superior only to Alfa Romeo’s, and its major weakness lies in slow corners where its rear-end downforce has been relatively weak. However, the team has recently unveiled a major update aimed at improving rear-end grip in slow corners. This update, which consists of various modifications to the car’s floor, bodywork, diffuser, and rear wing, was introduced at the British Grand Prix and will continue with a second phase in Budapest. Let’s take a closer look at the key changes and their potential impact on the team’s performance.
1. Tunnel Entrance Area: Enhancing Underfloor Heating Performance
To improve the airflow under the car’s floor, the leading edge of the ground has been raised, increasing the volume of flow through the ground. The optimal split between the airflow under the floor and the wash around the sides is crucial, as it determines the effectiveness of the floor in generating downforce. Vortex generators, small protruding extensions that induce spinning circles of air, are employed to speed up the airflow and optimize this split. These modifications aim to boost underfloor heating performance and generate greater downforce in slow corners.
2. Raised Floor: Increasing Volume of Underground Flow
By raising the floor’s leading edge, the volume of incoming air is increased, resulting in a higher downforce on the ground. The washed air is utilized to increase the velocity of the airflow passing through the underground tunnels. The faster the airflow can be induced to flow, the greater the downforce. Proper sealing of the floor from outside airflow ensures that the air flows under the floor at a faster rate, further enhancing downforce generation.
3. Rear Bodywork: Improved Barrel Shape for Airflow Stability
The upper rear bodywork has been widened to achieve an improved barrel shape. This modification reduces the damage caused by yaw and steering to the airflow. The wider section of the bodywork increases static pressure, making it more resistant to turbulence introduced into the airflow. As a result, the airflow becomes more robust and consistent, allowing the floor trim below to work more effectively in generating downforce.
4. Diffuser: Arched Walls for Greater Lateral Expansion
The diffuser walls at the tunnel exits have been arched to provide greater lateral expansion of the airflow. This change draws the wake of the airflow away from the rear tires, reducing the blockage that typically forms in the diffuser. By improving the diffuser’s performance, the update aims to maximize the downforce generated by the car.
5. Rear Wing: Modified Design for Improved Downforce and Reduced Drag
The medium downforce rear wing has undergone modifications, featuring more downforce in the center and less at the outer ends. This new elliptical shape allows for comparable downforce with less drag, optimizing the overall performance of the car.
Summary:
The AlphaTauri AT04 has introduced a significant update aimed at improving rear-end grip in slow corners. This update consists of modifications to the car’s floor, bodywork, diffuser, and rear wing. By increasing the volume of underground flow, optimizing the split between underfloor and side wash airflow, improving the stability of the airflow, and enhancing the diffuser performance, the team aims to generate greater downforce. While the update did not lead to immediate success at Silverstone, it is expected to have a more significant impact at the upcoming race in Budapest.
Additional Piece: The Pursuit of Performance: The Role of Aerodynamics in Formula 1
Aerodynamics plays a crucial role in the performance of Formula 1 cars, with teams constantly searching for innovative ways to maximize downforce and minimize drag. The AlphaTauri AT04 update highlights the team’s dedication to improving the car’s performance in slow corners, where downforce is key.
1. The Importance of Downforce:
In Formula 1, downforce is the force exerted on a car, pushing it towards the track, allowing for greater traction and improved cornering speeds. The higher the downforce, the more effectively the car can navigate corners, providing a competitive advantage on twisty circuits. Achieving optimal downforce involves striking the right balance between maximizing grip and minimizing drag.
2. The Role of Floor and Underfloor Flow:
The floor of a Formula 1 car is a critical component for generating downforce. By manipulating the airflow passing underneath the car, teams create a suction effect that enhances the car’s grip on the track. The design of the floor, including its leading edge and the shape of the tunnels, plays a significant role in determining the performance of the car in slow corners.
3. Bodywork and Diffuser Design:
The bodywork of the car, including the rear wing and diffuser, also contributes to aerodynamic performance. The rear wing is responsible for generating downforce and provides stability during high-speed turns. The diffuser, located beneath the rear of the car, accelerates the airflow, creating a low-pressure area that helps generate downforce.
4. Constant Innovation and Development:
Formula 1 teams invest significant resources in aerodynamic research and development. Wind tunnel testing, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and on-track testing are used to refine and optimize the design of each component, seeking incremental gains in performance. The introduction of updates, such as those seen in the AlphaTauri AT04, demonstrates the ongoing pursuit of performance improvement in the sport.
5. Balancing Performance and Regulations:
While teams strive to maximize aerodynamic performance, they must also adhere to the strict technical regulations set by Formula 1 governing bodies. These regulations aim to promote competitiveness, safety, and cost control by limiting certain aspects of aerodynamic design. Teams must navigate these rules while pushing the boundaries of innovation to gain a competitive edge.
