Tech F1i: A closer look at the Sauber C36

F1-2017-sauber-C36_3

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

The front wing on Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein’s new challenger is a departure from last year’s model. Instead of featuring curved outer sections, the wing’s main plane is significantly flatter (compare yellow arrows).

As a reminder, the front wing arches were initially devised by Mercedes in 2014 and form a sort of reversed tunnel on the outer wing, which creates a vortex aimed at driving away the dirty wake coming off the front wheels.

Yet, the arches also produce drag, which F1 aerodynamicists are always keen to keep in check. The 2017 aero rules shake-up has rendered these arched sections less crucial when it comes to fending off the turbulent air, with larger bargeboards making a return and fulfilling the same purpose.

Sauber’s front wing concept bears some similarities with the experimental wing sampled by McLaren last year in Austin, though the Woking prototype was entirely flat.