Nicolas Carpentiers
A good comparison of the new diffuser geometry with the pre-barcelona diffuser. The corner geometry has completely changed: the RB used the curved corner since launch RB18 and was an outlier in this regard. Now they have finally adopted the squarer shape that was predicted prior to 2022 which maximizes usage of the legality volume.
I believe if the squarer shape is to be achieved, the inwards bulge is required prior to the final diffuser kick due to stringent minimum radius rules in this region. But this may be incorrect if someone more knowledgeable with the regulations knows better
As previously stated, the edge wing has changed. This is not a novel comparison nor a novel conclusion but hopefully some crude annotations will help add a bit of accessibility to the understanding of the geometry. It could be perceived as adding a strake.. but if you follow each edge of the edge wing carefully the edge wing is essentially twisted such that the underside of the edge wing becomes the top and vice versa:
This probably allows them to crank their edge wing harder without having to attach lossy metal strakes to the underside of the edge wing
Not 100% sure if the purple edges connect up on the updated edge wing (but this is not visible). Regardless, the underside of the edge wing is far more complicated and this gives a decent view of how it might be working
*Reposted with pc annotated images rather than phone
Edit:
In hindsight, perhaps this is a possible geometry as well
With the red edge originating in a strake on the underside, and the green edge merging with the purple edge which removes the possibility of the twist occurring
as working with this strange geometry is just speculative.. However I don't understand exactly what you're getting at - can you illustrate it please?
