F1 f duct how does it work

Racecarcar spoke to a source in F1 to find out exactly how significant these gains could be. McLaren appear to have found a very neat solution for redirecting the airflow over the rear wing and consequently allowing the flap to stall.

Whilst they have been very tight lipped about the system, it is most likely that the conduit from the front to rear of the car has a vent in the cockpit that can be blocked by the drivers left leg, which is not in use on long straights. Blocking the vent could direct enough airflow through the conduit to disrupt the flow over the rear flap and induce a stall. This approach is ingenious for two key reasons:.

Below are some images of the most probable routing for the system: Illustrations by Craig Scarborough. Whilst the exact workings of the system are impossible to judge, the above explanation is the most likely. McLaren have managed to get a jump on their competition and a number of teams have already tested their own interpretations of the system, although whether these will integrate as efficiently with their existing aero packages remains to be seen.

The Ferrari and Mercedes systems are markedly different in design from the McLaren system, but both seek the same result: Reduce high speed drag in the straights while maximizing downforce in the corners while keeping the air flowing smoothly.

Solving that equation has always required a compromise found only by repeated testing during practice sessions. But McLaren has found an answer that is beautiful in its simplicity. We ran it down before the season opener in Bahrain, but we'll recap it here. From there it flows to the wing and passes through small slots to the back side of the wing, where the added energy can aid the airflow like the slats on a plane. This increases downforce in the corners.

The downside of increased downforce is, of course, increased drag. To minimize this drag, the driver can close the vent with his left knee, halting air flow to the rear wing. That essentially stalls the rear wing, thereby reducing drag and increasing speed on the straightaways. Mercedes has built a version that features a small channel in the middle of the rear wing.

It looks like a beefy center support, but it provides much the same result as the F-duct. Blowing air in this area reduces the difference between the high-pressure and the low-pressure zones, therefore generating less drag, and less downforce.

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