Just_a_fan wrote: ↑31 Jul 2023, 14:06
Interesting outlet just above the front lower suspension pickup. I wonder if they're using cooling air to help flow in this area.
It's a feature they've had since the Bahrain test spec rb18 and has existed on some other cars (eg Ferrari) so I don't think it's a particularly powerful tool - the energy of the flow leaving the radiators would be too low to do much with - but rather an efficient place to vent losses. any hot air pushed out here will go between Bw and RW
The outlet did move upwards slightly with the recent engine cover tweak; The engine cover cannon exit became more downwashing, probably bringing the outlet flow too close to the beam wing, so the outlet near suspension was moved upwards to compensate.
Here it is on the rb18 Bahrain spec (and its lower position is particularly evident)
And it moved upwards when the engine cover was updated at Silverstone & spa in 2022:
Launch spec rb19 outlet was similar to the post-spa rb18 in location but with a modified cross section and trailing edge profile:
And now they have moved it a little upwards with the recent upgrade, meaning the suspension doesn't insert in the outlet at all, with the shape more similar to post-spa rb18 :
That's a summary of all the changes they've made in the area. I don't think it's a big tool to handle the flow in the area personally, just about optimization of where the cooling outlets are. Due to proximity to aero devices like BW they have to modify the outlet fairly regularly in response to other flows being modified.