Ferrari SF-26

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https://freeimage.host/i/CBv89I4


https://x.com/MateuszMrz8

First I've seen of strake on the underside of footplate in this reg
Will be a staple on all cars shortly

[PlatinumZealot]

Not sure if I have seen that ever! it's probably a first in F1. Cars normally have the strakes under the main plain. So kudos to Ferrari for another innovation.

[f1316]

New front wing at Barcelona https://autoracer.it/ferrari-ecco-le-pr ... lla-sf-26/

There’s that big ol’ vane Lewis was saying they were missing - let’s see if it actually makes a big difference.

Separately, I keep hearing Jonathan Noble (and only him) saying that the Ferrari is “draggy”. I’ll be curious to see if any of this package looks like it relates to drag reduction as I’ve not heard anyone else say that.

It’s underpowered not draggy

That is also my understanding (and, even if the contention is that the FTM takes away some power, that’s not the same as drag).

But that’s what he’s said several times and I tend to think he’s reasonably reliable, so just curious.

[matteosc]

What do you think is the purpose of this "wing diffuser"? To me it sort of looks like it's expanding air inwards, generating inwash rather than outwash. Not sure what is the effect on the bottom surface of the wing either...
Is there some analysis out there?

[TechF1]

What do you think is the purpose of this "wing diffuser"? To me it sort of looks like it's expanding air inwards, generating inwash rather than outwash. Not sure what is the effect on the bottom surface of the wing either...
Is there some analysis out there?

More o less the other teams bring the same effects with the main plane, bring more air under the floor but in my opinion this is more draggy.
I think it's more budget friendly to them, avoiding the total reshape of the FW, quite sure they'll bring a new floor also.

[Just_a_fan]

What do you think is the purpose of this "wing diffuser"? To me it sort of looks like it's expanding air inwards, generating inwash rather than outwash. Not sure what is the effect on the bottom surface of the wing either...
Is there some analysis out there?

It would appear to be a series of vortex generators (and is reminiscient of the strakes under the previous generation of cars). The air will naturally be flowing inwards there as the front wing is lifting air and causing a local reduced pressure zone. Roll up a series of vortices that, presumably, then add together (as they will be rotating in the same direction and similar vortices are additive) to run around the inside face of the front tyre. Running a vortex around the inside of the tyre shoulder will help to "hoover up" the turbulence coming from the tyre squirt. The vanes above the footplate (and the new vane on the endplate) will likewise be rolling up vortices that run around the outer face of the tyre for the same reason - to clean up the wake.

Of course, if they roll up vortices using those vanes, that will also give them some local downforce by running low pressure cores below the endplate - just as the vanes below the floor did in the previous generation of cars.

[PlatinumZealot]

Yes. Agreed. More likely those same vortices or supervortex will go around the inside of the tyre then exit behind the tyre and outboard, outwashing the tyre squirt from the floor entrance.

[gordonthegun]

[FNTC]

I'm a bit surprised they chose to have those fins inwashing, instead of outwashing.

[gordonthegun]

I'm a bit surprised they chose to have those fins inwashing, instead of outwashing.

I think it's because under the footplate the air is clean so they want to bring it inwash, as much as possible under the floor of the car rather than outwash it away from the front wheels, which is instead done at the upper side of the footplate.

[Fakepivot]

[Just_a_fan]

I'm a bit surprised they chose to have those fins inwashing, instead of outwashing.

It appears they outwash the air above the footplate and inwash it below. That allows control of more of the tyre wake and likely interacts with the bargeboard-type devices on the front corner of the floor.

[LM10]

Ferrari keeps coming up with interesting innovations, as usual.

I really hope this team will be rewarded with titles very soon. The ridiculous fact Mercedes gets ADUO as well will not make that any easier, though. All we can hope for is that Ferrari continues pushing on all fronts and then we'll see what's possible over the next couple of seasons.

[sucof]

What do you think is the purpose of this "wing diffuser"? To me it sort of looks like it's expanding air inwards, generating inwash rather than outwash. Not sure what is the effect on the bottom surface of the wing either...
Is there some analysis out there?

More o less the other teams bring the same effects with the main plane, bring more air under the floor but in my opinion this is more draggy.
I think it's more budget friendly to them, avoiding the total reshape of the FW, quite sure they'll bring a new floor also.

Opinions are just like that. Not facts.
Fact is, ground effect is a LOT less draggy than the methods you think are. There is a reason teams want every ounce out of the diffusers of a car. If they can get there a bit more downforce, they can have less wing on the car, hence reducing drag.

[sucof]

There’s that big ol’ vane Lewis was saying they were missing - let’s see if it actually makes a big difference.

Separately, I keep hearing Jonathan Noble (and only him) saying that the Ferrari is “draggy”. I’ll be curious to see if any of this package looks like it relates to drag reduction as I’ve not heard anyone else say that.

It’s underpowered not draggy

That is also my understanding (and, even if the contention is that the FTM takes away some power, that’s not the same as drag).

But that’s what he’s said several times and I tend to think he’s reasonably reliable, so just curious.

Norris explicitly said, Ferrari choose a more draggy solution (overall) for their cars, for more downforce.
This was surprising, as Norris and Mclaren has the least reason to be political about this or to lie, at this point.
I tend to give this high trust scores
I just wonder in which area did they do this, as it is not obvious. Do they simply run bigger wings? What are your opinions?