INNOVATION ON THE EDGE
The lower sidepod area catches the eye for two reasons. First, the leading edge of the start of the floor is curved and thick before becoming thinner as it moves away from the chassis (see white lines), like on the new Force India.
Secondly, the leading edge is cut at the level of the sidepod while also featuring a vane that connects via two ties (see yellow arrows).
The design, drawn up by aerodynamicists from Dallara and Haas under the stewardship of Ben Agathangelou is unique to the VF-17, though the new Red Bull RB13 also has a dent in the same area.
While Haas continues to share a lot of its DNA with Ferrari – 2017-spec power unit, gearbox, rear crash structure, suspensions, brake ducts, steering wheel, etc. –, all the surfaces on which the air flows – such as the chassis, the survival cell, the nosecone, the roll-hoops – have been designed internally.
