Bite-size tech: Ferrari SF16-H diffuser and diffuser winglets
Giorgio Piola and Matt Somerfield look at the changes made by Ferrari to the diffuser on the SF16-H ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
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Development at this stage of the season is intense for all of the teams, as they look to maximise performance in the opening rounds.
Ferrari is no different - and it has some detail changes at the rear of the car in Bahrain, which should help provide more performance from the car's diffuser.
The new diffuser was introduced during free practice 2 as the team looks to alter the sensitivity of the diffuser and how it reacts with the wake generated by the rear tyre.
The footplate of the diffuser has been increased in width (highlighted in green above), which in turn changes the diffuser's outer wall shape and length.
The increased width of the footplate changes how the pressure moves between the surfaces and likely alters the shape of the vortex it generates.
Meanwhile, the winglets that are mounted on a stalk ahead of the diffuser have been amended to suit the change in geometry of the diffuser and gurney strips aft of them.
This change is simply a holistic approach to the flow structures that have been changed by the enlarged footplate and diffuser shape.
Additional reporting by Matt Somerfield
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