One of the keys to achieving performance in the current generation of ground effect Formula 1 cars is aerodynamics under the flat bottom, an area often hidden from view.
And just as we saw a variety of different sidepod concepts from the teams this year, it seems that from what we have been able to ascertain, there are also several different floor philosophies.
Each team has its own interpretation of the best way to perform within the limits of the new rules, although each of them in turn studies the designs of their rivals to try to find the optimal solution.
And given that porpoising is still a headache, and the role that ground aerodynamics plays in that is critical, there has been some intrigue from Imola about a concept that Red Bull is using on the underside of its RB18.
The Red Bull floor features a fin shaped like the blades used on ‘ice skates’, a strip of metal with holes in it, which sits on the rear outer corner of the floor and appears to offer numerous performance advantages. .
Detalle del suelo del Red Bull Racing RB18
The most obvious idea is that the metal fin inhibits the floor from flexing under load, thus preventing porpoising from kicking in too soon.
That could be achieved in two ways: firstly, by adding some stiffness directly to that area of the floor, and secondly, by making it act like a kind of skid, by stopping the floor from flexing once it has hit the track. That would be the reason why the component is made of metal instead of carbon, since it does not wear as much.
It’s worth noting that while many of Red Bull’s rivals have been forced to add metal supports to the top surface of the floor to prevent it from flexing too much, Red Bull hasn’t done so, suggesting they have the issue. under control.
That’s not to say they won’t run into problems, but it’s clear that the team’s current concept doesn’t force performance to be compromised.
As we have seen from Alpine, who introduced a new floor at Imola, the inclusion of a tie rod can be beneficial in terms of weight savings, as less material will be needed on the floor to achieve the same drag targets. .
Going back to Red Bull’s ‘ice skates’, there are also some aerodynamic benefits to that concept.
The surface is not only closely aligned with the falling edge of the ground, but also makes an abrupt turn to the trailing edge, which will result in the propagation of a vortex.
However, it is also worth noting that the wing has some holes that can be considered significant from an aerodynamic point of view.
Studying that piece, thanks to the Red Bull mechanics letting it out for a moment in the garage, you can also see some other features of the RB18 floor, such as the metal insert used in the floor edge cutout, which limits its flex, while the conformation of the central hoof is also interesting.
Not only is there a pronounced outward camber in the front section, there’s also an interesting staggered Z-shaped geometry as the ‘tail of the ship’ tapers off in cross-section at the rear and meets the diffuser.
Interestingly, this is reminiscent of the kind of design that resembles the hull of the boating industry, rather than the usual relationship between F1 and the aerospace industry.
Having opted for that design feature, Red Bull has yet to decide whether to move the line at which the diffuser starts to work forward as allowed by the rules. Some of its rivals have used multiple advances in this regard to increase the volume of the diffuser from a vertical perspective.
Those of energy drinks, for their part, have opted for a more gradual vertical transition, which could help them in the consequences caused by porpoising .
Ferrari has followed a different philosophy, opting for a much softer hull and wing shape. The ‘wing edge’ seen in this image was introduced at the start of the season when a new floor design was introduced at the Australian GP.
But, as they only had one, they chose not to race with him there or in the next race at Imola.
The floor features a revised rim, ditching the rim style that McLaren appropriated earlier in the year. But, perhaps most importantly, it also features a floor-mounted winglet similar to that of the Red Bull.
It also seems that the team studied the data collected during free practice in Australia, and carried out back-to-back tests with the two floor configurations in the recent Pirelli tire test, taking advantage of the fact that the regulations now allow such tests to be carried out with current cars.
