Aerodynamics in 2017 Formula 1 season have been revised to significantly increase downforce and grip. The main changes focus on bigger wheels, wings and an arrow-like shape of the wings and sidepods with the scope of achieving faster and more aggressive-looking race cars.

As an exercise of design and imagination I have 3D-modelled a Formula One Race Car according to 2017’s FIA Technical Regulations in order to visualize how they may look like when they start roaring their hybrid power units in Barcelona next March.

To begin with, let’s imagine that there’s a new Formula One team in the called F1rst Racing, which has decided to introduce their 2017 single-seater:

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The software used for the modelling and rendering was CATIA V5.

With the help of the model shown, I will explain with a bit more detail the main aerodynamic elements and changes of 2017 Formula 1 cars referring to the FIA’s Technical Regulations (which you can find here: FIA F1 Regulations) and showcasing some new interpretations and concepts that might arise.

Main Dimensions:

Width: Articles 3.3 and 3.4.1 refer the car’s and the bodywork’s (except the front wing) maximum width of 2000mm and 1600mm respectively. The bodywork’s width is increased from 1400mm in 2016.

Articles 3.3 and 3.4.1 refer the car’s and the bodywork’s (except the front wing) maximum width of 2000mm and 1600mm respectively. The bodywork’s width is increased from 1400mm in 2016. Height: Article 3.6.1 limits the maximum height of the car at 950mm over the reference plane.

Article 3.6.1 limits the maximum height of the car at 950mm over the reference plane. Length: Article 3.13.1 claims that “No part of the car may be more than 710mm behind the rear wheel centre line or more than 1200mm in front of the front wheel centre line.”. Thus, given that the wheel base is 3330mm, the car’s total length will be 5240mm.

Article 3.13.1 claims that “No part of the car may be more than 710mm behind the rear wheel centre line or more than 1200mm in front of the front wheel centre line.”. Thus, given that the wheel base is 3330mm, the car’s total length will be 5240mm. Wheels: Articles 12.4.1 and 12.4.2 specify the front and rear wheels’ width to 380mm and 465mm respectively. Their diameter is 670mm. This means that while the diameter remains the same, both wheels are wider than in 2016.

Front Wing:

The entire front wing must fir within the bounding boxes defined by article 3.7.1.

Furthermore, Article 3.7.3 describes the main plane’s central section and Articles 3.4.2 and 3.7.4 the endplate’s size.

All in all, the new regulations define a front wing that increases its width from 1650mmin 2016 to 1800mm and that is also swept backwards like an arrow to provide a more aggressive and attractive look to the car as well as increasing downforce.

Nosecone and Chassis:

Nose: Articles 3.7.6 and 15.4.3 define the nose’s shape and remain almost identical to the ones in 2015 and 2016. Therefore, to maximise the airflow under the chassis the only possible solution is the one currently used by most of the teams of the grid. Article 15.4.3 demands that the nose’s cross section perpendicular to the car’s centre line and 50mm behind its forward-most point must have a minimum area of 9000mm2 and be located above 135mm over the reference plane. There must also be another cross section at 150mm from the forward-most point with a minimum cross-sectional area of 2000mm2. Additionally, Article 3.7.6 defines a diagonal line below which the nose must be. Thus, to maximise the airflow underneath the nose, both sections defined by Article 15.4.3 must have the following shape: First of all, the section 50mm behind the forward-most point needs to be as narrow as possible. Hence it needs to be as far back as possible to have the maximum height (85mm). That is why teams aim for the shortest nose possible for this solution. Regarding the second section, it must have a T-like shape and be as wide as possible at the top (330mm). In addition, by having the minimum height over the reference plane (135mm) and a lower width that allows for an aerofoil-like shape at the tip, the thinness of the upper part is minimized and the gap for the air to flow beneath the nose is maximised. Furthermore, the noses’ onboard cameras will no longer be able to be located over the nose as in 2016 due to Articles 20.3.2, 20.3.3 and 20.3.4, which describes the area within which the cameras must be enclosed.

Chassis: Articles 3.7.6 and 15.4.4 specify the dimensions of the front part of the chassis. Like with the nose, to maximise the airflow underneath the chassis it must be raised to the maximum height of 625mm and lower it at the front bulkhead that must be at 550mm over the reference plane requirement.

Bodywork around the Front Wheels

Article 3.8.9 specifies a maximum height over the reference plane of 475mm for any bodywork enclosed in the following area (except for rear viewing mirrors):

Additionally, Article 3.10.1 forbids any bodywork within the described area.

Article 3.10.2 forbids any bodywork below the line described.

As a result, the new regulations allow for larger barge board than in 2016 (becoming more similar to the ones seen until 2008) and also gives room for an additional vertical fin that, when working in conjunction with the one surrounding the sidepod, improves the flow management towards the rear of the car. Therefore, as it is shown on this model, the new regulations could open the possibility for the barge boards to become an extension of the fins located underneath the chassis and improve the airflow heading towards the sidepods and the underbody.

