2026 car comparisons

[venkyhere]

I'm unsure if it's a difference of perspective, but Red Bull seems to have a larger exhaust pipe and it is also positioned much higher above the impact structure than the others (Mercedes, Ferrari).

Also note the 4 channel rear brake duct exit of the Mclaren. It is much more complex than the other 3 teams.
https://i.postimg.cc/vB4d7N1F/image.png

Also noteworthy is the amount of cooling-exit opening that the Redbull needs to have over the other three, because they are sticking to air-to-air ICs which will have a domino effect on all the packaging under the engine cover. Could well be the reason for the 'higher mounted' exhaust pipe.

[wiktor977]

One thing that I don't really understand is the big difference between the teams when it comes to the downforce levels of their wings. I know it's just the test but why do they even bother with lower downforce wings when you hide them at every straight?
https://i.postimg.cc/cC8Gwd7z/Mc-Laren.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/nVsX073p/RB.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/sf02WXyv/Ferrari.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fRvyJvR8/Mercedes.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/zXbGFrXS/Audi.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/pdGdBX8z/Aston.jpg

The front wings are not exclusively downforce generators. They are also important tools for aero balance and flow conditioning to the floor and rear of the car. So, it's not always the case that you want the largest possible front wing.

Of course, but I'm still surprised by how some teams are approaching this, but again, it's only a test.

[SSJ4]

[Farnborough]

They appear to have marked the 2025 McLaren purple on the steering link and not the pull rod.

The comparison doesn't appear valid for that one.

[MIKEY_!]

The raised centre section of the red bull front wing is an interesting choice, presumably made possible by (or resulting from) an extreme amount of rake.

Do you think it's raised? I think it's the opposite. RB have a low mainplane and a low nose. The others have high nose and lifted mainplane at the tips.

The centre section of the wing is raised within the regulation boxes, because that's the only way to make such a neutral dihedral wing fit in an aggressively dihedral regulation box. Hopefully this diagram makes it clearer: low nose on the left, high nose on the right - green is the reg boxes, red is the car centre line, grey is the reference plane, black is the bodywork cross-section. When rake is applied, the nose, wing and regulation boxes are lowered closer to the ground.

[AR3-GP]

The raised centre section of the red bull front wing is an interesting choice, presumably made possible by (or resulting from) an extreme amount of rake.

Do you think it's raised? I think it's the opposite. RB have a low mainplane and a low nose. The others have high nose and lifted mainplane at the tips.

The centre section of the wing is raised within the regulation boxes, because that's the only way to make such a neutral dihedral wing fit in an aggressively dihedral regulation box. Hopefully this diagram makes it clearer: low nose on the left, high nose on the right - green is the reg boxes, red is the car centre line, grey is the reference plane, black is the bodywork cross-section. When rake is applied, the nose, wing and regulation boxes are lowered closer to the ground.

https://i.postimg.cc/W1N7kx3M/rb2026-fw.png

That makes sense. Its possible that they want the higher wing in order to increase the clean air to the floor for the higher speed corners. Red Bull is the only team that doesn't have a big anti-dive on the front suspension. How does it relate? I think they want more dive under braking which will lower the front wing and increase the ground effect/load for the slow corner entries.

[Brahmal]

https://www.planetf1.com/features/f1-20 ... -technical

[AR3-GP]

The exhaust of the Alpine is higher and point upwards while that of the McLaren and the Mercedes does not. They all have the same PU. Odd.

[Brahmal]

https://www.planetf1.com/features/f1-20 ... -technical

[Brahmal]

Alpine


Haas


Aston


Cadillac


Williams


Red Bull


Ferrari

https://www.planetf1.com/features/f1-20 ... -technical

[AR3-GP]

Mclaren vs Aston

[AR3-GP]

Mclaren vs Ferrari

[Luscion]

Ferrari just did something absolutely bonkers. Their DRS flap inverts. Completely upside down.

I watched it rotate 360 degrees


https://i.postimg.cc/rmsg7M0m/image.png

video of it

[AR3-GP]

They really studied the rule book this year. I love it.
The actuator/s seem to be in the endplate.
https://cdn-8.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... ari-s.webp

https://cdn-4.motorsport.com/images/mgl ... rrari.webp

I wonder if it acts like an airbrake momentarily when driver hits the brakes...Could give gains in the brake zone too.

[ryaan2904]

Ferrari just did something absolutely bonkers. Their DRS flap inverts. Completely upside down.

I watched it rotate 360 degrees


https://i.postimg.cc/rmsg7M0m/image.png

video of it

Wow