Why Red Bull flexi-wings are so effective

Perez in the Red Bull — Photo: © LAT Images

Formula 1

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Why Red Bull flexi-wings are so effective

Flexi-wings are the hot topic in F1 ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Ewan Gale

Wednesday 26 May 2021 08:00

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Would it be a true F1 title battle between two teams without a technical controversy along the way?

Mercedes has kicked up a storm over the so-called flexi, or limbo, rear wings after onboard footage at the Spanish Grand Prix showed the component on Red Bull's RB16B bending backwards down the pit straight.

The FIA has brought about changes to its load testing on the wings to ensure all components comply with the technical regulations but that in itself has caused a storm on both sides.

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So let's take a look at what flexi-wings are, why there is such a fuss and who is affected by the furore.

Why Mercedes is concerned

So the rear wing leans back a degree. Big deal, right? Actually yes. There is a reason why regulations stop aerodynamic components from endlessly flexing.

Let's break it down. With little air resistance through a corner with a low maximum velocity, or V-max, the wing structure stays mostly rigid and upright because the load exerted from the air resistance is relatively low.

Because the wing remains upright, the resistance pushes the wing and the rear of the car with downward pressure, or downforce, which equals grip and ultimately cornering speed.

Now in a straight line, this downforce effectively becomes aerodynamic drag which limits the V-max. This is why slipstreaming is effective because when a car is tucked in behind another, this air resistance isn't acting upon the second car to the extent of the leading vehicle.

When the secondary car pulls out to make the move, the air resistance that then hits the aerofoils attached to it acts like a parachute which is why the closing speed dissipates so there is a convergence of the relative V-max.

Where the flexi-wing is such an advantage is on this specific point. Red Bull uses the aeroelasticity of its rear wing to reduce the surface area of the face of the wing in a straight line, thus reducing drag and increasing potential V-max.

Taking advantage of the aeroelasticity, however, the wing returns to a rigid state at lower speed to create the downforce needed through the corners. This means that the team can run with a higher wing setting without being penalised in a straight line.

In effect, the flexi-wing is a rudimentary drag reduction system and we all know how powerful that can be.