RB VCARB 03

[KimiRai]

Racing Bulls testing macarena-style rear wing during filming day at Imola

[Brahmal]

https://substack.com/home/post/p-213144088

[PlatinumZealot]

I'm surprised no has has analyzed the square airbox yet. What benefits does it bring?

[Brahmal]

I'm surprised no has has analyzed the square airbox yet. What benefits does it bring?

It's the largest in the field by a distance, and is probably close to the limit of legality which would explain the boxy shape. Two possible explanations come to mind: the RBPT PU has more cooling requirements than the others, and/or VCARB reallocated radiator space to the centerline in order to maximize creative freedom with the sidepod aero surfaces in the first year of these regulations. It would be nice to see pictures of the VCARB with the bodywork removed, but I haven't found any good ones.

[PlatinumZealot]

I'm surprised no has has analyzed the square airbox yet. What benefits does it bring?

It's the largest in the field by a distance, and is probably close to the limit of legality which would explain the boxy shape. Two possible explanations come to mind: the RBPT PU has more cooling requirements than the others, and/or VCARB reallocated radiator space to the centerline in order to maximize creative freedom with the sidepod aero surfaces in the first year of these regulations. It would be nice to see pictures of the VCARB with the bodywork removed, but I haven't found any good ones.

I have a hunch the square shape is for aerodynamic reasons because of the large vortex generators either side of it.... Or the vortex genrators are a consequence of it being so large.

[Brahmal]

I have a hunch the square shape is for aerodynamic reasons because of the large vortex generators either side of it.... Or the vortex genrators are a consequence of it being so large.

If you compare the current airbox with the trapezoidal shape they started the season with, the little ears bring it out to the same basic width and volume of space, which is what makes me think that this is more about the limit of the legality box than anything else. I would think sharp corners in this area would be not-so desirable aerodynamically, if you compare this to the Mercedes airbox that they haven't changed for years, but it's impossible to know.

[Just_a_fan]

The VGs are presumably there to help the air flow around the back of the big lump of an inlet. Without those VGs, the air is possibly separating and thus affecting the rear wing. If they're having to use vortices to clean up the flow then it is a draggy design. Perhaps running a big cooling inlet here is better overall by allowing smaller cooling inlets / shaping of the sidepods and thus it's a decent trade off.

[PlatinumZealot]

The air in that area is downwashing and it seems those turning vanes are curved in the same deneral downwashing direction so it may not be as draggy as it might appears. It seems that the vortices generated would rotate downward from the inboard side either removeing/guiding away dirty air from atop the engine cover to rear wing area or perhaps acting to energise air going under the rear wing. Hard to say.