From fan car to F1 2022 – the secrets of ground effect

The Race F1 Tech Show

With F1’s August shutdown well under way, there’s still lots to talk about in the world of tech for host Edd Straw and Gary Anderson, former Jordan, Jaguar and Stewart technical director, to talk about.

Gary starts off with a look at the follies of Ferrari’s attitude to strategy during the 2022 season and why it is not about sacking team principal Mattia Binotto if Ferrari wants to fix things.

Then it’s onto a deep dive into F1 ground effect cars, starting off with the 1970s. Then, Gary was in the thick of the ground effect revolution that was kicked off by Team Lotus. That then spawned the fascinating Brabham BT46 ‘fan car’ that raced only once. But what might have happened had such fan cars stayed legal?

Modern-day ground effect is also delved into, including the potential for teams to unlock significantly more performance in the future despite the rule changes slated for 2023.

And finally, Gary answers a listener question about whether any of F1’s midfield teams can hope to join the ‘big three’ teams at the front before the next rules cycle starts in 2026.

The Race F1 Tech Show, brought to you by Aramco.

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