Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

‘Like being asked to draw the Mona Lisa’ – Russell explains how he is struggling to match Antonelli

Formula 1
Belgian GP
‘Like being asked to draw the Mona Lisa’ – Russell explains how he is struggling to match Antonelli

What Verstappen did – and didn't – say about his F1 future and McLaren at Spa

Formula 1
Belgian GP
What Verstappen did – and didn't – say about his F1 future and McLaren at Spa

“A shock to the system” – Why teams fear the worst with F1’s 2026 cars at Spa

Feature
Formula 1
Belgian GP
“A shock to the system” – Why teams fear the worst with F1’s 2026 cars at Spa

Red Bull parks 'Macarena' rear wing for Belgian GP after Verstappen crashes

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Red Bull parks 'Macarena' rear wing for Belgian GP after Verstappen crashes

Norris given Belgium GP grid penalty as McLaren takes new Mercedes power unit parts

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Norris given Belgium GP grid penalty as McLaren takes new Mercedes power unit parts

Aston Martin "flat out" on Hungary updates but has concerns over spare parts being ready

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Aston Martin "flat out" on Hungary updates but has concerns over spare parts being ready

Is this the luckiest F1 fan on the planet?

Sponsored
Belgian GP
Is this the luckiest F1 fan on the planet?

Smith becomes latest to top Autosport National Rankings

National
Smith becomes latest to top Autosport National Rankings

Giorgio Piola: How Formula 1 teams are changing wings for Canada

Multiple Formula 1 teams have redefined their rear wing designs ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix in a quest to find more straightline performance at the Montreal circuit

Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Racing Point are just some of the teams to bring new rear wings to Canada, tailoring their aerodynamics to the demands of the longer straights on the circuit.

Typically, teams opt to create a 'spoon' section in the centre of the wing at circuits that aren't traditionally low-drag, but do still have long acceleration zones.

This is to create a compromise between minimising drag and developing enough downforce for the slower sections.

Ferrari's rear wing - seen on Charles Leclerc's car (left in Giorgio Piola's image below) - seems to be in a similar specification to the wing run in Baku, where the outboard sections of the wing are raised to reduce the overall frontal area.

Generally, the outboard sections of a wing develop the weakest pressure differentials compared to the centre section, and so produce a weaker level of downforce.

Reshaping the wing means it produces less drag with the caveat of offering a marginally reduced downforce output.

Curiously, Sebastian Vettel's car is equipped with a more conventional, flatter wing (right) - suggesting back-to-back running will take place in Friday's practice.

Toro Rosso has persisted with a shallow spoon-shaped wing throughout the season so far, but has exaggerated its depth for Canada.

Unlike Ferrari, Toro Rosso's Baku wing had a vastly reduced angle of attack without the spoon section - and so this appears to be a brand new design for Montreal.

This is also the case for Racing Point's new rear wing; so far this season, the central section's leading edge has been raised, aiming to improve the camber of the rear wing without the drag penalty.

The team has discarded that solution for Montreal, instead electing to create a wing that sweeps down in the central section.

After disappointing races in Spain and Monaco, this change of concept seems to be Racing Point's attempt at arresting the current slide.



Previous article Why F1 needs MotoGP's benefits system
Next article March Formula 1 team co-founder Robin Herd dies aged 80

Top Comments