2 - “T” AS IN TERMINATED, THE T-WINGS
T-wings blossomed on 2017 F1 engine covers because of an oversight in the update of the technical regulations. This regulation gap has been corrected in the 2018 edition.
However, an interpretation of article 3.5.1 of the technical regulations leaves the door open to a small T-wing, similar to the ones found on the Williams FW40 and Sauber C36 last year.
The article defines a triangular area above the engine cover where no bodywork element can be added. However, it does not mention the space below this area, which could be used by the teams to install a thin wing, to compensate for the loss of the T-wing and the stricter constraints imposed on the placement of the "monkey seat" (see page 7).
In theory, this wing would improve air flow to the lower plane of the rear wing and thus optimize the diffuser.
While only Williams and Sauber adopted it last season (probably due to the element's marginal gain), its benefits could be more consequential given the ban of the two appendices mentioned above.
