First, a small explanation: there is no term ‘wing’, ‘underbody’ or ‘diffuser’ mentioned in the FIA rules. In the FIA Technical Regulations the area of rear wing is called “Bodywork behind the rear wheel centre line“, area of the front wing is called “Bodywork around the front wheels” and "Front bodywork", and underbody or undertray surfaces are called “Bodywork facing the ground”. There is noting about diffuser either. He is part of “Bodywork facing the ground” rules. You can find, however term ‘Gurney flap’.
For example, front wing is not regulated by wings dimension. Rules are giving you only dimensional imaginary “box” where wings (or anything else) are situated, and same apply for rear wings. Wing elements are called “closed section“ and they have regulated number of them, concave radius and chord. Rear wing assembly, as we know, must have only two elements, main wing element and upper flap element, and that's how they are described in the rules:
Funny, is it!!! Only Formula 1 engineer can understand this!
For few of you curious about this, I will copy here only rules regarding “Bodywork behind the rear wheel centre line“ (FIA Tech regs 2011) so you can see what I’m talking about. If you want to know more, FIA technical regulations are available for download from FIA official site with all of relevant measurements, sizes and positions. Enjoy!
3.10 Bodywork behind the rear wheel centre line :
3.10.1 Any bodywork more than 150mm behind the rear wheel centre line which is between 150mm and 730mm above the reference plane, and between 75mm and 355mm from the car centre line, must lie in an area when viewed from the side of the car that is situated between 150mm and 350mm behind the rear wheel centre line and between 300mm and 400mm above the reference plane. When viewed from the side of the car no longitudinal cross section may have more than one section in this area. Furthermore, no part of this
section in contact with the external air stream may have a local concave radius of curvature smaller than 100mm.
Once this section is defined, ‘gurney’ type trim tabs may be fitted to the trailing edge. When measured in any longitudinal cross section no dimension of any such trim tab may exceed 20mm.
3.10.2 Other than the bodywork defined in Article 3.10.9, any bodywork behind a point lying 50mm forward of the rear wheel centre line which is more than 730mm above the reference plane, and less than 355mm from the car centre line, must lie in an area when viewed from the side of the car that is situated between the rear wheel centre line and a point 350mm behind it.
With the exception of minimal parts solely associated with adjustment of the section in accordance with Article 3.18:
- when viewed from the side of the car, no longitudinal cross section may have more than two sections in this area, each of which must be closed.
- no part of these longitudinal cross sections in contact with the external air stream may have a local concave radius of curvature smaller than 100mm.
Once the rearmost and uppermost section is defined, ‘gurney’ type trim tabs may be fitted to the trailing edge. When measured in any longitudinal cross section no dimension of any such trim tab may exceed 20mm.
The chord of the rearmost and uppermost closed section must always be smaller than the chord of the lowermost section at the same lateral station. Furthermore, the distance between adjacent sections at any longitudinal plane must lie between 10mm and 15mm at their closest position, except, in accordance with Article 3.18, when this distance must lie between 10mm and 50mm.
3.10.3 In order to ensure that the individual profiles and the relationship between these two sections can only change whilst the car is in motion in accordance with Article 3.18, they must be bridged by means of pairs of rigid impervious supports arranged such that no part of the trailing edge of the forward section may be more than 200mm laterally from a pair of supports. These pairs of supports must:
- be located no more than 355mm from the car centre line;
- fully enclose each complete sections such that their inner profiles match that of each section. With the exception of minimal local changes where the two sections are adjacent to each other, their outer profiles must be offset from the inner profiles by between 8mm and 30mm and may not incorporate any radius smaller than 10mm (‘gurney’ type trim tabs may however be fitted between the supports);
- be aligned as a pair so as to provide a bearing across their full thickness and along a profile length of at least 10mm when the distance between the two sections is at its closest position;
- not be recessed into the wing profiles (where a recess is defined as a reduction in section at a rate greater than 45° with respect to a lateral axis);
- be arranged so that any curvature occurs only in a horizontal plane;
- be between 2mm and 5mm thick;
- be rigidly fixed to their respective sections;
- be constructed from a material with modulus greater than 50GPa.
