Renault introduces new front wing, bargeboard additions for F1 opener
Renault has brought a new front wing design and bargeboard additions to the Formula 1 season-opening Austrian Grand Prix as part of its three-part upgrade package


In a session with select media, including Autosport, last week, Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul explained that the team had grouped together three of its planned upgrade packages together for the first of two races at the Red Bull Ring.
"It's been a huge effort from internal production to get the package from races three, five and six - the initial numbering obviously - from Vietnam, the Netherlands and Barcelona that will be on our car in Austria," Abiteboul said.
The front wing has received several detail changes to its endplates, bringing them in line with a design that Ferrari debuted at last year's French Grand Prix.
This includes a flatter, squarer footplate which compresses at the trailing edge to accommodate a small fin.
At the trailing edge, there is also a small Gurney flap-style ridge to trip the airflow outboard and around the front tyre, along with the outwardly-pointing fin - marked with the red arrow in the image below.
The image shows the older-spec wing on top, with the new Austria wing below.

The airflow being pushed outwards - known as outwash - is enhanced by the square cut-out in the top corner of the endplate's rear edge, which takes airflow worked by the front wing elements and lets it bleed outwards.
This is helped by a shorter-chord top flap, which removes the scalloped section at the point where it meets the endplate of the older wing.
Renault has also added a number of vertical serrations to the bargeboard area, which will assist the rest of the bargeboard package with taking the airflow from the components in front - for example, the front wing tip vortices and the turbulence from the tyre - to pull it away from the floor.
PLUS: The new rules of F1's tech war
Tyre wake turbulence entering the floor section reduces the efficiency of the under-body aerodynamics, thus slashing the overall downforce produced.
Driver Esteban Ocon hopes that the upgrades that Renault has brought will alleviate any issues it had during testing, and says that his experiences of testing the 2019 car has helped inform him of the changes that the team needed to make.
"It was great to test the car in 2019 in Abu Dhabi to then see the improvement of the car in the winter test, and just get a way to see which improvements we should be doing," Ocon said.
"Now that we had a good test in February, I hope the upgrades we have now are going to help the problems we had then."

Is Red Bull F1's only hope of a Mercedes challenge in 2020?
Leclerc sure Ferrari will struggle more than it did in 2019 F1 campaign

Latest news
Why WTR Acura lacked pace to beat MSR in Daytona 24 showdown
Filipe Albuquerque admits that he knew it would be a tall order for Wayne Taylor Racing to overcome sister Acura squad Meyer Shank Racing in last weekend's Daytona 24 Hours.
How MSR took Acura to the first win of sportscar racing's new era
After much anticipation, the new dawn for sportscar racing got underway with a result that mirrored last year's IMSA SportsCar Championship's season-opener run to the previous DPi rules. Here's how Acura once again took top honours in the Daytona 24 Hours with a 1-2 led by Meyer Shank Racing, as the new GTP class for LMDh hybrid prototypes made its bow
Alonso's pushy trait a boost for me in 2023 F1 season, says Stroll
Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll says Fernando Alonso's pushy nature will be a boost to both him and the squad this year.
Porsche aims to “learn quick” from Daytona 24 Hours disappointment
Porsche’s director of factory racing Urs Kuratle says his team will gain valuable answers from its disappointing results in the Daytona 24 Hours.
Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?
Who was the fastest driver in 2022? Everyone has an opinion, but what does the stopwatch say? Obviously, differing car performance has an effect on ultimate laptime – but it’s the relative speed of each car/driver package that’s fascinating and enlightening says ALEX KALINAUCKAS
Why F1's nearly man is refreshed and ready for his return
He has more starts without a podium than anyone else in Formula 1 world championship history, but Nico Hulkenberg is back for one more shot with Haas. After spending three years on the sidelines, the revitalised German is aiming to prove to his new team what the F1 grid has been missing
The potential-laden F1 car that Ferrari neglected
The late Mauro Forghieri played a key role in Ferrari’s mid-1960s turnaround, says STUART CODLING, and his pretty, intricate 1512 was among the most evocative cars of the 1.5-litre era. But a victim of priorities as Formula 1 was deemed less lucrative than success in sportscars, its true potential was never seen in period
Why Vasseur relishes 'feeling the pressure' as Ferrari's F1 boss
OPINION: Fred Vasseur has spent only a few weeks as team principal for the Ferrari Formula 1 team, but is already intent on taking the Scuderia back to the very top. And despite it being arguably the most demanding job in motorsport, the Frenchman is relishing the challenge
The crucial tech changes F1 teams must adapt to in 2023
Changes to the regulations for season two of Formula 1's ground-effects era aim to smooth out last year’s troubles and shut down loopholes. But what areas have been targeted, and what impact will this have?
Are these the 50 quickest drivers in F1 history?
Who are the quickest drivers in Formula 1 history? LUKE SMITH asked a jury of experienced and international panel of experts and F1 insiders. Some of them have worked closely with F1’s fastest-ever drivers – so who better to vote on our all-time top 50? We’re talking all-out speed here rather than size of trophy cabinet, so the results may surprise you…
One easy way the FIA could instantly improve F1
OPINION: During what is traditionally a very quiet time of year in the Formula 1 news cycle, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been generating headlines. He’s been commenting on massive topics in a championship that loves them, but also addressing necessary smaller changes too. Here we suggest a further refinement that would be a big boon to fans
How can McLaren keep hold of Norris?
Lando Norris is no longer the young cheeky-chappy at McLaren; he’s now the established ace. And F1's big guns will come calling if the team can’t give him a competitive car. Here's what the team needs to do to retain its prize asset
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.