F-Duct

F-Duct is system allows the driver to open or close the air duct from the cab to the rear wing. The driver determines on his knee whether or not to give more air to the rear wing. This causes the rear wing to settle on straight lines, which improves the car's direct speed.
== Overview ==
Since the engine development of the F1 machine around 2010, which used the F-duct, was frozen, it was difficult to see a clear difference in the maximum speed. However, the McLaren MP4-25, including the same Mercedes engine-equipped car, had a faster top speed than other machines and had an advantage in the position battle in the straight section. The aerodynamic control device called the F-duct attracted attention as the secret weapon.
The developer McLaren has not disclosed the structure and function, but from the statements of F1 officials, the F duct intentionally causes boundary layer separation in the straight section, stalls the rear wing, and reduces downforce. It is considered to be a device that increases the maximum speed. When the system works, it is said that an advantage of about 9.7km / h can be obtained in a straight section.
There are various theories about the origin of the name F-duct.
*Because the driver controls the system switch with the knee of the leg (“f” oot).
*Because the air intake on the monocoque is in the “f” position of the Vodafone sponsor logo.
*A codename with no specific meaning, such as the "J damper" previously named by McLaren. By the way, the official name of the F-duct in McLaren is "RW80".
*Because of its function, it is also called "stall rear wing (stall rear wing)" or "brown rear wing (spray rear wing)".
== Features of each machine ==
McLaren MP4-25
The original McLaren was introduced from the opening round Bahrain GP. The original was a flap injection type, but the main plate injection type was introduced from the 16th round Japan GP. In the 14th round of the Italian Grand Prix, Jenson Button had an F-duct and Lewis Hamilton had no F-duct.
Sauber C29
Following McLaren, it was tested at the 2nd round Australian GP and used in the actual battle from the 4th round Chinese GP. Initially, the intake was installed on the left side pontoon, but from the 5th round of the Spanish GP, it was changed to the same cockpit front as McLaren. The feature is that the air from the dorsal fins is sent to the main plate instead of the flap.
Ferrari F10
Tested at the 4th round of the Chinese GP and used in the actual battle from the 5th round of the Spanish GP. The team calls it the "Management System for the Blown Rear Wing". The feature is that there are intake ports on the left and right of the dorsal fin. The driver closes the hole at the end of the pipe extending from the back of the cockpit with the back of his left hand and operates it. It was pointed out that it might be dangerous to drive away when it was activated, but Fernando Alonso commented that there was no problem. It was changed from the 7th round Turkish GP to the method of operating with the same knee as McLaren.
Mercedes MGP W01
At the 4th round of the Chinese Grand Prix, a passive system was introduced that takes in airflow from two slits on the front edge of the rear wing main plate, passes through a separator for fixing the angle, and sends it into the flap. From the 7th round Turkish GP, intake ports have been installed at the bases of the front suspension arms on both the left and right sides, improving the system to be operated by the driver. Since it does not have dorsal fins, it seems that it is sending air through the inside of the vertical wing tip plate of the rear wing.
Force India VJM03
Introduced from Round 7 Turkish GP. The team calls it the "Switchable Rear Wing (SRW)". Like the BMW Sauber, the dorsal fins connect to the main plate. Vitantonio Liuzzi commented that it was a wrist-operated system. He also leaked that he couldn't get the F-duct effect better than his teammate Adrian Sutil.
Red Bull RB6
Tested at the 7th round Turkish GP and put into action from the 9th round European GP. There are two ventilation paths inside the dorsal fin, the upper one is connected to the flap, and the lower one is exhausting air from the hole on the back side of the main plate.
Williams FW32
Tested at the 4th round of the Chinese GP and launched from the 9th round of the European GP.
Renault R30
Introduced from the 13th round of the Belgian Grand Prix. Like Red Bull, it has two ventilation paths, one above and one below, but the top is connected to the main plate. Team representative Eric Boullier commented on Robert Kubica's third place in the Belgian Grand Prix, "I'm confident that more than half of today's performance improvements are due to the F-duct."
Category:Technology