Ahead of the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, two Formula 1 teams in the midfield have introduced significant upgrades to their cars. Additionally, three other teams have made adjustments specifically around the cockpit area. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new.
The struggling Alpine team has developed a noteworthy upgrade package centered around a new floor design. This new floor includes reprofiled fences in the tunnel inlet, along with a redesigned floor edge winglet and a reshaped diffuser sidewall. These modifications are said to provide a substantial increase in downforce.
Haas, on the other hand, has introduced their first major upgrade of the season. This includes an entirely new floor and engine cover. The team has made changes to the geometry of the floor fences and floor edge, aiming to improve driveability. Additionally, a new cooling channel layout has allowed for a slimmer engine cover design.
Several smaller adjustments have also been made to the Haas car. The winglets atop the rear brake duct have been redesigned to increase local load, while the mirror housing has been slimmed down. A flow-conditioning device has been added to the cockpit halo, creating mini-vortices to enhance airflow to the rear wing. The forward part of the halo has been reshaped to optimize airflow efficiency, and a small tweak to the headrest bodywork has reduced airflow separation.
It is worth noting that some teams, including Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, and Sauber, have not declared any upgrades for this race.
As the Chinese Grand Prix approaches, these upgrades and adjustments will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the performance of the teams.