P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Technical analyst Paolo Filisetti takes a look at what has caught the eye on the opening day of the first pre-season test in Bahrain.
As Formula 1’s opening test session unfolds in Bahrain following the closed-door Barcelona shakedown, fascinating developments are emerging across various machines in the sport’s technical landscape. Audi’s radical sidepod configuration featuring vertical inlets challenges the established undercut philosophy and transforms airflow management toward the car’s rear sections. This unconventional approach increases the sidepods’ frontal area to direct turbulent air outward, requiring a new methodology for rear aerodynamic management with complex considerations for optimizing airflow.
Audi’s unique aerodynamic measurement approach places their rake ahead of the rear wheels, contrasting sharply with rivals positioning them behind the front wheels, highlighting the complexities of their chosen solution. The Aston Martin AMR26’s prominent air vent on the engine cover showcases tight packaging and sinuous profile, emphasizing precise airflow management over the critical rear end area.
Teams have varied approaches for rear-flap operation during aerodynamic active overtake mode, with Alpine’s distinctive mechanism featuring a pivot point positioned at the center of both elements. This design choice aims to lower the trailing edge of the final flap, optimizing air extraction from the diffuser on straights, especially during diffuser stall conditions.
