Andi76 wrote: ↑21 Feb 2026, 08:59
https://postimg.cc/zbHHf9FB
I found an interesting 2D analysis of Ferrari's "upside-down" wing by Fluid Experts. On the one hand, you can see the normal, closed wing, the traditional approach of simply lowering a wing flap, and Ferrari's upside-down innovation.
Typically, a "DRS-open" configuration reduces the angle of attack of the flap to minimize the front surface area. This results in a significant loss of downforce, but the undersides of the wings still maintain low pressure. Since the wing continues to act as a downforce generator, it remains loaded by the induced drag—the physical "tax" paid for generating aerodynamic load. Essentially, the car continues to fight against its own wings even when they are "open."
Ferrari's "upside-down" innovation represents a fundamental departure from this logic. Instead of simply reducing the angle, the team experimented with rotating the flaps well beyond the horizontal plane – to angles of almost 270°. This maneuver effectively reverses the pressure gradient of the entire assembly. By flipping the flap to an extreme angle, the surface that normally creates negative pressure now becomes a high-pressure zone. This drastic change significantly reduces the suction on the main surface and shifts the wing from a state of high downforce to a state where it is overall unloaded. In some scenarios, the wing can even achieve a state of lift.
The strategic advantage here lies in the physics of induced drag, which is proportional to the square of the lift coefficient (C_z^2). By reducing the aerodynamic load to almost zero – or even to positive lift – the induced drag is almost completely eliminated, resulting in enormous speed gains that cannot be achieved with a conventional DRS. Furthermore, this "stall" effect is not limited to the wing itself. The resulting increase in pressure under the tilted flaps and the unfavorable gradient on the main surface can be used to specifically disrupt the performance of the diffuser.
By "switching off" the suction effect of the underbody on long straights, Ferrari achieves a secondary, massive reduction in the overall drag of the car. Of course, this simple 2D model cannot fully account for 3D complexities such as wing tip vortices, but the underlying principle is clear: Ferrari no longer just "opens" the wing, but aerodynamically "unlocks" the entire car to dominate the straights.
I think this 2D simulation illustrates this really clever and innovative idea interestingly. It's that kind of creative solution whose signature seems very familiar to me, and I can guess where it comes from and who came up with it.
https://postimg.cc/CnjZGk2j
https://postimg.cc/ThmWvvP4
https://postimg.cc/xc3JqGM2
