How Formula 1 aerodynamics can
help an extreme track day car
Willem ToetSenior Sales Manager
Aerodynamic Services
• Knowledge transfer from F1 into other industries
• Engineering services (testing, dynamics, design)
• Aerodynamics (CFD, wind tunnel,
development)
• Data acquisition & sensor tech.
• Materials / Additive manufacturing
What do the Sauber Group do?
SAUBER Aerodynamics
How much difference does aerodynamics make?
A Glimpse into the Secrets of AerodynamicsThe Power of Aerodynamics
Lap time 82.18 seconds
A Glimpse into the Secrets of AerodynamicsThe Power of Aerodynamics
Lap time 82.18 seconds
103.64 = 21.46 sec. slower
A Glimpse into the Secrets of AerodynamicsThe Power of Aerodynamics
Lap time 82.18 seconds
103.64 = 21.46 sec. slower70%
24%
8%
Slow corner 70kph
without downforce but
8% faster with.......
A Glimpse into the Secrets of AerodynamicsThe Power of Aerodynamics
Lap time 82.18 seconds
103.64 = 21.46 sec. slower
101.63 = 2.01 sec. faster
Main tools for aerodynamic development used in Formula 1
1
2
3On-track testing:
Wind Tunnel:
60% scale model
CFD:
Computational
Fluid Dynamics
Model Scale
Wind Tunnel Testing
Wind Tunnel Model• Model from 2003 – this is a 50% model
• Model with bodywork removed – you see the mechanical layout and some electronics
© Willem Toet & MIA 2019
Wind Tunnel Model • 50% Model from 2003
© Willem Toet & MIA 2019
Model Design•Design details for discussion – 2005
•Mechanical sprung suspension for wheels on model
Aerodynamic development / Simulation tools
Wind Tunnel – 60% model
• Technical Data• 9.4 m Tube Diameter
• Model and Full Size Testing
• Steel Belt Rolling Road 0-80 m/s
• Turntable +/- 10 Deg
SAUBER Aerodynamik AG
• Large CFD cluster, new 2018, extended 2019
• In house developed model positional setup and
meshing software automates preparation
• In house solver constantly evolved, & tuned
together with universities and correlation team –
great results, fast, many categories
• Bespoke turbulence models and solver settings
have further improved accuracy
• Post processing automated, saves man time,
report writing aids speed up communication of
results
CFD - State of the art computational tools
CFD Applications and Challenges
Aero Maps – Dynamic Meshing
Meshing
SnappyHexMesh – open Source Modified Mesher used by Sauber Group
CFD – Solving
Trade-off between accuracy and run time. Testing more geometrical
options vs having a deeper understanding of the flow.
Beyond RANS
Track Testing
Rakes – not the first thing we measure – more like the last…
Manufacturers are fighting to achieve the best fuel consumption
– and a major contributor is Aerodynamics
Bitter rivals Audi and BMW (as most manufacturers) are in a battle to
achieve the lowest drag coefficient for normal saloon cars – the winners are
their customers – and Engineers / Aerodynamicists26
Hyper-cars need downforce for stability and low drag for top speed
More and more aerodynamic research is being
done into hypercars27
Aston Martin RB001
BugattiChiron
PaganiHuayra
KoenigseggJesto
GT Race cars, based on Road Cars already give aero clues
Time attack cars are the most extreme road based cars out there…You can find more information via my free posts
on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/today/posts/willemtoet1
• For more about the design of Formula SAE /
Student cars start with the blue circled posts
• For posts more about aerodynamics (with a
Formula 1 focus) look at these
• If you use Microsoft Edge to go into LinkedIn
and find any of my posts then hunt for a link to
“more posts” which will give you a page that
looks like these images....
• With Google LinkedIn uses a new layout which
I’m still getting used to...
Search for “Willem Toet posts” on any browser and you should find the link
You don’t need to be registered and don’t need to pay (to be a premium member)
30
Creating a Diffuser….
• Read about how a motorsport
diffuser works in via LinkedIn or
RaceTech Magazine.
• The LinkedIn article has slightly
clearer pictures, but the
RaceTecMag website article has
more detail at the end o the
article….
31
Managing Cooling Airflow
• There is a lot more information and
explanations in my LinkedIn post
called “Air Ducts – a down to earth
guide for motorsports applications”
32
Wing Design – wings and elements not in ground effect
• It is not necessary – or indeed particularly helpful to use “standard”
wing sections when designing aerofoil arrays – they have been
developed and tested alone....
• Aircraft wings need to collapse to an efficient shape when not used
for takeoff or landing - you don’t need to do that
• Think about curvature continuity and where that may be important
• Slot gaps should compress air so that the smallest gap is at the
trailing edge of the gap – overlaps are longer than you may think
• Allow space for slot gap air – but not too much
• Slot gaps may need to be big enough to allow debris (rubber
marbles) through.... (front wings F1 this is important)
• Unless you have great
research tools, don’t allow
the flap TE go vertical
These elements have
been created in Excel
as chart (X/Y) plots.....
So I have generated
them mathematically –
that should tell you
something.
33
When working in Ground Effect
• Curvature should be reduced because of the forced acceleration under
the wing. Another place that “standard” sections may not be the best…
• As drawn this wing may have a trailing edge separation…
Front Flick ups
TestCurve allows air out of
wheel arch area, more
downforce, esp if nose
up
Baseline Run
Louvres – Front wheel well Louvres – Front wheel well
Louvres can “connect” to
rear air enties of you
have them
Tyre Jets – here the front ones are managed by high energy
flow coming inboard of the front wheels but at the rear….
Tyre Jets – here the front ones are managed by high energy
flow coming inboard of the front wheels but at the rear….Fundamental
flow
regimes
used
One word
Vorticity
Note also
“rear brake
duct”
Diffuser kick line is often on rear axle centre line… Diffuser kick line does not have to be on axle centreline
Diffuser fences / strakes do not have to be straight unless
rules force them to be..
Fences can be fully
3D if there are no rules
- and should be… Questions?
by Willem Toet