Analysis
Formula 1 Spanish GP
Spanish GP: Best F1 2021 technical images from Barcelona
Join us as we delve into the latest technical developments from the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, courtesy of Giorgio Piola and Sutton Images.
Giorgio Piola Matthew Somerfield
Edited: May 11, 2021, 4:24 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber

Giorgio Piola's F1 technical analysis
Giorgio Piola is the preeminent Formula 1 technical journalist. View our full selection of Giorgio's technical illustrative content
Click on the arrows in the images to scroll through them…

The front brake duct of the Red Bull RB16B with a surface coating used on the crossover section in order to limit the transfer of heat created under braking and that would otherwise increase the bulk temperature of the tyre. The divider arrangement inside the inlet is also different for this race, again, having been adjusted for the Portuguese GP too.

Ferrari has set up its car with an asymmetric front brake duct layout, as it looks to treat the front tyres differently in terms of temperatures that are transferred from the brakes into the tyre.

A look at the diffuser and rear brake duct fins on the Ferrari SF21 as the team waits for the car to be scrutineered.

Top-down overview of the Williams FW43B rear end, note addition of a monkey-seat winglet between the rear wing pillars and the twisted nature of the upper T-Wing element. Also look at the heavy contouring of the endplate which has allowed it to increase the role of the upwash strikes and, more importantly, place one in the upper front corner too.

Aston Martin with a similar design on the endplate allows that upwash strike to be deployed in the upper front corner.

McLaren doesn’t have the upwash strike in the upper front corner but note how the endplate leans away from the vertical. McLaren also has a twin T-Wing arrangement for the Spanish GP.

The updated floor that Aston Martin ran on Lance Stroll’s car in Portugal and will also be on Sebastian Vettel’s car in Spain. It features an extra wavy section on the floor's edge and a scroll extension.

The Alpine A521 diffuser, which has been altered recently and features a shorter fence in the outboard section.

The McLaren rear end, note the large cooling outlet and the tight-knit rear brake duct winglets in the lower half. It is still the only team to have inner strakes join up to the transition in the centre too.

A look down the flank of the Aston Martin AMR21 shows how much cooling the team has open on the sidepod panel.

A look at the floor area ahead of the rear tyre on the Ferrari SF21, with the four-fin arrangement on the floor’s edge and a longer strake inboard of that.

Overview of Red Bull’s rear wing on Sergio Perez’s car, note the lack of T-Wing whereas most of the teams will have one for Barcelona.

The higher downforce rear wing on the Mercedes W12, along with the W-shaped T-Wing.

A good overview of the Red Bull RB16B’s front end.

The Mercedes W12 taken down to the pitlane for scrutineering without the nose and front wing attached gives us a great view of the front brake duct fence and the fins mounted on it.

A seat from the Alpine A521, these are inserts that are custom-made for each driver in order that it fit to their body and providing the necessary points of contact in order that the seat can be extricated along with the driver if they’re in an accident and the safety crew wants to keep their body as still as possible.

Top-down overview of the Mercedes W12’s front suspension.
17
Read Also:
- Red Bull signs five more Mercedes F1 engine staff
- F1 drivers react to 2021 Barcelona track changes
- How McLaren hopes to help F1 with its secret ballots call
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article The day Ayrton Senna failed to qualify for a grand prix
Next article Alonso: Early F1 season struggles overblown by media
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Giorgio Piola

The fascinating story behind McLaren's most iconic F1 car
Formula 1
Formula 1
The fascinating story behind McLaren's most iconic F1 car

Emilia Romagna GP: F1 technical images from Imola's pitlane
Formula 1
Formula 1
Emilia Romagna GP
Emilia Romagna GP: F1 technical images from Imola's pitlane

The F1 downforce choices that proved key at the Saudi GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
The F1 downforce choices that proved key at the Saudi GP
Latest news

WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
21 min
WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times

Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
1 h
Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
![]()
Kaden Honeycutt wins incident-free Phoenix NASCAR Truck race, extends points lead
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Phoenix
5 h
Kaden Honeycutt wins incident-free Phoenix NASCAR Truck race, extends points lead

GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
10 h
GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe



