Top List

Gallery: Key tech shots from Abu Dhabi F1 test

A selection of the best technical images from the two day test conducted at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi courtesy of Sutton and LAT images.

Williams crafted a rather elegant support for rear facing cameras, which capture footage alongside the front wheel in order to evaluate the deformation of the tyre and its impact on the bargeboards, floor and sidepods. The support minimises the aerodynamic impact of placing items here in order that the footage is more accurate.

In order to improve Robert Kubica’s operation of the FW40, the team has made some modifications to the cockpit surround, carving away some of the padding in order that he could articulate his arm/wrist more freely.

A close-up on the cockpit surround that Williams modified for Kubica’s use, allowing him more free movement with his injured arm. As has been done for other drivers in the past, he was also completing gearshifts with just one paddle, toward to go up a gear and away to go down a gear.

The RB13 is outfitted with large kiel probe arrays behind the front wheels, for the team to measure and subsequently understand the wake generated by the front tyre. Note the taller probes mounted on stanchions which help to evaluate how the wake impacts the sidepod's upper surfaces and rear wing.

Higher-fidelity thermal image cameras are loaded into the usual FOM camera positions to evaluate the thermal characteristics of the new for 2018 compounds and construction tyres to be supplied by Pirelli.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF70H, aero sensors on rear wing

A huge collection of kiel probes is mounted to the various rigs on the SF70H as the team evaluates the airflow's movement around the rear end of the car, including the rear tyre wake, diffuser interaction and, with the high-mounted probes, the wake upwashed by the front tyres.

Nikita Mazepin, Sahara Force India VJM10

Force India is using a kiel probe array around the shoulder of the airbox in conjunction with the Halo so as to evaluate its aerodynamic impact. Note also the pitot stack, similar to the one used at the front of the chassis, mounted on the sidepod.

Nikita Mazepin, Sahara Force India VJM10, aero sensors

The same sensors mounted with the Halo are also present when the car is run without as the team establishes back-to-back data for correlation purposes. A kiel probe array is mounted ahead of the rear tyre.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB13 with aero sensors

The RB13 has a kiel probe array mounted at the rear, measuring wheel wake and diffuser interaction. A stanchion also evaluates the flow around the leading edge of the rear wing endplate.

Toro Rosso trialling a Halo with a winglet mounted on top, in an effort to mitigate the aerodynamic consequences of the safety device. Teams are permitted a fairing around the halo with a 20mm tolerance.

A large kiel probe array is hung from the side of the C36 chassis to evaluate the impact of tyre wake on the bargeboards, deflectors, floor and sidepods.

Carlos Sainz Jr., Renault Sport F1 Team RS17 with aero sensors

The RS17 heads out with a collection of kiel probe arrays - a pair behind each front wheel and a pair in front of the rear wheels.

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-Benz F1 W08 with aero sensors

A pair of kiel probe arrays mounted between the front wheels and sidepods.

Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1 Team RS17

The Renault RS17 outfitted with Kistler RoaDyns on each wheel, as the team establishes a baseline for the new tyre construction offered by Pirelli for 2018. The team collects similar data each time the tyre manufacturer make a change, in order that it can reference behaviour against previous known tyre dynamics.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB13 steering wheel

A look at the rear of the Red Bull steering wheel, showing the various paddles used by the driver for gear shifts and clutch engagement.

Esteban Ocon, Sahara Force India VJM10 with aero sensors

The VJM10 is outfitted with a kiel probe array behind the front left wheel, while a GoPro mounted to the right rear wing endplate keeps an eye on proceedings.