Conclusion:
The AlphaTauri AT04’s recent update represents the team’s commitment to enhancing performance in slow corners through aerodynamic modifications. By optimizing the floor, bodywork, diffuser, and rear wing, the team aims to generate greater downforce and improve the car’s competitiveness. Aerodynamics will continue to be a key battleground in Formula 1 as teams strive for incremental gains, demonstrating the sport’s relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation.
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The AlphaTauri AT04 hasn’t been the best of sister team Red Bull’s cars in recent years. Its average qualifying pace is better only than Alfa Romeo’s, and its main shortcoming has been in slow corners where its downforce has been relatively weak as rear-end height increases.
A major update unveiled at the British Grand Prix has been months in the planning and is specifically aimed at improving rear-end grip in slow corners. There is a second phase of this update, which is scheduled to appear this weekend in Budapest, where Yuki Tsunoda and his team will race. new teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
The Silverstone portion of the update relied on a new floor, upper bodywork, and diffuser. There was also a new version of the medium downforce rear wing, although this was a separate development.
tunnel entrance area
Boosting underfloor heating performance by redirecting airflow starts at the tunnel inlets. The leading edge of the ground has been raised, increasing the volume of flow through the ground. The way the volume of incoming air is divided between the floor below and the one that washes around the sides is a crucial part of making the floor perform its best.
The washed air is used to increase the velocity of the air passing through the underground tunnels. The difference in air pressure between the exterior and the ground is what defines the downforce of the ground. Underfloor airflow rushes to fill areas of lower pressure, and the faster it can be induced to flow, the greater the downforce. The better the floor can be sealed from outside airflow, the faster the air will flow under the floor.
But there’s only so much volume to work with. Defining the optimal split between the airflow under the floor and the wash around the sides is crucial, and this will be determined in part by the speed with which the airflow can be induced. This is where vortex generators, small protruding extensions that cause air to move in spinning circles, which speed up the air around them, come in handy.
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So, in addition to AlphaTauri’s raised floor, which increases the volume of underground flow, the tunnel entrance roof and vane shapes were changed to induce greater vortex power, thus energizing that newly increased volume.
The new flow resulting from the floor and fence changes has required new floor edge geometry to re-optimize flow. The single wing profile allowed inside the floor trim has been extended inward towards the floor at the rear through a cutout. This manipulates air pressure to give the edge of the floor a better seal, allowing the tunnels to generate more downforce.
rear bodywork
The upper rear bodywork has been widened to form an improved barrel shape. AlphaTauri claims this reduces airflow damage caused by yaw and steering.
The wider section of the bodywork increases static pressure, making it more resistant to turbulence introduced into the airflow in that part of the car as it rotates against oncoming air. It makes the airflow in there more robust and consistent, and this in turn allows the floor trim below to work more effectively.
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Diffuser
The diffuser walls at the tunnel exits have been arched, giving greater lateral expansion of the airflow, and this in turn draws the wake of the airflow away from the rear tires, reducing blockage that forms in the diffuser.
hind wing
The medium downforce rear wing has been modified, with more downforce in the center and less at the outer ends. This more elliptical shape should provide comparable downforce with less drag.
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Given the size of this update, it was disappointing for the team that they failed to get either car out of Q1 at Silverstone and that Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries finished 16th and 17th respectively in the race.
That said, Silverstone’s layout doesn’t put as much emphasis on slow corner performance as the upcoming Hungaroring.
Although pressure tappings taken at Silverstone suggested the updates were giving the desired boost in downforce, the car’s balance was not optimised. Chief Race Engineer Jonathan Eddolls commented on Friday night at Silverstone: “Analysis showed the update is working well. We made more changes to the car in FP2, but it’s fair to say we didn’t hit the sweet spot with either car in terms of balance on short runs on soft tyres, without the front end, which is a lap time killer. here.
“High track temperatures exacerbated the overheating of the front tyres, resulting in a lack of front grip, so we believe there is a step in lap time to achieve better balance.
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“In summary, the aero update shows data gains and the focus of the overnight work will be to see what is required with setup and driving, to use this additional performance and convert it into lap time.”
Technical Director Jody Egginton added: “The aerodynamic update we have presented here appears to be in line with expectations, but it has not been enough to make progress at Silverstone. The planned aero upgrade for Hungary will be an important step to start addressing this, to get back on track towards achieving our goals.”
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https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.tech-tuesday-breaking-down-the-alphatauri-upgrades-that-ricciardo-will-race.5Vu3EBD32eQDTtzSAj3ruE.html
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