Experimental Analysis of Formula 1 Cars Moving Under Wake Conditions

The aerodynamic wake effect in Formula 1 continues to be a critical barrier to close racing and overtaking, particularly through corners. Despite years of regulatory developments, the aerodynamic turbulence generated by a leading car still severely compromises the downforce and performance of a following car. While this phenomenon is widely acknowledged in the motorsport community, experimental data that quantifies the loss of aerodynamic performance under wake conditions remains limited, especially at small scale. This study aims to analyze and quantify the downforce loss experienced by a Formula 1 car due to wake turbulence using a cost-efficient, scaled wind tunnel setup. An official 1:18 scale diecast model of a 2021 F1 car was mounted on a load cell within a custom-built wind tunnel, and raw downforce values were measured under clean air conditions and various wake conditions simulated using upstream obstructions. The experimental setup focused on within-subject comparisons, varying the distance and lateral offset between the test model and the simulated wake source. Findings revealed a maximum downforce loss of approximately 53% at 5 cm behind the obstruction with no lateral offset, with recovery observed at increased distances and small offsets. These results affirm the hypothesis that wake turbulence significantly affects aerodynamic performance and provide a tangible demonstration of how proximity and alignment influence downforce retention. By offering a simplified, replicable approach to studying wake effects, this research contributes valuable experimental insight into a widely discussed yet under-tested aerodynamic challenge in Formula 1 racing.