These supports will be ignored when assessing whether the car is in compliance with Articles 3.6, 3.9.2, 3.10.1, 3.10.2, 3.10.4 and 3.10.6.
3.10.4 No part of the car between 75mm and 355mm from the car centre line may be more than 350mm behind the rear wheel centre line.
3.10.5 Any parts of the car less than 75mm from the car centre line and more than 500mm behind the rear wheel centre line must be situated between 200mm and 400mm above the reference plane.
3.10.6 No part of the car less than 75mm from the car centre line and more than 350mm behind the rear wheel centre line may be more than 400mm above the reference plane.
3.10.7 No part of the car more than 375mm from the car centre line may be more than 350mm behind the rear wheel centre line.
3.10.8 In side view, the projected area of any bodywork lying between 300mm and 950mm above the reference plane and between the rear wheel centre line and a point 600mm behind it and more than 355mm from the car centre line must be greater than 330000mm².
3.10.9 Any horizontal section between 600mm and 730mm above the reference plane, taken through bodywork located rearward of a point lying 50mm forward of the rear wheel centre line and less than 75mm from the car centre line, may contain no more than two closed symmetrical sections with a maximum total area of 5000mm2. The thickness of
each section may not exceed 25mm when measured perpendicular to the car centre line.
Once fully defined, the section at 725mm above the reference plane may be extruded upwards to join the sections defined in Article 3.10.2. A fillet radius no greater than 10mm may be used where these sections join.
Ouch!!! That's hurt!!!!
By the way, on some places in section „Bodywork behind the rear wheel centre line“ part of the rules, there is mention of Article 3.18. This part of the rules explain „Driver adjustable bodywork“, or as normal people calling it, adjustable rear wing or „Drag Reduction System (DRS)“. There is no word „wing“ in this part either. Here is copy of the rules, section 3.18:
3.18 Driver adjustable bodywork :
3.18.1 The incidence of the rearmost and uppermost closed section described in Article 3.10.2 may be varied whilst the car is in motion provided :
- It comprises only one component that must be symmetrically arranged about the car centre line with a minimum width of 708mm.
- With the exception of minimal parts solely associated with adjustment of the section, no parts of the section in contact with the external airstream may be located any more than 355mm from of the car centre line.
- With the exception of any minimal parts solely associated with adjustment of the rearmost and uppermost section, two closed sections are used in the area described in Article 3.10.2. Any such variation of incidence maintains compliance with all of the bodywork regulations.
- When viewed from the side of the car at any longitudinal vertical cross section, the physical point of rotation of the rearmost and uppermost closed section must be fixed and located no more than 20mm below the upper extremity and no more than 20mm forward of the rear extremity of the area described in Article 3.10.2 at all times.
- The design is such that failure of the system will result in the uppermost closed section returning to the normal high incidence position.
- Any alteration of the incidence of the uppermost closed section may only be commanded by direct driver input and controlled using the control electronics specified in Article 8.2.
3.18.2 The adjustable bodywork may be activated by the driver at any time prior to the start of the race and, for the sole purpose of improving overtaking opportunities during the race, after the driver has completed a minimum of two laps after the race start or following a safety car period. The driver may only activate the adjustable bodywork in the race when he has been notified via the control electronics (see Article 8.2) that it is enabled. It will only be enabled if the driver is less than one second behind another at any of the pre-determined positions around each circuit. The system will be disabled by the control electronics the first time the driver uses the brakes after he has activated the system. The FIA may, after consulting all competitors, adjust the above time proximity in order to ensure the stated purpose of the adjustable bodywork is met.
Now when we clear that, we can start with this article!
Wings are important. More eficient wing design will give you more downforce with less drag. But to win the races, it is not just wings. You can't just add the wings to get win. The most important thing apart from the wing level which always helps you go around corners is to have the overall balance. In this case you can feel very comfortable in the car. Today we have incredibly complex front and rear wings. And here we're talking about a big amount of aerodynamic influence, chased by d