The current rules in F1 have resulted in the closest grid in history, where even a minor upgrade can make a difference between scoring points or being out in Q1 due to limitations on spending and aerodynamic testing. Racing Bulls, with over 500 people at its headquarters in Faenza, has to carefully integrate every department for updates to succeed. Beginning with aerodynamics, every performance upgrade starts with an idea from aerodynamicists, mostly located at the team’s UK headquarters in Milton Keynes. With F1’s budget cap, teams like Racing Bulls need to be disciplined in fleshing out ideas due to restrictions on wind tunnel hours and CFD work.
Matteo Piraccini, Racing Bull’s operations director, emphasizes the importance of CFD evaluation in the development process and working closely with the vehicle performance group for simulation outcomes. For the 2022 ground-effect cars, translating virtual numbers into real-world benefits has been challenging for many teams, including Racing Bulls, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. Depending on the upgrade package size, minor tweaks can be approved by performance managers while more extensive changes require thorough evaluation.
