Flexiwings 2025

[Emag]

I think Mclaren has taken their noodle-nomics to the next level, attempting to "seal" the gap between the beam wing and the diffuser in the high speed corners to increase the diffuser extraction, which powers up the floor just a bit more.

Not sure if that is possible. There is quite a big gap between the beam wing and the diffuser :



The only place the beam wing can flex, is at the outer edges where the support is weaker and the rear wing is "floating".
That's the part we see flex at load and close the visible gap in the video as well. The outer part though, is even further away from the diffuser exit than the rest of the beam wing. I am no aerodynamicist, so I can't say for certainty, but the way I see it, the only way to get the effect you're describing is if the diffuser roof flexes upwards.

[Vanja #66]

I think Mclaren has taken their noodle-nomics to the next level, attempting to "seal" the gap between the beam wing and the diffuser in the high speed corners to increase the diffuser extraction, which powers up the floor just a bit more.

Good catch, I suspected it but haven't seen a high-speed corner footage to confirm. However, they aren't going to seal the slot, they want to reduce it to increase boundary layer energising and thus local suction. This is a drag penalty on straights though. Nothing huge in either case

This behaviour is amplified when a single flap beam wing is used, when there's another flap at the front it stiffens up the endplate and this reduces flexing. Same things are happening on Red Bull and other cars when they use single-flap BW, btw

Also, due to the nature of centrifugal force bending the rear wing on the outside, the beam wing flap on the outside of the corner is dropping lower and thus increasing the load on that side by cutting the slot gap. Which is handy, since the outside half of the floor is lower to the ground and working harder and also F1 cars steer with outside wheels. Neat

[marcel171281]

Without that advantage come Spain it's game on for Max and Red Bull. That's a whopper of flex and he still beat them. Incredible. https://twitter.com/cytrusf1/status/190 ... _&ref_url=

Why is the beam wing (and entire rear wing assembly)on the RB moving relative the body work, but the outlined graphic on the rear wing doesn't show the RW moving?

Because on the RB the body work is moving. You can see it moving in motion with the rear suspension when the car is weaving to warm up the tyres. Looks like the suspension upper wishbone is touching the bodywork when in compression, making the whole engine cover move slighty from left to right and vice versa.

[Rikhart]

That rage-bait video edit to magnify McLaren wing flex is what's wrong with the state of F1 fandom on social media today

What do you think is the effect of the beam wing appearing to bridge the gap to the diffuser exit? I'm of the opinion that it could meaningfully power up the diffuser at higher speeds when it flexes by closing down that gap to make a more seamless ramp which extends the diffuser. Mclaren is the best car in the highspeed corners.

https://i.postimg.cc/63c2BzP8/image.png


It also does the same thing in the first sector.

Turn 3:
https://i.postimg.cc/wMh0FC41/image.png

Turn 7 (ignore the typo):
https://i.postimg.cc/sD4TWRZ8/image.png


I think Mclaren has taken their noodle-nomics to the next level, attempting to "seal" the gap between the beam wing and the diffuser in the high speed corners to increase the diffuser extraction, which powers up the floor just a bit more.

Maybe we should open a new topic:

FlexiCARS

[Farnborough]

Copied here from MB discussion thread

"Just to throw a spanner on the discussion: Are we sure that the camera mount is not flexing?

But yes, all rear wings flex to some extent and this perspective discussion is not relevant to THIS car in particular... feel free to split the discussion to a different thread if you wish.
A good point, but effectively it wouldn't change the views given by the image analysis here.

What moving the camera (gyro etc) does is simply move the field of view around, without changing the perspective (geometry within the recorded image) just relocation within image record plane. That because the camera mount didn't change or move it's location on the chassis. Just realignment on those images (as Vanja has done) still offers us the true movement to see.

To simplify, if you stood distant to an object and looked at it, you couldn't see what is behind that object. If you rotated your head the view doesn't change, whichever direction you were to move your head . That's effectively what gyro is doing.

