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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

How Ferrari's and Mercedes' most dominant F1 cars compare

Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
How Ferrari's and Mercedes' most dominant F1 cars compare
Formula 1 returns to the Nurburgring this weekend for the first time since 2013 – with records again set to tumble.

Banned: The full story behind Brabham's F1 'fan car'

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F1 Formula 1
Banned: The full story behind Brabham's F1 'fan car'

How Formula 1 is cutting downforce again for 2021

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F1 Formula 1
How Formula 1 is cutting downforce again for 2021

The F1 upgrades that spurred Mercedes on to a Mugello 1-2

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F1 Formula 1
The F1 upgrades that spurred Mercedes on to a Mugello 1-2

The car changes that have helped McLaren shine in 2020

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F1 Formula 1
The car changes that have helped McLaren shine in 2020

Giorgio Piola's history of F1 steering wheel evolution

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F1 Formula 1
Giorgio Piola's history of F1 steering wheel evolution

How low can you go? Skinny Monza F1 wings explained

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F1 Formula 1
How low can you go? Skinny Monza F1 wings explained

The upgrades that helped Mercedes step it up in Belgium

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F1 Formula 1
The upgrades that helped Mercedes step it up in Belgium

Under the skin of Red Bull’s F1 quest to catch Mercedes

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F1 Formula 1
Under the skin of Red Bull’s F1 quest to catch Mercedes

F1 technical update: Racing Point, Mercedes, Red Bull & Ferrari

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F1 Formula 1
F1 technical update: Racing Point, Mercedes, Red Bull & Ferrari

Why Mercedes gets uncomfortable when the pressure goes up

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F1 Formula 1
Why Mercedes gets uncomfortable when the pressure goes up

The tech fallout from the Racing Point F1 verdict

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F1 Formula 1
The tech fallout from the Racing Point F1 verdict

F1 technical update: Mercedes, Ferrari, Racing Point & Red Bull

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F1 Formula 1
F1 technical update: Mercedes, Ferrari, Racing Point & Red Bull

Why the Racing Point is less a Mercedes copy than you may think

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F1 Formula 1
Why the Racing Point is less a Mercedes copy than you may think

Revealed: The hidden complexity of Red Bull’s amazing grid repair

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F1 Formula 1
Revealed: The hidden complexity of Red Bull’s amazing grid repair

F1 technical update: Mercedes, McLaren, AlphaTauri & Racing Point

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F1 Formula 1
F1 technical update: Mercedes, McLaren, AlphaTauri & Racing Point

F1 technical update: Ferrari’s recovery push hindered by tokens

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F1 Formula 1
F1 technical update: Ferrari’s recovery push hindered by tokens

F1 technical update: Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren & Williams

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F1 Formula 1
F1 technical update: Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren & Williams

Styrian GP: Latest key F1 technical developments

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F1 Formula 1
Styrian GP: Latest key F1 technical developments

Explained: Ferrari’s fast-tracked F1 upgrade package

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F1 Formula 1
Explained: Ferrari’s fast-tracked F1 upgrade package

Revealed: How Red Bull added flavour to its F1 rear wing

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F1 Formula 1
Revealed: How Red Bull added flavour to its F1 rear wing

First look: Ferrari's upgraded F1 front wing

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F1 Formula 1
First look: Ferrari's upgraded F1 front wing

Red Bull’s new nose hints at fresh direction

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F1 Formula 1
Red Bull’s new nose hints at fresh direction

Why there’s more to Mercedes than a new paint scheme in Austria

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F1 Formula 1
Why there’s more to Mercedes than a new paint scheme in Austria

Why F1's floor change could lead to unintended consequences

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F1 Formula 1
Why F1's floor change could lead to unintended consequences

Banned: Why exhaust blown diffusers were outlawed

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F1 Formula 1
Banned: Why exhaust blown diffusers were outlawed

What F1's 2020 wing designs tell us about each team - Part IV

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F1 Formula 1
What F1's 2020 wing designs tell us about each team - Part IV

What F1's 2020 wing designs tell us about each team - Part III

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F1 Formula 1
What F1's 2020 wing designs tell us about each team - Part III

Giorgio Piola’s F1 tech decades: The big bang 1980s, part two

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F1 Formula 1
Giorgio Piola’s F1 tech decades: The big bang 1980s, part two

