F1 Evaluating ‘Wheel Arches’

[FW17]

Is it the plan to fit the wheel arch only to the front wheels or both front and rear?

[Vanja #66]

100% positive development, let's hope those parts can be used for overall aero gains and reduce wheel drag by at least 10%. I really like what Ross Brawn is doing with technical side of F1.

Getting slightly smaller width tyres (as somewhat announced for 2026 changes) will also help with this spray, as will overall narrower cars.

[maxxer]

100% positive development, let's hope those parts can be used for overall aero gains and reduce wheel drag by at least 10%. I really like what Ross Brawn is doing with technical side of F1.

Getting slightly smaller width tyres (as somewhat announced for 2026 changes) will also help with this spray, as will overall narrower cars.

Would be nice to see narrower cars again these are just so big so much areo area

[Vanja #66]

Would be nice to see narrower cars again these are just so big so much areo area

I hope they get down to 1.9m at least, if 1.8 would slow them down too much. Even those 10cm will make a difference with overtaking and far better low-speed performance, especially since weight will go down as well - finally!

[Holm86]

Would be nice to see narrower cars again these are just so big so much areo area

I hope they get down to 1.9m at least, if 1.8 would slow them down too much. Even those 10cm will make a difference with overtaking and far better low-speed performance, especially since weight will go down as well - finally!

I don't hope they narrow them back down again, the biggest enemy is the massive increase in wheelbase.
Thats the reason they turn like limo's. The Wheelbase should be at an absolute maximum of 3000mm instead of 3600mm now.

[Big Tea]

Would be nice to see narrower cars again these are just so big so much areo area

I hope they get down to 1.9m at least, if 1.8 would slow them down too much. Even those 10cm will make a difference with overtaking and far better low-speed performance, especially since weight will go down as well - finally!

You say slow them down, but it would all be comparative to each other. Only numbers would be lower and there may be more actual racing as there would be fractionally more time and more room.

[Vanja #66]

I don't hope they narrow them back down again, the biggest enemy is the massive increase in wheelbase.
Thats the reason they turn like limo's. The Wheelbase should be at an absolute maximum of 3000mm instead of 3600mm now.

You can't really have that much smaller wheelbase without smaller track, you need to maintain their ratio to keep suspension dynamics where you want them. Ferrari F2008 had a WB of around 3200-3250mm with 1800mm max width. Nose was sticking out a lot less until 2017, which is one of the main reasons todays cars feel so much longer than before.

You say slow them down, but it would all be comparative to each other. Only numbers would be lower and there may be more actual racing as there would be fractionally more time and more room.

Yes, of course, I was saying that since 2017 changes were aimed at getting 5s faster cars and nothing else. 100% agreed on racing, 2017 changes were really bad for racing and 2009-2016 rules were already a massive fail to get better racing.

[Holm86]

I don't hope they narrow them back down again, the biggest enemy is the massive increase in wheelbase.
Thats the reason they turn like limo's. The Wheelbase should be at an absolute maximum of 3000mm instead of 3600mm now.

You can't really have that much smaller wheelbase without smaller track, you need to maintain their ratio to keep suspension dynamics where you want them. Ferrari F2008 had a WB of around 3200-3250mm with 1800mm max width. Nose was sticking out a lot less until 2017, which is one of the main reasons todays cars feel so much longer than before.

Sure you can, in the 80's and 90's cars were more than 2000mm wide, and yet they had a wheelbase of under 3000mm

[Vanja #66]

Sure you can, in the 80's and 90's cars were more than 2000mm wide, and yet they had a wheelbase of under 3000mm
https://preview.redd.it/fq7ifeizzpu81.j ... f5b0085319

Yes and 30 years passed since that time, during which almost every aspect of F1 car design (tyres, aero, engines, weight, safety requirements, etc...) changed completely Upvoted for the picture, thanks for sharing

[FW17]

Getting back to the wheel arches, it is a good idea to use it as part of the wet tyres. But the idea of having the race stopped for them to be fitted or taken off seems rather strange.

I would prefer them to be mandatory length for the pit stop, like a min.

[Big Tea]

What happens if it starts raining half way through a race?

[Vanja #66]

They need to be mandatory full time, too big of a change if airflow if they wouldn't be

[jjn9128]

I'm envisioning something more akin to the original FOM concept renders (the top line)

[AR3-GP]

I'm envisioning something more akin to the original FOM concept renders (the top line)

That is neat and tidy. I approve. It would also kill quite a bit of drag under normal conditions.

[Big Tea]

I'm envisioning something more akin to the original FOM concept renders (the top line)

That is neat and tidy. I approve. It would also kill quite a bit of drag under normal conditions.

Looks like no DRS too, which I like