To change perspective you'd need to move in one or more of three axis, up/down, left/right, back/forward, then the image geometry shifts. If that were to happen between frames, then they couldn't be "transposed" to make something of finite comparison.

The camera mount doesn't move location, the object (side plane of engine cover spine) in base of image also offers valid reference to realign field of view. This because it is definitely part of that structure the camera is mounted to, dimension stable in other words.

Because the camera mount position doesn't change on the chassis, then this offers by default that the wing is absolutely moving as noted in the analysis given.

There's other things in this that are not really for discussion in detail of this thread though, that's if its to consider what the FIA take from it."

As part of discussion looking at relative movement of wing in relationship to chassis.

[peewon]

I would say it's unfair in the sense that FIA has introduced stricter tests and TDs in the past for almost the exact same things on much shorter notice (2-3 races). And because RB was the target of those technical directives in the past.

But now FIA seems to be dragging its feet even allowing a teams an entire off season and more without major changes. Even the mini DRS problem required it blowing up on social media for the FIA to react even though teams like RB & Ferrari had been complaining for months.

So it seems like FIA can be super proactive or completely apathetic towards certain rule bends depending on who's doing them. That's the unfairness.

2-3 races is not short notice though. 2-3 races are enough to dictate the results of both championships on a tight grid.

Okay so in comparison, this flexi wing issue has been on going since at least mid last season. And the FIA refused to introduce new tests or issue TDs stating that teams wont be able to adjust before the end of the season. This was a statement by Nikolas Tombazis in September last year.

"It would affect not only aerodynamics but also the structure of the components. Even if we announced a new rule today, the teams would not be ready for Abu Dhabi." The director explained.

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/fia-on-f ... hange.html

This is why its unfair. Even after a full off season, its on going.

[AR3-GP]

The upgrade package is the first step, the second step should follow a few weeks later. Red Bull is eagerly looking forward to the Spanish GP, where stricter restrictions on the flexibility of the front wing apply. Red Bull makes no secret of assuming that McLaren will be affected by this, more than Red Bull in any case. Paolo Filisetti, the technical analyst of RacingNews365, estimates that advantage for Red Bull at about one to one and a half tenths, Red Bull may expect a little more from it itself.

https://racingnews365.nl/overlevingstoc ... -barcelona


The author (Paolo Filisetti) is notorious for making up fairytales, so take it with some skepticism.

[bluechris]

The upgrade package is the first step, the second step should follow a few weeks later. Red Bull is eagerly looking forward to the Spanish GP, where stricter restrictions on the flexibility of the front wing apply. Red Bull makes no secret of assuming that McLaren will be affected by this, more than Red Bull in any case. Paolo Filisetti, the technical analyst of RacingNews365, estimates that advantage for Red Bull at about one to one and a half tenths, Red Bull may expect a little more from it itself.

https://racingnews365.nl/overlevingstoc ... -barcelona


The author (Paolo Filisetti) is notorious for making up fairytales, so take it with some skepticism.

Well, till the end of season we will have jello F1, the others are not stupid and MCLaren and MB are the only smart people, they will follow suit. Let's see then what FIA will do.

[Quantum]

Mercedes testing the flex of their latest update.
Dual purpose of passing tests and tear generation.



Linked:
https://www.reddit.com/r/formuladank/co ... utm_term=1

[Cs98]

Mercedes testing the flex of their latest update.
Dual purpose of passing tests and tear generation.

https://streamable.com/gyjo25

LOL. This will be the new flexiwing meme. Big guy back there just flexing on the rest of the grid.

[bluechris]

I suppose something is stuck and they try hard to unstuck it but it's hilarious lol

[AR3-GP]

Mercedes front wing flex here in Jeddah is insane.

[bluechris]

Mercedes front wing flex here in Jeddah is insane.

Well watch the rear also

Is there any video of the front?

[AR3-GP]

I thought that it was interesting hearing Ferrari voices this weekend piping up about spain...

[AR3-GP]

Mercedes front wing flex here in Jeddah is insane.

Well watch the rear also

Is there any video of the front?

I should have screen recorded at the time. I may do that later.