With the European part of the F1 season now over, and the end of the year approaching, there are fewer developments finding their way onto cars.
That’s the case at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, though some teams have bits still in train.
Haas is known to have a sweeping upgrade for the United States Grand Prix, and other small developments are likely to continue appearing for the balance of the campaign.
By and large, however, the significant updates have all been made with attentions now turned to the 2024 car – or items that can be carried over.
Ferrari
| Updated component | Primary reason for update | Geometric differences compared to previous version | Brief description on how the update works |
| Floor Body | Performance -Flow Conditioning | Revision of front floor fences, floor edge, mid floor and diffuser sidewall. Sidepod undercut re-designed to suit | Not specific to Suzuka circuit and part of the standard development process, the floor topology has been revised focusing on losses management and load distribution, which translates into a car efficiency increase |
Mercedes
| Updated component | Primary reason for update | Geometric differences compared to previous version | Brief description on how the update works |
| Rear Wing | Performance -Local Load | Vane added to outer face of rear wing endplate. | This vane generates a small vortex which in turn generates a small amount of local downforce and drag. |
McLaren
| Updated component | Primary reason for update | Geometric differences compared to previous version | Brief description on how the update works |
| Beam Wing | Circuit specific -Drag Range | New offloaded Beamwing | A new Beam Wing geometry, featuring a reshaped upper and lower element, reducing aerodynamic load and drag efficiently, suitable for this circuit. |
| Sidepod Inlet | Performance -Flow Conditioning | Sidepod Inlet Packer | The Sidepod Inlet has been modified with the addition of a packer, which improves local flow conditioning and results in improved cooling performance. |
Aston Martin
| Updated component | Primary reason for update | Geometric differences compared to previous version | Brief description on how the update works |
| Front Corner | Circuit specific -Cooling Range | New front brake duct scoop with reduced inlet size compared to the previous version. | The smaller inlet area reduces massflow in the brake duct and hence cooling of the disc and calliper. This is a setup component for circuits with lower braking requirements. |
Scuderia AlphaTauri
| Updated component | Primary reason for update | Geometric differences compared to previous version | Brief description on how the update works |
| Rear Wing | Performance – Local Load |
Relative to the previous geometry, the rear wing endplate junction with the rear wing elements has been updated. | The updated tips increase the efficiency of the assembly of this rear wing drag level, which is anticipated to be the best choice for this circuit based on lap time analysis. |
| Other – Rear View Mirror |
Performance – Drag reduction |
Compared to the baseline rear view mirror assembly, three turning vanes have been removed from the outboard mirror stem. | Tested and raced at R15, this is a repeat test item at higher downforce than that event. While removal of thee vanes reduces drag, the modifcation also reduces outwash that acts upon upper front wheel wake losses, so their removal will be retested at this medium downforce circuit to assess the drag reduction versus wheel wake control trade. |
Williams
| Updated component | Primary reason for update | Geometric differences compared to previous version | Brief description on how the update works |
| Floor Fences | Performance -Flow Conditioning | The height of the most inboard forward floor fence is reduced. |
This trim of the most inboard forward floor fence offloads the fence which affects both the local load and the rearward flow field. |
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