Thanks for the detailed anaysis Vorticism..vorticism wrote: ↑05 Dec 2025, 04:15Most of the conceptual renderings of the 2026 cars seen thus far, including the FIA’s, depict familiar ’09-’21 type coke-bottle/radish-shaped engine covers. Nothing wrong with that, as it seems like the most realistic assumption and the one that I also am most expecting to see. However, one major thing is different compared to that previous era: the outboard, inwashing bargeboards (FIA: “Floor board” & “Floor foot”). It makes me think we could be missing a beat. Could they inform new sidepod & engine cover concepts?
I had one thought. I am crap at drawing and couldn't find a way to share the picture. I'll try to explain by typing. I hope that will not make life miserable for everyone.
Let's have a sidepod inlet that is level with the floor. As we travel backwards, the top of the sidepod would rise while getting narrower (coke bottling). Would this be able to pull some clean air for the top of te diffuser, while pushing the turbulent air from the inwash up and may be generating some downforce in the process?