Red Bull Racing is undoubtedly the team that now master aerodynamics of a Formula 1 car and the black art of generating downforce from the front wing, the floor, the diffuser and the rear wing.
Interestingly, all four work together. Installing the Red Bull RB7 diffuser on a Ferrari F150 Italia would not automatically generate faster lap times. Even the front wing assembly has a huge effect on the efficiency of the diffuser.
The diffuser is the up swept area of rear floor draws air from below car. It produces between 30 and 40% of total downforce of a typical F1 car.
The diffuser has two main objectives. Firstly, the ‘Venturi Effect’ states that the speed of airflow is faster when the channel (the diffuser) it passes through is constricted. This lowers the air pressure and sucks the car to the tarmac.
The second important benefit of the rear diffuser is to pull the air through from underneath the car. This fast flow of air reduces the layer of air molecules that sticks to the body of the car and as such increases downforce. As a result, the diffuser aids downforce along the entire length of the car, not just at the rear of the car.
From the following photos taken at the Hungaroring during the Hungarian Grand Prix, we can easily see that the RB7 is running a high rake angle. The rear end of the car is much higher than the front end. In comparison, the McLaren is running almost flat to the relative surface of the track.
Running a high rake angle sends more air to the diffuser. The rake angle is extremely sensitive, even one or two millimetres one way or the other one either the front or rear end can have a significant effect on downforce.
But note that every part of the fantastic Red Bull needs to be looked at as a whole concept, not individual pieces. And it's the sum of all parts that make the RB7 a outstanding race car.
Interestingly, all four work together. Installing the Red Bull RB7 diffuser on a Ferrari F150 Italia would not automatically generate faster lap times. Even the front wing assembly has a huge effect on the efficiency of the diffuser.
The diffuser is the up swept area of rear floor draws air from below car. It produces between 30 and 40% of total downforce of a typical F1 car.
The diffuser has two main objectives. Firstly, the ‘Venturi Effect’ states that the speed of airflow is faster when the channel (the diffuser) it passes through is constricted. This lowers the air pressure and sucks the car to the tarmac.
The second important benefit of the rear diffuser is to pull the air through from underneath the car. This fast flow of air reduces the layer of air molecules that sticks to the body of the car and as such increases downforce. As a result, the diffuser aids downforce along the entire length of the car, not just at the rear of the car.
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| Red Bull, RB7. (Photo: WRI2) |
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| McLaren, MP4-26. (Photo: WRi2) |
From the following photos taken at the Hungaroring during the Hungarian Grand Prix, we can easily see that the RB7 is running a high rake angle. The rear end of the car is much higher than the front end. In comparison, the McLaren is running almost flat to the relative surface of the track.
Running a high rake angle sends more air to the diffuser. The rake angle is extremely sensitive, even one or two millimetres one way or the other one either the front or rear end can have a significant effect on downforce.
But note that every part of the fantastic Red Bull needs to be looked at as a whole concept, not individual pieces. And it's the sum of all parts that make the RB7 a outstanding race car.
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| Image: Shell Motorsport |