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With the 2020 World Cup drawing to a close, the attention of teams and professionals inevitably shifts to the next season, the preparation of which will begin on Tuesday with the post-championship tests. The definitive ranking of manufacturers in particular establishes the resources for the aerodynamic simulations available to each team for 2021, from the hours of occupation of the wind tunnel to the analysis with virtual models to CFDs. In fact, the new sports regulations foresee a mechanism for limiting the development of the best teams in order to favor the balance of performance., through a reduction in aerodynamic tests inversely proportional to the position in the constructors’ championship during the previous year.
2020 World Constructors’ Championship: McLaren closes in third place
Therefore, the 2020 classification determines the allocation of resources that can be used for aerodynamic analysis from January 1 to December 31, 2021. The first aspect in question is the occupation of the wind tunnel, where it goes from the weekly total of 46 hours for Mercedes, followed by 46.25 hours for Red Bull, up to 56.25 hours for Williams, passing through 51.25 hours for Ferrari. The differences seem limited when expressed with respect to individual weeks, but throughout the year the gap between Mercedes and Red Bull reaches 65 hours, while Williams has an advantage over the world champions of 585 hours. Finally, it follows that, if on the one hand the Groove team will be able to count on a maximum number of hours comparable to that expected in 2019 and even higher than the 2020 limit, Instead, Mercedes will have to face a 25% reduction compared to just two years earlier..
It is much more representative of the occupation of the wind tunnel, although the number of wind hours in time, terminology that indicates the period of time in which the air speed in the tunnel actually exceeds 15 meters per second, that is to say, slightly more than 50 km / h. The difference between Mercedes and Red Bull in this area is only 15 minutes per week, but the advantage for the Anglo-Austrian team becomes 13 hours throughout the year, compared to 65 hours more than Ferrari has. and 117 hours from Williams.
It should not be overlooked that from 2021 for the first time the resources for the CFD and the Wind in Time hours will be treated separatelyWhereas previously the higher the virtual simulation work, the lower the number of hours allowed in the tunnel and vice versa. Therefore, although the graph below shows that Wind on Time hours have suffered an average reduction of 50% compared to the 2020 limit and 60% compared to 2019, it is difficult to quantify the real changes. In fact, whereas previously the hour limit was significantly reduced in proportion to the resources dedicated to CFD based on the strategies of individual teams, the new thresholds are defined unequivocally and independently of virtual simulations. Therefore, the large discrepancy between the maximum number of wind hours in time in 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020 could be misleading.
Finally, in proportion the gap between Mercedes and Red Bull is 2.7%, while the one between the first and the last of the class is equal to 25%. The Scuderia di Maranello in particular, you can count on a greater number of hours of almost 14% compared to that of the Silver Arrows.
Another parameter regulated by the new mechanism is the actual number of tests that can be performed in the tunnel. Once again there is a reduction compared to the limits of the last two seasons, while the differences between the individual teams seem more contained.
Being affected by aerodynamic handicap are also the virtual CFD analysis, expressed here as a percentage of the 2019 values given the variety of parameters that affect the resources available to the teams, including the technology and the number of processors used in the computers and the simulation hours. Apparently we are witnessing in particular an average cut of 25% in proportion to the 2020 ceilings and of 40% compared to 2019. However, as already illustrated for the Wind on Time hours, the real reduction compared to the last two seasons is difficult to quantify, since previously the maximum ceiling of CFD resources decreased proportionally with the number of hours in the tunnel. However, starting in 2021, the two parameters will be defined separately.
Finally, the percentage difference between the individual teams is significant and identical to that observed for the Wind on Time hours. In fact, Mercedes will have to manage a disadvantage of 2.7% on Red Bull, 14% on Ferrari and 25% on Williams..
Aerodynamic limitations will be of considerable importance in 2021, year in which teams will have to simultaneously develop the track car and the single-seater for the big regulatory change of 2022. The aerodynamic handicap also adds to the other variables for the new championship, such as the development of the individual engineers’ power units, the small changes planned for the Pirelli tires and the regulatory changes designed to reduce downforce by 10%. , including resizing of the lower and vertical bands of the diffuser. All of this, combined with data from the latest qualifications on how much the gaps have been progressively narrowing throughout the year, allows fans to expect a more competitive championship than the one that just ended.
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