Formula 1

Championship-winning aero-expertise

Ultimately, aerodynamic improvements win World Championships. It is McLaren Racing’s continuous development and testing programme that delivers the critical fractions of a second that the team demand. Even before Formula 1’s regulators introduced tyre control and froze engine development, aerodynamic refinement was the number one tool for performance enhancement. “We target a 0.1-second performance gain at each race,” explains Martin Whitmarsh, Team Principal of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. In peak periods, the wind tunnel in the McLaren Technology Centre runs intensively, further optimising the car’s aerodynamic efficiency.

Efficient in all conditions

At McLaren, our Formula 1 aerodynamics team operates a continuous development programme that constantly strives to optimise performance and tailor the cars’ set-ups for different tracks. For example, the corner-heavy Monaco circuit requires a heavy downforce set-up whereas the high-speed Monza track, where 70% of the lap is at full throttle, requires a low downforce spec. This is achieved through a powerful combination of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), wind tunnel assessment and track testing. The wind tunnel is the king of aerodynamic testing, delivering accurate results more quickly than a track test.

Turning the rules to our advantage

Such is the level of performance of a modern Formula 1 car, the sport’s governing body (the FIA), has over the years introduced safety regulations to slow the cars’ cornering speeds, by limiting their aerodynamic effectiveness. Within the boundaries of this regulatory environment, the team’s Formula 1 cars have always employed aerodynamic innovations. At only 80mph a Formula 1 car generates roughly its own 600kg weight in downforce, allowing it to theoretically drive upside down on the ceiling.