lio007 wrote: ↑27 Jul 2026, 20:40
venkyhere wrote: ↑27 Jul 2026, 20:01
yet another cooling exit comparison pic, this time from Hungary :
https://ibb.co/1Y6RK4hk
seems like this year the cooling efficiency is so much better than in the past, that it almost matches the Mclaren. Big difference w.r.t Ferrari
Given RBR's bigger sidepods, is it possible they just use bigger coolers and can reduce opening the bodywork as a result?
The sidepods are not 'big' compared to competition, there is a large waterslide, effectively rendering the 'space' available to mount the heat exchangers no different, just that this 'space' is more 'upright'-y rather than the 'lying down'-y that we see in sidepds of competition.
Even otherwise,
"mass air flow rate" = area of entry(exit) opening x speed at entry(exit) x density at entry(exit)
is going to be defined by the thermal equilibrium required (rate of heat removal needed) and the efficiency of how much pressure drop the heat exchangers induce, rather than the 'size' of heat exchangers present.
The reason 'smaller' exits are considered 'better' is purely from how much interference they cause to the downforce producing structures at the rear, as 'more cooling exit area' means more disturbance to the boundary layer of the air stream hugging the water-droplet like shape of the car, front-to-back. The boundary layer is going to be disturbed anyway, from the turbulence of vortices and leaking-in tyre wake, just that it's better to 'minimize additional disturbance' from the hot air from heat exchangers.
