OVERVIEW OF THE UPDATES FOR THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX
For the Austrian Grand Prix, almost every team has brought small aerodynamic updates to improve either downforce, cooling, or efficiency, with most changes focused on airflow to the rear of the car.
McLaren have made two small but useful changes. They updated the rear brake duct to improve airflow around the rear wheels and help create more downforce in that area. They also adjusted the rear wing flap position in straight-line mode, which reduces drag and helps the car go faster on the straights.
Mercedes focused on airflow management and cooling. They changed the front suspension fairings to better guide air along the car at different ride heights, helping improve flow to the rear. They also narrowed the rear of the engine cover, which helps control cooling better by pushing more air through the side vents instead of the back.
Red Bull brought one of the biggest upgrade packages. They reshaped the sidepod inlet, engine cover, floor, rear suspension, rear corner, rear wing, and exhaust area. All of these changes work together to improve airflow, increase downforce, and make the car more efficient, especially by improving how air moves from the front to the back of the car.
Ferrari introduced a smaller update set. They improved the front wing endplate to get better airflow and downforce at the front of the car. They also tested some small floor and rear parts during practice sessions to collect data and understand how the car behaves on track.
Racing Bulls made changes to the exhaust and diffuser. They lowered the exhaust position to help control airflow at the rear, which improves rear wing efficiency. They also refined the diffuser edges to make the airflow smoother and improve rear downforce.
Haas focused on cooling and front-end airflow. They improved the front brake duct design to make airflow smoother and reduce losses, which helps air reach the back of the car more cleanly. They also added extra cooling openings on the sidepods to improve engine cooling for this track.
Audi brought a wide set of updates across the whole car. They changed the front wing, front corner, floor, rear suspension, beam wing, and rear wing to improve airflow from front to rear and increase downforce. Overall, the goal was to make the car more stable and efficient in all conditions.
Alpine introduced a new front wing package along with changes to the nose and front corner to improve airflow at the front of the car. They also added a small winglet to the diffuser, which helps guide air at the rear and increases downforce.
Cadillac focused heavily on cooling and bodywork airflow. They enlarged and reshaped the sidepod inlets, updated the engine cover, and refined the sidepod shape to improve both cooling and airflow to the rear. They also updated many aerodynamic surfaces like the floor, diffuser, beam wing, and suspension to increase downforce and balance.
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