Engine Cover

Beginning with the upper intake, a similar design to the one used by Mercedes in the 2016 season was selected. There are two reasons for this decision:

First, adding additional inlets for the cooling of the internals allows for tighter sidepods and thus better aerodynamics. Second, being the rear wing lower in 2017, this inlet design acts like an aerofoil to the air that flows towards the rear wing and hence becomes less turbulent.

The inlet’s size is closely related to the principal rollover structure defined in article 15.2.

Regarding the engine cover, it must have a maximum width of 640mm (the same as the headrest’s) according to Article 3.8.1. Furthermore, when viewed from the side it must cover the lines described on Article 3.15.1:

At the engine’s cover rear-end, there must be an opening for the exhaust pipes. To comply with Article 5.8.3, the exhaust layout is formed by a 50mm-radius turbine tailpipe and two 12.5mm-radius wastegate tailpipe exits, a layout frequently used in 2016. Such layout can blows larger and better controlled mass flow of exhaust gases towards a certain direction than with two pipes on top of each other.

Given that the rear wing is 150mm lower than on 2016, it makes more sense to use the exhaust gases to be blown towards the rear wing’s low pressure side and increase its downforce. Thus, the pipe is located as high as it can be as specified by Article 5.8.4:

Sidepods

Article 3.8.4 specifies that the minimum curvature radius around the sidepods and engine cover in pretty much any cross section perpendicular to the car centre line must be of at least 75mm.

The swept backwards-shape of 2017 sidepods is defined by Articles 3.8.8, where the area described must be covered by bodywork when seen from above:

The result is a swept- backwards sidepod that has a coke bottle shape and is narrow at the bottom so that a large amount of the airflow around the car is led towards the car’s diffuser.

Rear Wing

Articles 3.5.2, 3.5.3 and 3.6.2 define the rear wing’s width and height:

Article 3.9.1 defines the boundaries where the two rear wing’s profiles (main plane and flap) must be enclosed and how they must be.

Furthermore, given that the two elements must span 910mm, the remaining of the rear wing until it reaches the 950mm of maximum width can be used to fit an alternative more efficient wing layout made with more elements:

Regarding the endplates, Articles 3.9.5, 3.9.7, 3.9.8 and 3.9.9 describe them with a swept-backwards shape that, like the sidepods and the front wing, it gives them a more aggressive look.

Additionally, given that Article 3.5.3 makes endplates 110mm narrower below 450mm over the reference plane, a curved shape around the wing can be used to better channel the air around it:

As a result, a 2017 rear wing is essentially similar to a 2016 one but 150mm lower, swept backwards and larger, which will increase downforce not only because of the size but also due to the closer proximity to the larger diffuser.

Furthermore, the rear wing support can also be used to help increase downforce. In 2016 the rear wing support was disguised as an extension of the engine cover to minimize its impact. Instead, in 2017 it could be used to improve the interaction of the exhaust pipes blowing at the rear wing. While meeting Article 3.9.6, this rear wing mount features a Y-like shape that attaches to the gearbox, splits into two to surround the exhaust pipes and then joins the rear wing. The mount also supports a wing that is less than 100mm from the car’s centre line to meet Article 3.9.7 that adds downforce and contributes to the exhaust blowing at the rear wing.

As it surrounds the exhaust pipe both pillars’ trailing edges separate to help expand the gases and reach a larger area of the wing.

Underbody and Diffuser

The underbody and diffuser are also changed significantly in order to increase downforce. The main differences are:

Like the wings and sidepods, 2017 underbodies will also feature a swept backwards shape due to Articles 3.8.7, where there must be no bodywork within the area described (except for the rear view mirrors).

The underbody’s “undertray” is 100mm shorter than in 2016 which, according to Articles 3.11.1 and 3.11.2 must be at 430mm from the front wheel’s centre line.

According to Article 3.11.4 surfaces on the reference plane may be curved upwards with a radius of up to 100mm, 50mm more than in 2016. An example could be the curved upwards surfaces found around the barge boards, which help manage the deviated flow alongside the underbody. Having a larger radius to play with could lead to more aggressive shapes that may improve the flow around the underbody.

Regarding the diffuser, its height has been increased by 50mm from 2016 to 175mm above the reference plane in 2017 according to Article 3.11.7. Furthermore, according to Article 3.5.1, the diffuser is 50mm wider than on 2016 and also allows for an extra 25mm (up to 200mm over the reference plane) to add gurneys or other elements over the diffuser that increase its performance.

The width of the additional elements that can be added over the diffuser and are not limited by Article 3.5.1 has been increased from 150mm in 2016 to 200mm in 2017 according to Article 3.9.7.