Chuckjr wrote: ↑31 Jan 2026, 10:52
Is it possible (I really don't know, I am asking) that one of the reasons for Newey locating the front wheel suspension arm so far back, is to improve the feel the driver experiences as the mount point is closer to driver center? There have been so many complaints over the years of drivers not feeling the front of the car with these radical arm placement trends, that this is an extreme attempt to overcome that problem while maintaining improved anti-dive? Sort of a two birds with one stone idea. Thought came to me as I was looking at the car.
Second, is the huge side exit/opening sending hot air from the side pods to improve air expansion post the side pod pinch point in front of the rear wheel? Their exits are proximal to each other, and why I ask. I know the air coming out of that opening is not clean, but is there enough heat coming out of that opening to improve expansion at the rear wing?
Hey Chuck, my 2 cents, as someone who has studied aero for two years alone, and a former F1 TV host, the nerd part of the couple (
):
These cars are incredibly sensitive to ride height - if the nose dives under braking, the center of pressure shifts forward fiercely. By moving the rear mount back and high, you create a massive mechanical resistance to that dive.
In recent years, "extreme anti-dive" has made the front end feel rather numb to drivers because the suspension is essentially locked under load. This geometry is designed to vary caster dynamically. By placing the mount point further back and higher up, the steering axis changes as the suspension compresses.
The second point is even more nuanced, IMHO. In aerodynamics, the air coming out of the sidepods is turbulent, as we know and is slow because it has been shoved through a radiator. Normally, this is an aerodynamic disaster. However, Newey often uses it to "base-bleed." The coke-bottle area is a high-velocity zone. If the air moves too fast and the widening at the back is too aggressive, the flow will separate, thus creating massive drag.
By dumping hot air into the pinch point area, you are essentially filling the hole behind the car. While the air isn't clean enough to produce downforce on the wing itself, the thermal expansion increases the static pressure in the wake. This helps push the clean air over the top of the car to stay attached to the rear wing for longer.
So, essentially 1. the suspension is setup this way to give optimal aero floor height, and give proper feedback to the driver, and 2. the hot air is being used to energize the expansion zone, making the read end package (wind and diffuser) more efficient.
