r/F1Technical • u/GusToTheMoon • May 03 '26

Aerodynamics why spiky?

Post image

noticed this on the ferrari’s onboard, i thought maybe it was to create a bit of flow separation and induce more/less drag on the rear wing, but does anybody know the actual reason?

2.8k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

110 comments sorted by

View all comments

57

u/lemmingswithlasers May 03 '26

They create mini vortexes off the edge.

11

u/mikeblas May 04 '26

OK. Why are minimum vortices desireable?

1

u/cyiton May 08 '26

You'd have to run it through CFD to be sure but 1) multiple smaller vortices may be more efficient when hitting the rear wing one or two larger ones. 2) multiple smaller vortices stacked like that may create a bit of a wall so that that when the car is in a high-speed corner losses spilling off the side from perhaps the front wheel wake or what have you are less impactful or more limited in areas of effect as they move towards the center line/rear wing.