- The theme of the new episode is aerodynamics, the science that studies the dynamics of the air in order to “control” drag, friction and motion, i.e., everything that influences the behavior of the single-seater in a race and improves its efficiency, speed and performance.
The wait is over. As of today, “Measuring the unmeasurable” is available, the fourth of five digital appointments which go “behind the scenes and beyond” with Alfa Romeo F1 Team as they compete in the world’s most-watched motorsport competition. This is the latest installment of “Beyond the Visible”, the compelling Alfa Romeo-branded docu-series which already enjoyed great success in its first three episodes “Before we hit the ground”, “Trust is gained” and “The Hidden Backbone”.
The fourth episode, “Measuring the unmeasurable,” takes the public through the secrets of aerodynamics, i.e., the science that studies the dynamics of the air in order to “control” resistance, friction, and motion. All of these influences the behavior of the single-seater during the race and improve its efficiency and performance. This is a fundamental and complex task entrusted to the designers and engineers of Alfa Romeo F1 Team, who work closely with engine and chassis designers with the aim of designing a single-seater in line with new regulations and simultaneously ensuring excellent on-track performance.
Understanding how the airflow interacts with the car, how it flies through it or pushes it towards the ground, allows the team to be competitive in every race, adapting strategies based on the weather, the asphalt and the track. For this reason, throughout the competition, the team of engineers works tirelessly on the development and refinement of aerodynamics. This happens both in Hinwil, where individual components are continually developed and tested in the wind tunnel, and on the circuits that host the World Championship in order to achieve the most efficient set-up for the single-seater on each track. The ideal car for winning comes from this synergistic work, which “measures the unmeasurable”. The secret of success lies in bringing the solutions from the Sauber Factory in Hinwil as quickly as possible to the track, as that which looks perfect at the table must also perfectly suit the track. That’s why it is necessary to process all the data in a race and decide the best strategy within very tight deadlines.
Designed to excite even those who are not Formula 1 experts, the new episode will dynamically introduce the most relevant phenomena of this discipline: drag, or resistance to forward motion, and downforce, which represents the downward thrust. The functioning of individual aerodynamic components gets highlighted as well: from the front wings, which manage the airflow both around the tires and the incoming airflow for the rest of the car, to the rear wing, which defines the overall aerodynamic load. The most difficult job for engineers is to find the optimal set-up, i.e., a compromise between the aerodynamic load generated by the wings and the body of the car in corners and the low drag that allows it to slice through the air at high straight-line speeds.
In addition, the audience of “Measuring the unmeasurable” will get to know the importance of the feedback communicated by the drivers to their engineers to find the best strategies for tire changes based on weather conditions, temperatures, wind speed and other factors such as track conditions. In short, nothing is left to chance, everything is analyzed with extreme care to optimize performance. After all, since the early 1960s, aerodynamic studies have been fundamental in the world of motor racing, constantly being refined as technology evolves and powertrains become more powerful.
Cristiano Fiorio, Alfa Romeo F1 Manager: “In my opinion, the topic of this episode is one of the most interesting themes of this exciting docu-series and reveals the secrets of aerodynamics, one of the most important and strategic disciplines in F1, in which the genius and vision of the best technicians are expressed. And it is precisely here that unique insights are born, those flashes of genius that can make the difference. It is a fascinating world of spasmodic research, continuous perfection, and great people. That’s why we have two teams, one at the track and one at the factory, that work together to get the most competitive car. All at top speed and with one goal: to dominate the air and be the best performing team.”
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