Previous / Heineken's Pincus joins F1 as sponsorship boss Next / Hamilton problem adds to Mercedes engine dramas

Formula 1 / Barcelona February testing II / Analysis

Test 2, Day 2: F1 2020 testing tech updates from the track

By:

Co-author:

Matt Somerfield

Feb 27, 2020, 3:40 PM

Giorgio Piola and Sutton Images bring you an update of the best technical images from the Barcelona pitlane on second day of the final Formula 1 test of 2020.

Test 2, Day 2: F1 2020 testing tech updates from the track

Click on the arrows to cycle through the images below...

Alfa Romeo C39 rear wing

Alfa Romeo C39 rear wing

1/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A close look at the Alfa Romeo rear wing with its new, extremely large swan neck-style support pillars.

Mercedes AMG F1 W11 front wing

Mercedes AMG F1 W11 front wing

2/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Mercedes has been checking the flex of its front wing is within tolerances. It uses a camera mounted on the nosecone, looking across at three chequered stickers on the endplate, which act as a reference point when it looks back through the footage.

Ferrari SF1000 front wing

Ferrari SF1000 front wing

3/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Ferrari conducting a similar test but with different equipment, as it places ride height sensors on the ends of the footplates and one in the centre of the wing.

McLaren MCL35 brake

McLaren MCL35 brake

4/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The McLaren MCL35’s front brake drum design differs slightly from last season, with more curvature and space allowed for the crossover section.

Alfa Romeo C39 rear wing

Alfa Romeo C39 rear wing

5/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Another view of the C39’s tall rear wing pillars which you’ll note make it more accessible for the airflow on the underside of the wing, owing to the fact they’re not connected to it.

Ferrari SF1000 fronst suspension

Ferrari SF1000 fronst suspension

6/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A close-up of Ferrari’s front suspension and more specifically its heave damper. Note its use of a classic spring within.

Ferrari SF1000 floor

Ferrari SF1000 floor

7/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The floor area just ahead of the rear tyre on the Ferrari SF1000 is of particular note, as it has created a raised section that meets with the vertical floor strake. These changes are important when considering the aerodynamic turbulence created by the rear tyre, especially as it deforms and the impact that has on the diffuser. Therefore, these slots in the floor, flaps and vanes on top of it help to manipulate that turbulence, improving diffuser consistency.

Red Bull Racing RB16, front

Red Bull Racing RB16, front

8/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Red Bull mechanics work on the RB16 affording us a view of its front suspension and bulkhead design. Also note the kiel probes mounted in the airbox to collect data as the car circulates.

Bodywork detail on Esteban Ocon, Renault F1 Team R.S.20

Bodywork detail on Esteban Ocon, Renault F1 Team R.S.20

9/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

A close-up of the two apertures in the side of the nose cape on the Renault RS20.

Rear wing detail of a Haas VF-20

Rear wing detail of a Haas VF-20

10/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

A shot of the Haas VF20 rear wing and T-wing, showing the detail of its design. Note the two slot gap separators on its wing that lead to the two V grooves on the top flap’s trailing edge.

Wheel and brake duct detail of Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari SF1000

Wheel and brake duct detail of Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari SF1000

11/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

A close-up of the SF1000’s front brake duct, designed in order to carry as much airflow as possible across the face of the brake drum.

The engine in Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF1000

The engine in Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF1000

12/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Under the covers: A look at some of the inner components of the Ferrari power unit.

The exhaust in Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF1000

The exhaust in Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF1000

13/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

In focus: A similar shot but this time we look at the exhaust solution, with Ferrari preferring to use a single wastegate pipe.

Alfa Romeo Racing C39

Alfa Romeo Racing C39

14/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

A look at some of the components packed into the bulkhead of the Alfa Romeo C39, as the team makes some adjustments.

Mercedes F1 W11

Mercedes F1 W11

15/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

A nice shot of the Mercedes W11’s rear end packaging, note the strakes hung from the side of the rear wing endplate, the forwardmost of which seems to be inspired by the design introduced by Haas last season.

