2026 car comparisons

[matteosc]

FWAS update:
4-element: VCARB, Ferrari, Haas, RBR
2-element split: Mercedes
2-element continuous: RB (rendering) & some pre-season renderings made by various people
1-element: no one

I'm confused by what you are trying to say here. No one has a "4 element" FWAS. There isn't a left and a right flap. It's continous. I also don't understand what is meant by continuous and split.

RBR and others have 4 moving FWAS flaps. Merc have 2 moving FWAS flaps. There are two ways to execute a 2-flap design. One way to execute a 4-flap and 1-flap design, per my understanding of the regs.

Better nomeclature could probably be devised.

Not sure about the distinction between 4 elements and 2 continuous elements. Is it based on the number of actuators?

[vorticism]

I'm confused by what you are trying to say here. No one has a "4 element" FWAS. There isn't a left and a right flap. It's continous. I also don't understand what is meant by continuous and split.

RBR and others have 4 moving FWAS flaps. Merc have 2 moving FWAS flaps. There are two ways to execute a 2-flap design. One way to execute a 4-flap and 1-flap design, per my understanding of the regs.

Better nomeclature could probably be devised.

Not sure about the distinction between 4 elements and 2 continuous elements. Is it based on the number of actuators?

It's based on the number of moving flaps. RBR and Ferrari for example have four moving FWAS flaps, hence why I say they have four moving FWAS flaps. Merc has two moving flaps. It would be possible to have only one moving flap.

By comparison the RWAS designs we've seen so far are two-flap, specifically two-flap continuous. The RWAS has different stipulations and I'm pretty sure there are only three possible derivations--the ones I listed.

[matteosc]

RBR and others have 4 moving FWAS flaps. Merc have 2 moving FWAS flaps. There are two ways to execute a 2-flap design. One way to execute a 4-flap and 1-flap design, per my understanding of the regs.

Better nomeclature could probably be devised.

Not sure about the distinction between 4 elements and 2 continuous elements. Is it based on the number of actuators?

It's based on the number of moving flaps. RBR and Ferrari for example have four moving FWAS flaps, hence why I say they have four moving FWAS flaps. Merc has two moving flaps. It would be possible to have only one moving flap.

By comparison the RWAS designs we've seen so far are two-flap, specifically two-flap continuous. The RWAS has different stipulations and I'm pretty sure there are only three possible derivations--the ones I listed.

It looks to me that the flaps are connected for Ferrari. Correct me if I am wrong, but they seem to have 1 central actuator, so the flap must be connected.

[SB15]

This is Mercedes solution, you can see no visible actuator anywhere.

[vorticism]

Not sure about the distinction between 4 elements and 2 continuous elements. Is it based on the number of actuators?

It's based on the number of moving flaps. RBR and Ferrari for example have four moving FWAS flaps, hence why I say they have four moving FWAS flaps. Merc has two moving flaps. It would be possible to have only one moving flap.

By comparison the RWAS designs we've seen so far are two-flap, specifically two-flap continuous. The RWAS has different stipulations and I'm pretty sure there are only three possible derivations--the ones I listed.

It looks to me that the flaps are connected for Ferrari. Correct me if I am wrong, but they seem to have 1 central actuator, so the flap must be connected.

Not physically possible with an angled pivot axis. Draw it in plan view (as a top view) it will make sense.

[matteosc]

It's based on the number of moving flaps. RBR and Ferrari for example have four moving FWAS flaps, hence why I say they have four moving FWAS flaps. Merc has two moving flaps. It would be possible to have only one moving flap.

By comparison the RWAS designs we've seen so far are two-flap, specifically two-flap continuous. The RWAS has different stipulations and I'm pretty sure there are only three possible derivations--the ones I listed.

It looks to me that the flaps are connected for Ferrari. Correct me if I am wrong, but they seem to have 1 central actuator, so the flap must be connected.

Not physically possible with an angled pivot axis. Draw it in plan view (as a top view) it will make sense.

