Tech analysis: Toro Rosso's "B-spec" car
Toro Rosso introduced so many new parts for use on the STR11 in Germany that could it be argued it is a B-specification. Giorgio Piola and Matt Somerfield look at the updates.
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Front wing
The aerodynamic journey always starts with the front wing, making any changes crucial to the performance of the rest of the car. If these changes don't work as planned, then the rest of the upgrade package can inevitably be compromised.
The new wing features several key changes that should change the aero structures it creates, which has led to further changes downstream.
The largest changes come in the form of the shape of the tunnel formed by arcs in the outer section of the flaps.
This alters the shape and intensity of the airflow targeted at the front face of the tyre, funnelling airflow out around the tyre to improve where the wake shed by the tyre then rejoins and impinges on the floor's performance.
Behind the wing, the team have added another strake to further control the shape and direction of the airflow structure.
Meanwhile, the endplate's trailing edge shape has been altered in order to cater for the aforementioned changes, refining its role in proceedings.
The smaller cascade winglet has also been revised, with the more curved element that was situated here binned in favour of a less elegant winglet.
Things don't always have to be beautiful to fulfil a role, though, and the winglets task seems to favour the vertical element, as they look to improve where the airflow strikes the tyre to aid in shaping flow around it.
Front brake duct
Toro Rosso introduced a new solution in Monaco (above), whereby a vertical winglet was affixed to the underside of the lower wishbone (arrowed).
It's a novel solution that falls into the grey area of the regulations, with the outer 125mm of the wishbone shroud classified as part of the brake duct rather than as part of the suspension.
They've not run the winglet since Monaco but it returns in Germany, alongside some other changes to the brake duct fins mounted on the vertical fence.
The lower inverted L-shaped fin is more twisted than before, whilst the upper horizontal fin has been increased in length.
Sidepod airflow conditioners
Changing the airflow structures at the front of the car is being maximised with changes made around the STR11's sidepod too. The airflow conditioners have been revised with an arch that now meets with the shoulder of the sidepod, framing the upper corner and aligning the airflow differently.
The airflow conditioners arch takes the place of one of the vortex generators on the sidepods leading edge, taking their count to one either side of the car.
Floor
The floor has also been extensively revised, in order to take advantage of changes ahead of it and improve rear downforce too. The detached floor scroll was revised, along with the scroll a little further back too.
The slots ahead of the rear tyre were revised, with the L-shaped slot right ahead of the tyre left unchanged but the 15 angled slots ahead of it have been reduced to 12 and angled further.
The inner vertical strake now features a slot around midway along its length which clearly changes how the airflow moves around the rear of the car, with all of these changes having an impact on the issue of tyre squirt.
That tyre squirt is being caused by the deformation of the rear tyre under load, which pushes airflow laterally into the diffuser's path to rob it of performance. The various slots and strakes create an airflow structure that defends against this, creating a sort of 'air skirt'.
Rear brake duct
Two new winglets were mounted on the STR11's rear brake duct in Germany, moving airflow up and over the suspension and conditioning the wake shed by the rear tyre, hopefully improving the performance of other nearby surfaces.
This change has made a rather neat solution, whereby the suspension formed the upper part of the brake duct. However, in order to cool the brakes sufficiently, a new vertical inlet was paired with the vertical fence.
The vane mounted on the underside of the lower rear wishbone has also been altered in Germany, rather than simply being a straight fin it has been changed to a curved one, which changes how the airflow passing by it reacts.
This quick 2D animation shows all of the changes made by Toro Rosso at the rear of the STR11 in Germany.
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