Team declared two updates in the FIA document, focusing on the rear wing and diffuser for the Spa-Francorchamps requirements.
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Audi arrives at the Belgian Formula 1 GP with two declared updates in the technical document released by the FIA for the Spa-Francorchamps round. Gabriel Bortoleto’s team brought a specific rear wing for the circuit and a small change in the diffuser, in a smaller package than presented in other rounds, but directly linked to the characteristics of the Belgian track.
Spa demands a difficult compromise between speed on the straights and stability in fast corners. Therefore, many teams focused their updates on elements at the rear of the car, especially the rear wing, diffuser, and parts that help organize the airflow. In Audi’s case, the two changes follow exactly this logic.
The main novelty is in the rear wing. According to the FIA document, the team introduced a specific set for the Belgian GP, adjusted to Spa’s aerodynamic requirements. Simply put, Audi seeks to adapt the car for a track where reducing drag is essential, but without losing enough downforce to tackle fast corners like Eau Rouge, Raidillon, Pouhon, and Blanchimont.
The second update is in the diffuser, a part located at the rear end of the floor. Audi made a small refinement in this area, aiming to improve the airflow behavior at the rear of the car. Even though it is a pinpoint change, this type of adjustment can help with stability and aerodynamic efficiency, especially on a high-speed track.
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For Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi’s package can be important precisely because it tries to improve a sensitive area at Spa: the rear of the car. On circuits with long straights and fast corners, the driver needs an efficient car that has good top speed but also conveys confidence in direction changes and corner entries.
The volume of updates from Audi is smaller than that of Racing Bulls, Haas, Mercedes, and Williams, which appear with more items declared in the FIA document. Still, this does not necessarily mean a less relevant update. At Spa, a well-adjusted rear wing for the circuit can have a direct impact on the car’s behavior throughout the weekend.
The Belgian round will therefore be an opportunity to understand if Audi can turn these pinpoint changes into better track performance. The team has been working on the aerodynamic development of the car throughout the season, and Spa offers an important test to evaluate efficiency, stability, and straight-line speed.
Didn’t understand some technical term of the updates? See F1 Mania’s glossary on Formula 1 aerodynamic parts and concepts.
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