Formulus
Formula One Aerodynamic Design
An aerodynamically optimised F1 car that simulates 10 300 N of downforce — 32 % more than current grid cars.
Overview
Developed an aerodynamically optimized Formula One car design focusing on maximizing downforce while minimizing drag. The project involved extensive CFD simulations and refined surface modeling in SolidWorks.
Objective
Airfoil CFD simulations initially returned unrealistic pressure distributions — resolved by switching to a more appropriate solver and correcting boundary conditions. Full-model simulations exceeded available computing power; migrated to AirShaper (cloud CFD). Surface-modelling design changes tended to break the CAD model, requiring more thorough feature management.
Approach
Designed the entire car to act as one large inverted airfoil. Ran iterative CFD loops in AirShaper after early SolidWorks results proved inaccurate. Tuned wing profiles and underfloor geometry to maximise the pressure differential between top and bottom surfaces.
Results
- —Achieved a simulated downforce of 10 300 N — exceeding current F1 cars by 32 %
- —Established a proven baseline workflow for rapid aerofoil tuning
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