SOPHISTICATED BARGEBOARDS
As shown on the images above, Renault has gone for a complex four-element setup to design the bargeboards.
2017’s aero overhaul includes a reduced exclusion zone, which allows for larger, longer, and higher bargeboards. F1 aerodynamicists thus have more space to design these lateral deflectors, which are bound to receive updates throughout the season, depending on the team’s production speed at the factory.
This is an area where Renault has been investing massively at Enstone, buying new machine tools, updating the windtunnel and CFD facilities, renovating the production workshop for windtunnel models, and increasing the overall size of the building by 800m2.
Aero development and manufacturing speed will play a cardinal role under this year’s new set of regulations.
The bigger bargeboards will help drive a larger amount of the front wheels’ dirty wake away from the undertray, which should increase downforce below the car.
Like on the Sauber, these aero elements are undercut to hug the chassis and better channel the airflow (see bottom picture).
