How F1 teams have adapted their wings for the demands of Spa

Several Formula 1 teams have new front and rear wing specifications at their disposal this weekend, as they look for ways to overcome the challenges posed by the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

The changes are aimed at depowering the wings, compared to those used elsewhere, in a bid to help reduce downforce and drag – which are useful for the first and third sectors around the track.

However, teams cannot go totally extreme with what they bring as they still have to be mindful about the demands of the twisty second sector.

Alterations made to the front wing mostly revolve around the upper elements being trimmed across their trailing edge to accommodate and balance the choices being made at the rear of the car.

In particular, Ferrari noted in the car presentation document that it has several options at its disposal, so that it can make a more informed decision during Friday’s running.

Ferrari SF-24 technical detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Changes made at the rear of the car are always more obvious, as teams reduce the size of the elements that are allowed within the rear wing’s box region. They also try to tailor some of the wing’s more intricate design aspects in order to reduce downforce and drag.

There’s also the beam wing to consider when choosing these specifications, with some teams opting to introduce more offloaded variants. Some will select something from the pool of parts they have already established this season and which offer the best interaction with their rear wing choices.

Ferrari’s new rear wing design is a callback in many ways to the design used at Spa last season (below), with a similar mainplane and top flap employed in order to find the right level of downforce. Its semi-circular trailing edge notch also returns.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23 rear wing detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Comparably though, we can see how Ferrari has shifted its design philosophy when it comes to the tip section’s connection to the endplate.

The rolled-over inboard mounting used last season rarely featured thereafter, whilst its solution used on other downforce level wings already this season (see main image) follows in the footsteps of its rivals, with the lower edge of the tip section exposed to the airflow.

McLaren’s new rear wing specification also follows a similar trend, as it features the semi-circular notch in the centre of the upper flap’s trailing edge.

However, it has utilised a different size notch depending on the flap’s size extensively already this season.

It is a similar story with the tip section too, as the team has modified its angle of attack and shape throughout its suite of options in order that it works effectively with the upper flap and the rear corner endplate cutout.

McLaren MCL38 technical detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

McLaren MCL38 diffuser

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Additionally, it has a new, single-element beam wing offering in Belgium that’s more offloaded in the outer section than the specifications used so far.

This will not only work in tandem with the new rear wing elements above to deliver the required level of downforce and drag, but it’s also paired with some revisions to the brake duct furniture.

Furthermore, the up washing swage line normally imprinted into the lower section of the endplate’s outer face has also been removed, further altering the airflow’s behaviour in that region.

RB F1 Team VCARB 01 technical detail

Photo by: Jake Boxall-Legge

RB F1 Team VCARB 01 technical detail

Photo by: Jake Boxall-Legge

Perhaps the most extreme beam wing and rear wing design on display in Belgium comes from RB, as the VCARB01 has been set up with a solution that looks more like what is more typically run in Monza.

The flattened-out rear wing mainplane arrangement is paired with a similarly upper flap featuring a low angle of attack and an arched trailing edge, whilst the upper rear endplate cutout is also significantly larger than usual.

The beam wing is arranged in a bi-plane configuration but is also flattened-out considerably when compared with some of the other options within their configuration suite.