Pierre Gasly's AlphaTauri AT01 steering wheel

Pierre Gasly's AlphaTauri AT01 steering wheel

16/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

A look at the back of Pierre Gasly’s steering wheel and the options he prefers for his paddle shifters.

AlphaTauri AT01

AlphaTauri AT01

17/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

A kiel probe rake mounted at the rear of the Alpha Tauri AT01 as the team investigates how the wake and turbulence created by the rear tyres impacts the aerodynamic surfaces around it.

Ferrari SF1000

Ferrari SF1000

18/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

An overview of the Ferrari’s SF1000’s front end, noting the design of the heave damper and the forward positioning of their steering assembly.

Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43

Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43

19/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

A close-up view of the Williams FW43’s rear end packaging, including the diffuser, which you’ll note has a metal insert in the uppermost Gurney-like extension to help reduce any flexing that could occur.

Renault F1 Team R.S.20

Renault F1 Team R.S.20

20/27

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

We’re getting up close and personal with the Renault RS20’s bargeboards here, noting how we have an array of different surfaces, heights and geometries making up the overall bargeboard design.

Red Bull Racing RB16 rear

Red Bull Racing RB16 rear

21/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Red Bull monitor diffuser flexure with chequered stickers on the surfaces monitored by a camera mounted on the underside of the crash structure.

Red Bull Racing RB16

Red Bull Racing RB16

22/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

As part of a new update package that the team is running today, the cape now features this hedgehog fin to help better guide the airflow rearwards.

Red Bull Racing RB16 front wing

Red Bull Racing RB16 front wing

23/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The team has mounted kiel probe rakes behind the front tyres as it evaluates the impact that the new front wing design has had on the airflow pattern.

Red Bull Racing RB16

Red Bull Racing RB16

24/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Red Bull also has an extensive update to the sidepod deflectors and bargeboards as it looks to improve flow around the car’s midriff.

Red Bull Racing RB16

Red Bull Racing RB16

25/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Another view of those changes to the aerodynamic surfaces ahead and around the sidepods.

Mercedes AMG F1 W11 brake and front suspension

Mercedes AMG F1 W11 brake and front suspension

26/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Photos are taken by the Mercedes mechanics as they collect information from the flo-viz paint that was applied to the front brake assembly.

Mercedes AMG F1 W11 brake and front suspension

Mercedes AMG F1 W11 brake and front suspension

27/27

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

This process was also undertaken on the right-hand side of the car, where we can note that a new outlet is also present in the face of the brake drum crossover.

Read Also:

Check out our testing podcasts...

shares

comments

Load comments

About this article

Series	Formula 1
Event	Barcelona February testing II
Author	Giorgio Piola

More from

Ferrari and Williams join F1's Z-shaped floor gang

Emilia Romagna GP

Formula 1 / Analysis

Ferrari and Williams join F1's Z-shaped floor gang

Emilia Romagna GP: Best F1 2021 technical images from Imola

Emilia Romagna GP

Formula 1 / Analysis

Emilia Romagna GP: Best F1 2021 technical images from Imola

How F1's teams developed their cars over 2020

Prime

Formula 1 / Analysis

How F1's teams developed their cars over 2020

Prime

Subscribe to PRIME

The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era

Prime

The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era

The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001

Apr 18, 2021

Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola

Prime

Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola

By Alex Kalinauckas

While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...

Apr 16, 2021

What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track

Prime

What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track

By Alex Kalinauckas

Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping .

Apr 16, 2021

The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate

Prime

The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate

By Jonathan Noble

It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is no guarantee.

Apr 14, 2021

The themes to watch in F1's Imola return

Prime

The themes to watch in F1's Imola return

By Alex Kalinauckas

Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Apr 13, 2021

The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola

Prime

The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola

After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. Ben Anderson looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…

Apr 12, 2021

The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture

Prime

The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture

Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says Nigel Roebuck.

Apr 10, 2021

Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace

Prime

Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace

By Alex Kalinauckas

Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?

Apr 9, 2021