When you look at vehicle development over the last 50 years, the most noticeable changes are usually down to advancements in aerodynamics. In many motorsports, apart from tyre development, aerodynamics offers the most obvious potential for gaining competitive advantage over the opposition and millions are spent each year by teams looking to leverage decades of research and development in the field. Each year, motorsport’s governing bodies release more rules to reign in the overly-enthusiastic aerodynamicist. Some say it helps to level the playing field, others that it places the emphasis back on the driver rather than the car. Whatever the reason, the 2019 motorsport season will be no exception when it comes to aerodynamicists pushing the rules to breaking point. With controversy already dominating the MotoGP after one race, what do we have to look forward to when Formula 1 and other series get underway in the coming weeks?
Desmo-Dovi and the Winglet
The race was close from start to finish, with Dovizioso and Ducati beating Honda’s Marc Márquez by a miniscule 0.023 seconds. Whether the winglet was designed to create additional downforce, cool the rear wheel or funnel impending rain, this situation just goes to show how aerodynamics can potentially be the difference between winning and….ummm…not winning!
Wacky Races
New aerodynamic regulations aim to ‘spice up’ racing in 2019, enabling drivers to race much more closely without being heavily affected by the dirty air generated by the car in front. Many of the regulations seek to improve aerodynamic conditions for other drivers, which is all well and good as long as you’re not the race leader. The design of the front wing has been heavily regulated and yet enhanced, with increased height and width and horizontal positioning to enable drivers to get closer without suffering the effects of disturbed air from the car in front.

The complex front wing end plates seen last season have been banned and replaced with simplified versions which enhances downforce rather than outwash airflow around the front tyres. The multiple under-wing strakes have also been limited to two per side to increase airflow to the underbody. This further reduces the aerodynamic disturbance experienced by following drivers.
Ferrari estimate that the newly introduced rules slow the 2019 Formula 1 cars by 1.5 seconds. But will these changes make the sport more competitive and better for fans? We’ll wait and see when the circus starts again in Melbourne this weekend. For now, you can see the significant changes here in this great official F1 animation.
Speed or Substance?
At the end of the day, this isn’t the land speed record and without fans, motorsports simply wouldn’t exist but what does this all mean for the budding aerodynamicist?
The Future for the Aerodynamicist
According to Ross Brawn, the next three years will see efforts continue towards improving actual ‘racing’. Top speed will come secondary to making cars more competitive and less influenced by dirty air which will see more overtaking and closer battles between drivers. F1 cars can currently lose around 50% of their performance at around 3-4 car lengths and designs have recently been revealed which can cut this to 20% which Brawn hails as a substantial improvement.
When it comes to motorsport, the challenge of the aerodynamicist will always be to push the boundaries whilst working within the regulations set by the sport’s governing bodies and as in any highly competitive field there will always be moments of controversy when a team is suspected to have gained a competitive advantage by selective interpretation. But isn’t that
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