Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global

Hungarian GP tech debrief: Final push before the summer break

In part one of our Hungarian GP technical debrief, Giorgio Piola and Matt Somerfield look at the updates introduced by Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari at the Hungaroring.

Ferrari SF16H diffuser, Hungarian GP

Ferrari SF16H diffuser, Hungarian GP

Giorgio Piola

Giorgio Piola's F1 technical analysis

Giorgio Piola is the preeminent Formula 1 technical journalist. View our full selection of Giorgio's technical illustrative content

Ferrari

Ferrari continues to look for ways of improving the SF16-H as it battles with a resurgent Red Bull for second place in the championship.

Ferrari SF16-H rear wing detail
Ferrari SF16-H rear wing detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

In Hungary, this led to the adoption of a new monkey seat design, very similar to one it had already used this season but different nonetheless.

The lower winglet's leading edge was less arched than the one used in Monaco but tapered all the way to the endplate, whilst the endplates (highlighted in green) were also revised, as Ferrari looked to improve the shape of the airflow so that it works in unison with the rear wing and diffuser to improve overall downforce.

Ferrari SF16H diffuser, Hungarian GP
Ferrari SF16H diffuser, Hungarian GP

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The upper surface of the diffuser and footplate has become ever more complex since the team fitted a winglet stack there in Spain 2015 (inset), with numerous changes to the winglet stack and diffuser profile since.

However, in Hungary, an extended flap appeared to stretch forward from this cluster of winglets toward the brake duct ahead (highlighted in yellow) enticing the airflow to interact.

This is a particularly sensitive area of the car with the deformation of the tyre and motion of the suspended parts constantly changing how the airflow moves.

This new flap should pinch the airflow and force it to accelerate toward the diffuser's footplate, improving not only the performance of the diffuser's outer channel but also provide a more efficient flow structure for the winglet stack too.

This should improve the overall performance of the diffuser as flow consistency is improved across the board.

Williams FW38 diffuser, Hungarian GP
Williams FW38 diffuser, Hungarian GP

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Ferrari is not the only example of a team concentrating its efforts in this area of the floor to make aerodynamic gains, as we can see from the illustration above, Williams also placed a fin in the opposing direction to the airflow in Austria 2015 too, having likely studied the effect Ferrari's winglet stack had on diffuser performance.

Mercedes

After a relentless development drive so far this season, the updates abated a little for Mercedes in Hungary, with the cockpit louvre panel the only standout part on the W07 that we haven't seen before.

That's not to say we can't find things of interest, with many parts used in previous races returning to improve the downforce and stability available.

Keeping it cool

Mercedes W07 top exits, Hungarian GP
Mercedes W07 top exits, Hungarian GP

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The panel that runs alongside the cockpit is changed at each circuit in order to maintain the correct thermal operating window.

In Hungary, the panel was increased in height and eight louvres used to displace the heat rejected from the sidepod, so that it doesn't impinge on both internal and external aerodynamic performance.

Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid rear detail
Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid rear detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

At the rear of the sidepod, the bodywork was opened up around the front leg of the upper rear wishbone, dissipating heat generated within.

This is not the first time we've seen the team employ this configuration, it having done similar at other circuits with high thermodynamic demands.

Winging it

Mercedes W07 monkey seats comparison, Hungarian GP
Mercedes W07 monkey seats comparison, Hungarian GP

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Having used the hooped monkey seat since its introduction in Azerbaijan, Mercedes returned to the square profile design last seen in Monaco.

This change highlights the emphasis the teams place on ensuring the rear wing and diffuser's airflow structures interact to improve performance, with the squared monkey seat improving spanwise distribution of the exhaust plume.

Mercedes W07 rear wing, Hungarian GP
Mercedes W07 rear wing, Hungarian GP

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The team also retained the rear wing that was introduced in Silverstone, which features the displaced endplate louvres pioneered by Toro Rosso at the start of the season, whilst upwash strakes were also added to the endplate to help break up pressure building across the surface and help connect the rear wing and diffuser aero structures as the airflow is guided upward.

Red Bull

The Hungaroring was always going to play to the strengths of the RB12 but the team made changes at the rear of the car in order to increase downforce even further still.

Strakes first added on the outer surface of the endplates in Russia to increase upwash made a reappearance, improving the aerodynamic connection between the rear wing and diffuser.

This was accompanied by a new monkey seat, which is the first time Red Bull has utilised one in a competitive session, not even applying the appendage in Monaco, something not seen for a number of years.

As we can see in the 2D animation above, Red Bull assessed several configurations during free practice to ascertain which would give the best performance, but in the end both drivers ran both the straked endplates and monkey seat for qualifying and the race.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Rosberg unfazed by loss of championship lead
Next article F1 teams should not decide Halo fate - Button

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global