Articles RSS

Finding aerodynamic performance in Formula 1 is as much about following the examples set by your rivals as it is about finding new design avenues. However, when all of the major design solutions have been widely adopted there must come a point at which new design avenues become apparent. Here are just three examples of such innovation that have emerged in recent races... Alfa Romeo C38 endplate design, German Grand Prix Photo by: Giorgio Piola Alfa Romeo introduced a revised front wing footplate design at the British GP that was further adapted for the German GP. As the footplate is not as rigorously governed by the new regulations as other areas of the front wing, it allows the design engineers...

As F1 returns from its summer break, Giorgio Piola and Sutton Images bring you the Formula 1 technical updates on show in the Spa-Francorchamps pitlane at the Belgian Grand Prix, giving insight into the relentless development undertaken by the teams in pursuit of more performance. Ferrari SF90 front wing detail Photo by: Giorgio Piola Ferrari has looked at trimming some downforce for the Belgian GP with the uppermost front wing flap sporting a shorter chord (lower wing shown here). Ferrari SF90 rear detail Photo by: Giorgio Piola Ferrari also has made changes at the rear of the car as it rolled out the SF90 for scrutinizing with a low-downforce rear wing. It may only turn out to be a test...

2019 season opened with the expectation of a battle between Mercedes and Ferrari, with Red Bull and its new Honda engine expected to be a competitive outsider. And, while Mercedes proved be the force everyone was expecting with enormous dominance, Ferrari has underperformed. With strategy and car reliability issues, the Maranello team is not close to competing with Mercedes, even if  in Bahrain we had a wonderful drive from Leclerc at his second race with the red car: he made pole position and dominated  the race until an engine failure prevented him from achieving his first Grand Prix win. We’ve had a surprise with Red Bull performance. Thanks to Verstappen aggressive driving and Honda engine  competitiveness, we are getting exciting duels between him and Hamilton and they’ve managed to...

In just three years at the start of the 1990s, McLaren went from winning its fourth F1 championship in a row in 1991 to failing to win a race in its first year without Ayrton Senna in 1994. The tough times continued until 1997 when the MP4/12 made it a winner again. Jake Boxall-Legge and Giorgio Piola visited McLaren's Woking base to take a closer look at the '97 car, the title-winning MP4-13 that followed in 1998, and they explain the brake trick both cars had that was ultimately banned.

F1 rules have not yet been finalized, the ideas are advanced enough for Motorsport.com’s technical editor Giorgio Piola to imagine how the new generation of grand prix machinery will look.