Brake Ducts, Tire Cooling, and beyond

[SB15]

I wonder if one of the channels is just a free air channel, it doesn't cool anything specifically, but by injecting unblocked airflow into a exit right next to the other, it help increase the speed of the exiting air surrounding it, making it more efficient?

It could be. I also wonder if the more outboard channel(s) (closer to the tire sidewall), are more likely to be a free air channels, creating an "air curtain" to limit the amount of brake duct heat which is flowing against the sidewall of the tire. If the brake duct exhaust were being exposed directly to the sidewall, I think that would contribute to more heating of the tires. If this is true, then one can see how the Mercedes design seems less optimal. They mix the brake disc exhaust and a free stream in the brake disc collector, but that air is heated and expelled right next to the sidewall of the tire. It seems to lack the air curtain.

https://i.postimg.cc/3r98yD5g/image.png

It might also explain why Red Bull claim the Mclaren brake ducts were noticeably cooler than other teams. They are extracting heat more effectively, but also passing through cooler free stream air that is not directly heated inside the caliper area of brake drum.

It also explain Mclaren's straight-line speed disparity. The exits are causing the issue because it's making contact with the sidewall of the tyres and the one channel design isn't sufficient to allow for make greater airflow on the rear of the W16. The smaller design of the brake ducts for the entry and exits are Mercedes is causing more issues than it should.

I think Mercedes design is made where the during colder conditions the car can rapidly heat the tyres vs the competition but the problem is in hotter conditions.

This could be a very huge advantage if Mercedes introduce way bigger brake duct entry and exits while also having a 3 channel cooling design similar to Mclarens and plus have the 3 pipe design.

One channel can be small and angled against the tyre, while the other 2 channel have the largest openings and are angled + extracted towards the beam wing, but requires the need of excessively large brake ducts.

[AR3-GP]

2013 Italian GP. Look at all the heat sources at the back of the car. Warmer air is going to hit the tires affecting the cooling rate, if it is not managed...

[AR3-GP]

[AR3-GP]

So much heat. You can even see the heated air/tire smoke. It's probably important to keep the hot air wake away from the brake duct inlets and the rear tires.

[AR3-GP]

[falonso81]

"It doesn't turn" might be the most polite way to say "we cooked the tires, baked the brakes, and hoped for the best".

[vorticism]

I agree with you on this theory. They can mix hot brake exhaust with fresh air to create a warm air layer under the outermost cake tin layer in order to warm the wheel rim/tyre. I was able to find the fully blanked brake exhaust outlet in one of the photos from Spain, so they also have the option to go to a "maximum rim cooling" configuration by blocking the hot brake exhaust from entering that outermost shell.

https://i.postimg.cc/3xzbW5cJ/image.png

https://i.postimg.cc/BZw5J5yJ/image.png

Interesting. Sometimes the front wheel is too cold. I take it the dilution/warming version was at Japan?

If you compare Mclaren's rear brake drums from 2024 to 2025...
https://i.postimg.cc/tCqrQp0R/image.png

Good comparison photos there. The disc collector looks about the same size both years. In 2025 they add the windows to it which exposes the insulation. Qs: was there the same insulation the previous year just without the windows. Are the windows just there to allow the insulation to breath. Are they for slight weight savings. Etc.

I also think your theory could fit what they are doing with the rear collector (RBR). The rear brake disc collector on the Red Bull has a large mushroom shape. What would the excess volume be fore? Perhaps the extra volume is used for mixing...

https://i.postimg.cc/NG7NzLzP/image.png

Regarding dilution. That could be, I can't say from the photos. The collector looks insulated so that would explain some of its voluminousness. Otherwise, a larger air gap is a simple way to provide thermal protection. Or R&D led them to conclude the aero of a larger collector/scroll/exducer was better.

[CjC]

According to the Race it looks like the FIA are concerned about having too much cutting edge innovation in the pinnacle of motorsport.

The FIA have BANNED tyre cooling:
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-a ... ng-tricks/

[SB15]

According to the Race it looks like the FIA are concerned about having too much cutting edge innovation in the pinnacle of motorsport.

The FIA have BANNED tyre cooling:
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-a ... ng-tricks/

I know the whole Mclaren team is outraged by this.

[CjC]

According to the Race it looks like the FIA are concerned about having too much cutting edge innovation in the pinnacle of motorsport.

The FIA have BANNED tyre cooling:
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-a ... ng-tricks/

I know the whole Mclaren team is outraged by this.

Really? What have they told you?

[SB15]

According to the Race it looks like the FIA are concerned about having too much cutting edge innovation in the pinnacle of motorsport.

The FIA have BANNED tyre cooling:
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-a ... ng-tricks/

I know the whole Mclaren team is outraged by this.

Really? What have they told you?

They don't need to tell me or anyone anything. The whole reason they designed the tyre cooling was to keep the brakes in working order. Unless the brakes are in better control of their temperature by itself next year, this will be a headache for them.

[FittingMechanics]

I don't think this says what you are implying. The wheels can still be cooled by air, which is almost certainly what McLaren is doing.

Obviously having air cool the brakes is allowed, thus this changes nothing except make illegal Peltier (or similar) devices which could cool the wheels by using electrical energy.

Not sure why The Race is saying this "could prevent idea of channeling airflow" - airflow is allowed because it is created by driving the car.

[venkyhere]

I don't think this says what you are implying. The wheels can still be cooled by air, which is almost certainly what McLaren is doing.

Obviously having air cool the brakes is allowed, thus this changes nothing except make illegal Peltier (or similar) devices which could cool the wheels by using electrical energy.

Not sure why The Race is saying this "could prevent idea of channeling airflow" - airflow is allowed because it is created by driving the car.

even something like Peltier will fall short massively as the amount of energy to be removed is too much for the 'size' and 'volume' of space over which the energy is getting discharged.

[chrisc90]

[CjC]

I know the whole Mclaren team is outraged by this.

Really? What have they told you?

They don't need to tell me or anyone anything. The whole reason they designed the tyre cooling was to keep the brakes in working order. Unless the brakes are in better control of their temperature by itself next year, this will be a headache for them.

More than likely, after Red Bull pitched all of those tyre cooling solutions to the FIA, 5 if I recall rightly, 4 were categorically rebuffed, 1 idea was left slightly ajar so the FIA have felt the need to completely close off any ambiguity.

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/reve ... re-tricks/

Mclaren will just carry on cooling their tyres and breaks down with the airflow created by driving the car. I just know it.