Is that still within the meaning of the Formula 1 regulations? AlphaTauri is bringing a rear wing to the Hungarian Grand Prix that almost entirely circumvents the regulations. It is reminiscent of the old generation of wings used until 2021.
The version now shown represents a completely new interpretation of the Formula 1 rules that have been in force since 2022, which was certainly not intended when it was created. But one can assume that the team from Faenza contacted the FIA in advance and got the green light.
Specifically, it is about the now completely free-standing upper skin sheet of the wing. This is a complete reinterpretation of regulations that actually seemed watertight at the beginning of 2022. Because the regulations stipulate that the so-called “wingtips”, i.e. the air deflectors attached to the side of the main blade, must form a body with the end plates without overlapping.
AlphaTauri has now cleverly solved this: The “wingtips” are connected to the lower main blade (light blue arrow), which then merges into the end plate itself. Strictly speaking, then, they form one body with the endplate, although only the lower wing blade fuses with it. A clever interpretation of the rules that has never been seen before in any team.
The advantage of this solution is that more air can be directed from the side behind the upper blade. This is sucked up by the angle of attack of the wing and creates a negative pressure zone behind the vehicle. This creates additional downforce.
At the same time, the “wingtips” generate turbulence on their now free-standing edge when the compressed air in front of the wing merges into the low-pressure zone behind the wing.
These can be used for additional contact pressure, especially in the correct interaction with the beam wing (the “lower” rear wing below the exhaust pipe) and the diffuser. But they also ensure an increased “dirty air” effect – exactly what the 2022 regulations are actually trying to avoid.
In the technical notes ahead of the race weekend, AlphaTauri explains that “the modifications to the corner of the rear wing lead to an efficient increase in the load on the wing elements.”
Once again, the engineers have found a clever way to almost circumvent the regulations in their search for more and more performance.
Other changes to the AlphaTauri AT04 include a slightly raised nose in combination with a new front wing. The underbody has also been revised in search of more downforce.