Tech images from the pitlane explained

On Apr 6, 2024

Alpine A524 technical detail

A look at the two front wing specifications available to Alpine in Japan, with the newer of the two being the upper one (splattered with green flo-viz paint). Note not only how the shape of the upper flaps differ considerably different but also how the team has made the switch to semi-detached flap tips at the endplate juncture.

McLaren MCL38 technical detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A look at the McLaren MCL38 as mechanics prepared the car, notably with the floor off the car we’re able to see the floor fences and the swept leading edge of the floor.

Mercedes W15 technical detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A look under the covers of the Mercedes W15 reveals details of how the power unit and ancillaries are packaged, while we’re also able to see a number of metal stays housed within the sidepod’s bodywork that reduce the floor’s flexion.

McLaren MCL38 technical detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A close up of the McLaren MCL38 chassis and the bodywork blister that interfaces with the floor and rear leg of the upper wishbone to better manage the airflow downstream.

Aston Martin AMR24 technical detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A close up of the extreme detail work that’s been undertaken around the inboard fixture point on the Aston Martin AMR24’s rear leg of the upper wishbone. Note how there’s a very thin tail section that’s aggressively swept upwards as it mates with the bodywork panel (red arrow).

Aston Martin AMR24 sidepod and floor comparison

Photo by: Uncredited

Aston Martin has a new floor and sidepod bodywork in Japan, with the descending swage line reintroduced in the sidepod’s bodywork in the front corner (red arrow), while the team has switched to a more twisted edge wing (blue arrow) and no cut-out at the rear of the floor, with a tapered tail section to the edge wing, where it had previously intersected the cut-out.

Red Bull Racing RB20 technical detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A close up of the new upper intake placed beside the rear leg of the halo on the Red Bull RB20, while an additional vertical baffle wing has been added to the wing mirror assembly to help redirect the airflow across the sidepod’s upper surface too.

Nose cone and front wing of the Haas VF-24

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

A top-down overview of the Haas VF-24’s front wing assembly, which notably has the outwashing slot gap separators between the upper two flap elements, while the semi-detached flap tips are skewed relative to the endplate.