Sweeping Haas package headlines United States F1 upgrades

Haas headlines the upgrades list at the United States Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images

Haas headlines the upgrades list at the United States Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images

A highly anticipated upgrade package for Haas has broken cover as F1 hits the United States with an all-new Red Bull-inspired concept on display.

It’s a sweeping package designed to inform the direction the team heads with its 2024 car after hitting a dead end on the solution it started the year with.

There are changes to both ends of the car, starting with the front brake ducts, leading into the floor edge and body, sidepod inlets, and engine cover.

It is not alone in bringing big changes, with Scuderia AlphaTauri also sporting six specified changes.

Those changes focus on the floor on a weekend the experience Daniel Ricciardo returns to F1 from injury.

Elsewhere, Mercedes has a small update as does Alfa Romeo Sauber, while Aston Martin has made refinements to its diffuser, floor, beam wing, and engine cover.

Mercedes F1 W14. Image: FIA

Mercedes

Updated component Primary reason for update Geometric differences compared to previous version Brief description on how the update works
Floor Body Performance -Flow
Conditioning
Raised floor leading edge and subsequent tunnel roof reprofiling. Raising the floor leading edge alters the loading distribution on the outer fence, improving flow quality to the rear of the car and hence rear downforce.
Floor Edge Performance -Local Load Extending the forward floor edge flap rearwards Increasing the extent of the high cambered forward section of the floor edge wing increases the local load here, increasing forward floor load.

Alfa Romeo Sauber C43. Image: FIA

Alfa Romeo Sauber

Updated component Primary reason for update Geometric differences compared to previous version Brief description on how the update works
Floor Edge Performance -Flow Conditioning Redesigned edges of the rear part of the floor This floor update is working together with, and a continuation of, the package of upgrades first introduced at the Singapore Grand Prix, and it is aimed at increasing downforce and the aerodynamic efficiency of the car.

Aston Martin AMR23. Image: FIA

Aston Martin

Updated component Primary reason for update Geometric differences compared to previous version Brief description on how the update works
Floor Edge Performance -Local Load Revised floor edge geometry with a longitudinal slot and outboard wing alongside, previously the wing was under the floor. Part of a package of development to increase the loading on the floor by modifying the underside local flow conditions.
Diffuser Performance -Local Load Diffuser with revised side view expansion. Part of a package of development to increase the loading on the floor by modifying the underside local flow conditions.
Coke/Engine
Cover
Performance -Local Load Bodywork is revised with a larger undercut alongside the revised floor edge. Part of a package of development to increase the loading on the floor by modifying the underside local flow conditions.
Beam Wing Performance -Local Load There is a new beam wing with revised profiles and incidence alongside the new diffuser. Part of a package of development to increase the loading on the floor by modifying the underside local flow conditions.

Haas VF-23. Image: FIA

Haas

Updated component Primary reason for update Geometric differences compared to previous version Brief description on how the update works
Front Corner Performance -Local Load The front brake duct inboard exit has been updated with small geometrical changes. The wake management has improved with better flow characteristic coming from the front brake duct inboard exit, gaining aero load with good efficiency.
Floor Body Performance -Local Load The floor body has been modified in the latter part of the diffuser. The expansion and contraction of the floor body are now optimized to guarantee less aero sensitivity with car state changes. The new design has also
improved the sensitivity in case of strong side wind.
Floor Edge Performance -Local Load A new floor edge and new floor edge wing has been introduced to the floor design. The floor edge element with a new shape can guarantee a more efficient path of the flow driven by the under floor, and increase the aerodynamic efficiency.
Sidepod Inlet Performance -Local Load The sidepod inlet has been modified to work with the new floor edge design. The new shape of the sidepod inlet wants to improve the flow around the sidepod maintaining the same cooling feeding as the previous configuration.
Coke/Engine
Cover
Performance -Local Load Together with the cooling inlet, the surfaces of the engine cover, the sidepod and the coke panel has been revised. The new sidepod shape will allow a better interaction of the airflow on the side of the car and in the area between the rear wheels. Engine cover with increased cooling exit.
Cooling
Louvres
Circuit specific -Cooling Range New louvre panels have been designed for the new
bodywork.
Two new louvres panels and few different blanking will allow to set the different cooling levels required race by race. The louvres have smaller dimension compared to the previous solution, as the central engine cover cooling exit has been increased in the new bodywork.

Scuderia AlphaTauri AT04 Image: FIA

Scuderia AlphaTauri

Updated component Primary reason for update Geometric differences compared to previous version Brief description on how the update works
Floor Body Performance
– Local Load
Relative to the baseline geometry, the forward central floor has been modified. These changes have been made in conjunction with changes to the floor fences below to improve the local load generation of the forward floor.
Floor Fences Performance
– Local Load
Relative to the baseline geometry, the floor fences have revised camber distributions in plan view. The outermost fence has also significantly increased in size. The fence geometry changes combine with the floor body changes to give an increase in local loading. The outermost fence change keeps front wheel wake losses further away from the forward floor by generating a higher static pressure on their outboard side. The resulting improvement in energy of the flowfield to the forward floor gives an increase in local load.
Floor Edge Performance
– Local Load
Relative to the baseline geometry, the forward part of the floor edge wing has been modified. The forward part of the floor edge wing has increased camber. The highly loaded forward part of the floor edge wing has also been extended further rearward compared to the previous geometry. Both of these changes lower static pressure local to that part of the floor edge and helps draw increased massflow under the forward floor between the fences.
Coke/Engine
Cover
Performance
– Local Load
Relative to the baseline geometry, the central bodywork exit geometry has been modified. The revised shape gives an increase in cooling performance without any detriment in loading of the rear wing assembly behind it.
Rear Corner Performance
– Local Load
Relative to the baseline geometry, the BDR lower winglets have been modified. The revised shape of the BDR winglets increase their local load. The increase in loading improves diffuser performance by pushing lower wheel wake losses further outboard.
Other -Chassis Performance
– Local Load
Relative to the baseline geometry, the forward chassis lower surfaces have been modified. The revised surfaces local to the inboard front suspension increase local velocity, thereby generating an increase in local load on the chassis.

Join the discussion below in the Speedcafe.com comments section

Please note: Speedcafe.com reserves the right to remove any comment that does not follow the comment policy. For support, contact [email protected]