McLaren focus on the rear

Each of the top four teams have upgrades for this weekend’s running, with McLaren’s looking to be the most comprehensive based on their submissions to the FIA. They have a new high downforce rear and beam wing configuration. The rear wing has a more loaded mainplane and flap, which the team says will result in an efficient increase in aerodynamic load at circuits that require higher downforce setups. The beam wing’s introduction has the same reasoning, coming in conjunction with the new rear wing to maximise the efficiency of the load increase.

Revised rear corner and suspension components are also on the MCL39 to improve flow conditioning and increase rear aerodynamic load, while the front suspension has also been modified. This is aimed at increasing the clearance to other suspension members for improved reliability.

New rear wings for Ferrari

Ferrari have joined McLaren in bringing new rear and beam wings to their first home race of the season in Imola. They are circuit specific drag-related upgrades, but interestingly the team say they have been carried over from last season to add to their pool of available downforce levels. Their FIA submission also admits that this rear wing cluster is not their prime choice, but is aimed at covering lower grip conditions.

At the rear corner of the SF25, there’s an update as part of their standard development cycle. Small geometrical changes have been made to focus on improving specific flow features, aimed at returning local loading benefits, according to the team. This takes the form of revised scoop geometry and winglet arrangement.

Red Bull bring new engine cover/sidepod

In what marks their 400th race weekend, Red Bull have brought rear corner and rear suspension updates. The rear suspension has revised fairing around one suspension member which the team say is a subtle change but one that will better optimise the shape towards the inboard region to bring further aerodynamic efficiency gain. At the rear corner there have been minor changes to the wheel bodywork inlet and exit ducts to “tidy up” and optimise the local flow fields, again bringing a gain in aerodynamic efficiency.

Alongside these changes, the team also have a revised radiator duct inlet and sidepod shape. This follows on from a floor upgrade last time out in Miami, but Verstappen is not expecting “magic” and instead says they are part of the team “constantly upgrading the car, trying to find little bits of performance”.

Mercedes focus on front of W16

Mercedes have brought upgrades to three areas of the W16 this weekend – its front suspension, front wing and engine cover.

The front suspension fairings have been reprofiled to “improve aerodynamic robustness in a variety of conditions”, according to the team, aimed at improving the flow to the rear of the car and the floor load as a result. The front wing has reprofiled elements to redistribute chordwise and spanwise load, bringing a change in upwash field behind the front wing which the team believe could result in improved onset flow to the rear.

Circuit specific cooling upgrades have also been brought to the engine cover through alterations to its upper surface geometry. Again this is aimed at improving onset flow to the rear wing, bringing gains in local load whilst improving the efficiency of their engine cooling.

Comprehensive suite of upgrades for Aston Martin

It’s safe to say that Aston Martin need to be bringing significant upgrades if they are to find improved performance this year, and it seems they have done just that for this weekend. The team have submitted updates in seven different areas to the FIA, all aimed at performance improvements.

The team have revised the rear halo mounts with a reduced fin to alter the flow management around the cockpit and therefore change the load generated there and how it affects the flow behind. The aggression of the beam wing elements has also been reduced to offer a reduction in downforce and drag to bring improved efficiency and complement the rear wing level they’ll be running this weekend.

Perhaps the most significant upgrades are to the floor – the floor body, fences, and floor edge have all been altered to improve the flowfield under the floor, increasing the local load and thus performance. Moving rearwards, the diffuser shoulder has been updated to complement the floor upgrades too. Also complementing the floor alterations is an update to the curvature of the coke, developing the shape alongside the floor edge to improve the floor’s performance.

Alpine bring new front wing

As well as a new driver, Alpine have a reprofiled front wing for this weekend to redistribute the load across its elements and bring local load gains over its operating range. The engine cover has subtle alterations too, aimed at improving the flowfield delivery to the rear of the car and bring efficient load gains.

Haas update floor

Haas arrive in Imola with a fairly comprehensive set of updates, including alterations to their floor. The front floor contraction shape has been modified to facilitate a cleaner flow delivery to the rear, enhancing performance through a higher energy extraction from the floor. The floor edge has also been slimmed down to work in conjunction with this, helping to ensure that cleaner flow to the rear.

Speaking of the rear, there are changes to the diffuser which modify the expansion rate – a change necessitated by the altered incoming flow. The lower element of the car’s rear brake duct has a revised trim and shape to allow for local load extraction and improved control of the tyre wake. They have also added more elements to upper winglets in the rear corner too.

To support these changes at the rear corner, the lower suspension fairing has been updated too.

Racing Bulls bring sidepod and floor changes

At their home race, the Faenza-based Racing Bulls team have brought upgrades to their floor body. The team say the volume within the underfloor channel is modified, alongside adjustments to the fence camber and floor edge winglet positions to create local downforce and define the downstream flow conditions for the rest of the floor. 

Further up the car, the team have modified the undercut shape of the sidepod and added a chassis winglet to promote high energy flow rearwards and along the floor edge wing. The winglet is aimed at managing the airflow heading to the rear wing.