OK, I think I understand what you mean, but it is all about how you define a continuous flap. In the Ferrari example (assuming that the pivots are actually inclined), a single actuator would act as continuation element. In any case, given that we do not hear any complaints from Mercedes, I believe the rules are about 1 or 2 mobile elements in a 3 elements wing, either side. At the end of the day, we still call a "3 elements wing" a wing with 3 flaps per side, right?

[vorticism]

It looks to me that the flaps are connected for Ferrari. Correct me if I am wrong, but they seem to have 1 central actuator, so the flap must be connected.

Not physically possible with an angled pivot axis. Draw it in plan view (as a top view) it will make sense.

OK, I think I understand what you mean, but it is all about how you define a continuous flap. In the Ferrari example (assuming that the pivots are actually inclined), a single actuator would act as continuation element. In any case, given that we do not hear any complaints from Mercedes, I believe the rules are about 1 or 2 mobile elements in a 3 elements wing, either side. At the end of the day, we still call a "3 elements wing" a wing with 3 flaps per side, right?

You can call it whatever you want. I would call them 4-flap (or 4-element) FWAS because they have four moving flaps, not two moving flaps, nor one. "Three element wing" is what they all are in the sense of that is how they are evaluated by the FIA--as cross sections. All of these are three element wings when evaluated by cross sections. But only some are 4-flap, or 2-flap, or 1-flap, etc. The flap count implies the pivot axis orientation, so you get to communicate extra information within the same term.

[venkyhere]

Q : if the actuators for left and right side are separate, but need to be activated simultaneously, is there any scope for 'synchronization issue' , because no two mechanical/electrical 'links' are 100% exact copies of each other

[FNTC]

Alot of the cars seen so far are not running the large winglets on the outside of the front wing end plates (Haas, Alpine, Audi and Cadillac have them), that are permissible. Do they not have any advantage, or do we think they will add them later?

[AR3-GP]

Ferrari has visible front wing adjusters for balance adjustment. Mercedes and Red Bull do not.

[dialtone]

Ferrari has visible front wing adjusters for balance adjustment. Mercedes and Red Bull do not.

Looks like the Ferrari has one piston coming down from the nose to drop the wing from this picture. Very neat implementation i dare say.

[venkyhere]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G_r_DE-XUAA ... name=large

Indeed. I was looking for the 'flap adjust' thingie and couldn't find it on the Redbull/Merc
Btw,
forget the aero bits, huge differences in the front suspension geometries. Didn't expect such a large variance. Waiting to see what 'suspension tricks' RobMarshall has cooked up on the McLaren tomorrow.

[AR3-GP]

Ferrari has visible front wing adjusters for balance adjustment. Mercedes and Red Bull do not.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G_r_DE-XUAA ... name=large

Looks like the Ferrari has one piston coming down from the nose to drop the wing from this picture. Very neat implementation i dare say.

Not sure if you are referring to the same thing, or making a different point, but won't the other teams need to make balance adjustments on the front wing? What am I missing?

[dialtone]

Ferrari has visible front wing adjusters for balance adjustment. Mercedes and Red Bull do not.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G_r_DE-XUAA ... name=large

Looks like the Ferrari has one piston coming down from the nose to drop the wing from this picture. Very neat implementation i dare say.

Not sure if you are referring to the same thing, or making a different point, but won't the other teams need to make balance adjustments on the front wing? What am I missing?

I’m referring to the drs actuator. Its piston is slightly visible under the nose.

[AR3-GP]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G_r_DE-XUAA ... name=large

Indeed. I was looking for the 'flap adjust' thingie and couldn't find it on the Redbull/Merc

I think I found the answer. Mercedes and Red Bull have a hole on top of the nose above active aero mechanism. This would appear to allow them to insert a T-wrench directly into the active aero mechanism in order to set the static angle when setting up the car or during pit stops.

It's quite clever and minimizes the blockage typically associated with having front wing adjuster by integrating it with the active aero mechanism which is already there.