Aerodynamics Demystified... One Blog at a Time
When my fellow aerodynamics aficionado and prolific Tweeter, Dr Obbs (@dr_obbs) recently posted the image above of the latest Red Bull front suspension development, I couldn’t help but smile a little bit. As someone who spent several years developing and optimising front suspension geometries, I knew exactly which rules were being stretched to within an […]
As a former F1 engineer, I often receive messages from students looking to understand the best way to break into the motorsport industry. I have to confess, I am not the best at keeping on top of said messages and replying to them all so you can consider this post a somewhat lazy way of […]
During a recent journey on the LNER service from Edinburgh Waverly to Peterborough I found myself doom-scrolling the LinkedIn feed to fill the time. In amongst the humble brags (we’re all as guilty as each other here) and B2B insight, I stumbled upon a post from the Aston Martin F1 Team with this article stating […]
Introduction When the FIA revealed a raft of changes for the 2026 F1 technical regulations, one particular announcement piqued my interest: the introduction of more active aerodynamics. Of course, technically speaking, the Drag Reduction System (DRS) which we all know and – perhaps(?) – love has been an active device featured on the car for […]
I recently wrote an article for the raceteq website covering all aspects of what goes into developing and upgrading a Formula One racecar. In the article, I go in-depth into each stage of the process from initial CAD drawings, through to CFD and wind tunnel analysis, and finally testing in anger on the track. The […]
One thing I do miss since my exit from the ‘F1 bubble’ is the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the race cars and technology involved in the sport. Thankfully, the ExCeL in London is currently offering such an opportunity with the F1 Exhibition, which is touring cities worldwide. So, on […]
Introduction In this final part of the series covering the modern F1 race car, I conclude by – somewhat logically and unsurprisingly – looking towards the rear of the car. It is here that the airflow navigates its final hurdles, having had much of its energy extracted upstream. At a very high level the rear […]
Introduction I had just joined the Grove-based Williams Racing team in the April of 2019 when I was assigned to help with the development of the bargeboard. For those with good memories, you will probably recall the fantastic complexity of these devices; with their many flicks and flags sprouting from every surface. Each appendage aimed […]
Introduction Several years ago, during my shifts in the wind tunnel at Enstone, I can remember seeing the various items of furniture and garnishes disappearing from the front wing and my beloved (at the time at least!) front brake ducts. This was just the beginning of the crusade to simplify the geometry and flow field […]
Given that it’s that awkward period of time between Christmas and New Year when we all try desperately to emerge from those food comas and resist the urge to have ‘just one more’ from the Quality Street tin (although, let’s face it, the good ones are long gone by now), I thought it would be […]