What F1's 2020 wing designs tell us about each team - Part II

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F1 Formula 1
What F1's 2020 wing designs tell us about each team - Part II

What F1's 2020 front wing designs tell us about each team

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F1 Formula 1
What F1's 2020 front wing designs tell us about each team

Banned: Why Renault's mass damper was outlawed

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F1 Formula 1
Banned: Why Renault's mass damper was outlawed

The small wing detail that shows Mercedes is still pushing

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F1 Formula 1
The small wing detail that shows Mercedes is still pushing

The secrets of Formula 1's six-wheeled racer

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F1 Formula 1
The secrets of Formula 1's six-wheeled racer

How McLaren and Ferrari went to war with the rules in '76

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F1 Formula 1
How McLaren and Ferrari went to war with the rules in '76

Banned: Why Mercedes' double DRS was outlawed

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F1 Formula 1
Banned: Why Mercedes' double DRS was outlawed

Banned: Why McLaren's F-duct was outlawed

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F1 Formula 1
Banned: Why McLaren's F-duct was outlawed

The Ferrari idea that shaped current F1 car thinking

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F1 Formula 1
The Ferrari idea that shaped current F1 car thinking

Banned: Why Lotus' twin-chassis concept was outlawed

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F1 Formula 1
Banned: Why Lotus' twin-chassis concept was outlawed

What we know about Formula 1's 2020 cars so far

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F1 Formula 1
What we know about Formula 1's 2020 cars so far

How 'PAS' system shows Ferrari was on to DAS benefits

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F1 Formula 1
How 'PAS' system shows Ferrari was on to DAS benefits

How Mercedes has taken F1 brake design to the next level

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F1 Formula 1
How Mercedes has taken F1 brake design to the next level

Is this the real secret behind the Mercedes DAS system?

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F1 Formula 1
Is this the real secret behind the Mercedes DAS system?

Why F1’s top teams are so divided on suspension

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F1 Formula 1
Why F1’s top teams are so divided on suspension

How Mercedes made DAS the perfect front-end fit

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F1 Formula 1
How Mercedes made DAS the perfect front-end fit

How Red Bull struck an early tech blow against Mercedes

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F1 Formula 1
How Red Bull struck an early tech blow against Mercedes

Tech insight: How Alfa Romeo experimented in testing

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F1 Formula 1
Tech insight: How Alfa Romeo experimented in testing

The changes aimed at keeping McLaren ahead of the midfield

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F1 Formula 1
The changes aimed at keeping McLaren ahead of the midfield

Tech insight: What’s behind Red Bull’s new aero package?

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F1 Formula 1
Tech insight: What’s behind Red Bull’s new aero package?

Tech insight: A closer look at the Alfa Romeo C39

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F1 Formula 1
Tech insight: A closer look at the Alfa Romeo C39

Tech insight: Can Williams rise again with its new FW43?

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F1 Formula 1
Tech insight: Can Williams rise again with its new FW43?

Discover the hidden technical secrets of Red Bull’s new RB16

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F1 Formula 1
Discover the hidden technical secrets of Red Bull’s new RB16

Ten key design points on the new Ferrari SF1000

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F1 Formula 1
Ten key design points on the new Ferrari SF1000

Tech insight: What's behind new Red Bull nose

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F1 Formula 1
Tech insight: What's behind new Red Bull nose

How Giorgio Piola revisited Senna’s great F1 legacy

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F1 Formula 1
How Giorgio Piola revisited Senna’s great F1 legacy

Revealed: Mercedes cooling idea that F1 rivals are looking at

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F1 Formula 1
Revealed: Mercedes cooling idea that F1 rivals are looking at

Tech insight: How Red Bull is staying cool in Mexico

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F1 Formula 1
Tech insight: How Red Bull is staying cool in Mexico

Tech verdict: How Ferrari really turned the tables on rivals

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F1 Formula 1
Tech verdict: How Ferrari really turned the tables on rivals

Racing Point reveals all-new nose design for Spa

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F1 Formula 1
Racing Point reveals all-new nose design for Spa

Tech insight: Mercedes reveals German GP aero update package

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F1 Formula 1
Tech insight: Mercedes reveals German GP aero update package