JordanMugen wrote: ↑22 Jul 2023, 09:55
Vanja #66 wrote: ↑22 Jul 2023, 08:48
Yes, it looks like Ferrari will be going towards RB-like sidepod front end and the letterbox is the logical development route.
What's the advantage of the current style of rounded, tapered back inlet used by Ferrari (and AlphaTauri)?
Is the "overspill" intended to be directed out laterally on the Ferrari design, compared to the top on the Red Bull design?
I really think Ferrari had this in early iteration in their hands with the SF71 etc (I've noted this on other thread and AN interest in it when contemporary) as more surface extraction appears less draggy.
The current SF23 design, and others like it, will ultimately not direct the external flow apart from out the side as the airflow balks through internal passage. It should start to form a higher pressure cone in front of the inlet, the direction of which this bleeds away is fairly uncontrolled and dependent on flow above and below it.
The extended underbite type fundamentally splits the airflow first in proportion to how the designers want it too. The internal balking of air as road speed rises then forces the intake into higher pressure and only flows over the top the surplus that doesn't go down the hole.
It's remarkable in similarity to fast jet engine intake that's subjected to slow down of intake airflow (it's the opposite way in orientation in this case, upside down to F1 car) in which case on aircraft it gives lift through that difference. On the track in F1 I believe it can give downward load in these scenarios at maximum speeds.
It seems effective, efficient and likely to produce downforce too, seems far more important to me than people's assumptions that the sidepods don't make a difference. Sure the floor and wings are doing the gruntwork of loading the chassis, but this is playing a very significant part to overall design concept.
