Latest Developments at Zandvoort for Sauber & Co.: Now Employing Budget-friendly Tactics Only
Formula 1 Teams Make Cost-Effective Updates Ahead of Zandvoort Grand Prix
In the final update race of the Formula 1 season, several teams are making minor adjustments to their vehicles in a bid to improve performance. Among these teams are Red Bull, Alpine, and Sauber.
Red Bull, currently facing balance issues, is lengthening the chord of certain front wing elements and testing them on the track. The changes were developed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel testing.
Meanwhile, Sauber engineer Inaki Rueda revealed that they have only made a few attachments to an existing unit, adding a small wing, due to cost-cap considerations. Unlike Red Bull, Sauber's updates focus on a specific area - the guide elements around the rear brake unit - which are crucial for controlling the flow around the diffuser, side skirts, and rear tires.
Alpine's chief technical officer, David Sanchez, explained that these guide elements can be changed without extensive wind tunnel runs, requiring only a few CFD simulations. The team has also introduced new developments this weekend, following in the footsteps of Sauber.
Interestingly, only the discount section of the aerodynamic development is being used by teams, as explained by technical chiefs. This means that teams are focusing on making cost-effective updates rather than investing in expensive overhauls.
Some teams, such as Red Bull, may have only used CFD for certain updates, according to Red Bull's chief engineer, Paul Monaghan. This strategy allows teams to make changes quickly and efficiently, without the need for extensive testing.
However, due to budget limitations and aerodynamic testing restrictions, resources in modern Formula 1 are scarce and precious, making it impossible for teams to develop update packages in the second half of the year. This has led teams like Alpine and Sauber to have teams working on small, cost-effective updates in the background, while the majority focus on the 2026 project.
It's worth noting that these parts are relatively inexpensive compared to other updates. However, they are not designed for the 2026 season, as the chassis rules will be completely new then.
As the season draws to a close, teams are making the most of the opportunities available to them to improve their performance on the track. The update race in Formula 1 is largely concluded, with only three teams bringing updates to Zandvoort. The specific engineers working on these projects at Alpine and Sauber remain unnamed in available sources.
