Nicolas Carpentiers’ 2016 F1 technical review

f1-technical-review-2016-4

RED BULL GIVES YOU BAT-WINGS

Red Bull unleashed its own version of the bat-wing on its 2016-spec challenger, a part initially devised by Mercedes over the previous two years. Located under the cockpit, the aero element spreads the airflow on both sides of the splitter, while also contributing towards the all-important Y250 vortex. On the RB12, the lift of the bat-wing raises the splitter at high speed, which enables Red Bull to run more rake on the car: a solution that was copied by McLaren in Germany and Ferrari in Mexico.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2017?

It remains to be seen whether the bat-wing will make a return in 2017, given that the splitter will be 10cm shorter (per Article 3.16.5 of the technical regulations). This will limit the available space but should incidentally encourage teams to run more rake on their car. The nose, however, will be 20cm longer (Article 15.4.3) and will thus have an impact on airflow circulation in the area, including the Y250 vortex.