johnnycesup wrote: ↑13 Jul 2026, 03:23
LM10 wrote: ↑12 Jul 2026, 22:11
johnnycesup wrote: ↑12 Jul 2026, 18:21
IMO 6 and 8 kph compared to a regular opening is also insane, if it was that much every team would already have one out. A lot more time and money was spent on the previous regs with flexible wings that don't have that big of an impact.
McLaren’s mini-DRS was worth 3-5 kph. I don’t think that 6-8 kph is insane.
Even if the Mclaren number is true, it was acting on a wing on the high angle of attack position (meaning, a whole lot of drag). Those reports claim that the macarena wing is 6-8 kph better than a wing already in low angle of attack mode. Is there so much drag to be shed by the wing in that configuration?
The only thing I can think of is that
maybe the lift caused by the macarena can have a drag reducing effect on the rest of the car, but even then that seems a bit much.
My inference is that this (bold) is the ONLY purpose of a macarena opening rather than a traditional DRS style opening. A greater mass flow & straighter flow of slot gap air, increasing the power of the wake that suppresses diffuser exit (depowering/stalling) , thereby reducing overall pressure drag, reducing overall rolling resistance from rear tyres => aiding higher top speed than with a traditional DRS wing.
Of course, it's conjecture, but it seems the most plausible explanation, other than what Sky sports commentators propose
'look at that gap, that is HUGE so must mean lower drag' where they think the standalone Cd of the rear wing is lower in macarena config than DRS config.
