We are finally back to a Grand Prix weekend and the sound of the 1.6 turbo power units will be ringing in our ears once again. The mid-season is great for the teams to bring all their upgrade packages to the race in hope they move up the grid or preserve their lead if they are at the top.
We all heard Caterham had a huge upgrade package planned for Spa, which they have delivered on. Caterham’s new principal Christian Albers said “we must slap that car in the wind tunnel, in order to improve” which they have done. They have brought along a new and improved nose cone and front wing with a new and streamlined engine cover. Firstly their new front wing, which is aesthetically better looking than before. The new front wing is mainly the same and still has just 2 main plates from the preferred 3 main plates of the other teams. Secondly as their front nose cone came down to meet the front wing, the has been significantly improved to make it more aerodynamic. On the old design it was squared off straightly, now however it is rounded off as it meets the popular ‘finger nose’ on the front of the car. Caterham claim that is more “aero efficient”, and provides a cleaner air to the diffuser and sidepods of the car.
Caterham also have a brand new engine cover for Spa. It very simply there to help give better air flow over the car and to the rear wing. It is allot sleeker than before and has no bolt on panels like before. So basically now it is one big mould from one sidepod to the other sidepod. It defiantly help at Spa and Monza where downforce is not a priority but straight line speed.
Next we have Sauber who have a torrid time in 2014 nevertheless they must soldier on and improve the car. Their drivers have complained of “unstable at high speed braking” which is bad news as a confident driver on the brakes is a faster driver. So in order to improve the stability they have designed and fitted a new diffuser to the C33, which now has the turning vanes pointing out allot more in order for a better air exit from the car and it works out allot neater too. Before the C33 had lots of ripples in the air flow as it travelled underneath, now however its allot smoother and cleaner which should help with rear stability and straight line speed. Also new on the Sauber is the brake cover the ‘Zircotec style’ coating which they have been toying with for some time. First impressions are that the design is better suited for hard braking which is a key the a quick lap around Spa. So the drivers are able to brake later and with more stability at the rear.
Thirdly we have Force India, who haven’t really added many upgrades to the car for Spa apart from there low drag rear wing as used in Montreal. Also they will use their ‘Monkey Seat’ from the same Grand Prix as its designed for low drag output, and will aid with straight line speed which is a must at Spa.
Next up is Marusia who have worked closely with Ferrari on their brakes and have a new front wing in place. It simply has 4 slots underneath it which are behind the main plates on the upper surface. They simply give the car a better air flow under the car to the rear diffuser. The effect of this will give the front tyres better and longer life and more stability to the rear of the car.
Lotus have struggled financially this year, but that has not stopped them bring allot of upgrades to the recent races. They like Force India will run there Montreal rear wing which has a low drag system with only 2 Louvre’s (slots) on the end plate of the wing. This should allow for better air exit form the wing and therefore making the car more streamlined and quicker with less downforce the only side effect which will not be missed at Spa as much as other tighter circuits.
Mercedes have been the dominant force in Formula 1 this year so they must continue there momentum all the way to the last Grand Prix. They have brought a new rear wing which has curved sections cut out of the upper DRS flap. Mercedes tried their ‘low drag’ wing in the Silverstone test, and claim that the rear of the car is in needed of an “improvement” as its need to be slightly more stable both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton say. Also on the Mercedes there is a a little vertical fin on top of the brake duct which creates a longitudinal vortex. Basically it aids with air flow and moves it to the sidepods more cleanly from before.
Ferrari have not had the season they first hoped for. Their car has been bad on the Brakes and their engine has less power in comparison to rivals. Nevertheless they have updates for the car. They have wrapped the exhaust manifold on the car in hope that it will keep heat and energy in side it to drive the MGU-K unit. The more heat you have, the more energy can be stored and more energy makes the MGU-K unit more powerful, so Ferrari should have more power per lap. Also new on the F14T is a rear wing which has 3 slots per side of the endplate and is the same as the Mercedes design only an extra slot for even better air exit from the car. This will aid with making the car more efficient (faster) in a straight line if the air escapes quicker, this will be a popular feature on most cars.
Last we have McLaren who after a brilliant Grand Prix in Australia have now slipped back into the mid-field pack. In order to move up they have significant upgrades to the car. The biggest being the rear wing which now has a curved main plate on the top towards the tubercles. This in place for a smoother airflow over the rear wing and off the car. This will aid the MP4-29 in a straight line over the Spa circuit.
