Formula 1 teams do everything to go fast and take advantage of that millionth of a second. They spend millions of dollars in developing a car and one of the key expenditures goes to Wind tunnel Testing. Formula 1 cars are the fastest cars on the corners and they need to be aerodynamically perfect to reach the level.
Former F1 team principal Guenther Steiner says “Wind tunnel testing is simply the most important development tool you have.” He feels every team comes up with new ideas for car designs and simulations but the wind tunnel is the place where they can verify whether they work.
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What is Wind Tunnel testing?
It is a round tube-shaped room with a massive fan at one end and a 60% production-ready Formula 1 car inside it. When the fan starts air will flow directly on the car replicating a Formula 1 track scenario. Engineers will study the car's aerodynamics by calculating the air flow without going to the actual track.
Many teams are investing millions in constructing these wind tunnels. McLaren opened their tunnel in 2022 and look at the results in the 2024 season. Red Bull is also building a modern wind tunnel scrapping the old one and will be operational in the 2026 season. Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Marton also have their wind tunnels.
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Why 'Aero' is important in F1?
The 2022 F1 regulations focused more on the F1 car's downforce and aerodynamics of the Formula 1 cars. So naturally Wind tunnel became an important factor in F1. Red Bull pointed their fingers at the old wind tunnel that they have been using for all these years for their lack of pace in the 2024 season.
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Formula 1 title win is a loss for McLaren
Formula 1 is sometimes cruel for winners too. The team that wins the constructors championship will have limited time at the wind tunnels compared with the team finishing at the bottom. The idea came up to maintain balance and equality among every team. McLaren was the most aerodynamically perfect car last season. For the 2025 season, they will lose their advantage in testing their 2025 cars at the tunnels. Sauber will have the longest testing hours and they will be very happy about it. The F1 season starts this March in Australia.
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