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Haas Introduces Upgrade to Address Aero Challenges Ahead of Japanese Grand Prix
In an effort to tackle aerodynamic oscillation issues that surfaced during the season opener in Melbourne, Haas has implemented a minor upgrade to the floor of its VF-25 Formula 1 car ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. The team has faced significant challenges with high-speed cornering, particularly in the section featuring Turns 9 and 10 at Albert Park.
According to team principal Ayao Komatsu, the performance deficiencies observed in Melbourne had Haas around six-tenths of a second off the pace compared to competitors. This hindered both drivers’ ability to maintain speed through critical sections of the track, ultimately affecting their overall sector times. In contrast, the subsequent circuit in Shanghai offered a smoother driving surface, allowing the team to better optimize the car’s aerodynamic set-up.
As part of their strategy to prevent a recurrence of the issues experienced in Melbourne, Haas prioritized modifications aimed at reducing the floor’s sensitivity to track conditions. These enhancements were expedited between the races in China and Japan, with Komatsu emphasizing the need for timely improvements based on their learnings.
“We had to really shortcut the process to bring the new parts here. I can’t definitively say if the difference will be minimal or substantial,” Komatsu noted. “The outcome of our upgrade will largely depend on our performance in the first sector during Free Practice 1.”
Assessing the Impact of the Upgrade
The team principal expressed the uncertainty surrounding the upgrades, admitting that the true impact would only be revealed once the car hit the track. To facilitate the upgrade, Haas conducted preliminary wind tunnel testing while the components were en route to Japan, which suggested the team was moving in the right direction.
Despite the data from the wind tunnel, Komatsu remained cautious, emphasizing that further evaluation would be necessary on the actual racing surface. “We needed to make changes; we couldn’t risk going into the race with the same setup as in Melbourne without addressing the issues,” he stated.
The Contrasting Experiences: China vs. Australia
Haas’ race experience in China starkly contrasted with that of Australia, primarily due to the differences in track surface quality. Komatsu pointed out that the resurfaced Shanghai circuit helped mitigate the aerodynamic issues faced in Melbourne. With the current generation of F1 cars being rigidly tuned, controlling frequencies from road imperfections is a complex challenge. An unsettled car entering a corner can significantly impair aerodynamic performance, necessitating drivers to lift off the throttle, which is not ideal for maintaining speed.
Prior to the Chinese race, there were concerns that the car might again face similar aerodynamic challenges in high-speed corners like Turn 1 and Turn 7. However, the drivers reported minimal oscillation, which permitted a greater range of setups—ultimately benefiting their performance.
“With no oscillation issues, we could configure the car optimally, which resulted in better downforce,” Komatsu explained. “Our performance in Turn 7 was remarkably swift, contrary to what we experienced in Melbourne where we struggled significantly.”
Komatsu clarified that it wasn’t merely the oscillations that affected performance; rather, it was the combination of these oscillations with the compression forces experienced in Turn 10 that led to substantial issues. He underscored the critical nature of these transitions and how they could severely impact the car’s ability to carry speed through challenging sections of the track.
Ultimately, the team is focused on iterating their design and setup in response to the unique characteristics of each circuit, continuing to strive for improvements as the season progresses.
Source
www.autosport.com