In the last years, the Formula 1 competition is becoming more an engineers sport ratherthan a pilots one since it seems like who ever has the best racing car, wins without manydifficulties. One of the main reasons for that are found in the complex aerodynamic de-signs of the cars that causevery significant turbulence on the flow. Current carsare designed to preform at its maximum potential when receiving a clean flow under freestream conditions. But this scenario is not the one we find when a car is trying to overtakeanother car. When this happens, the chasing car is receiving a turbulent flow provokedby the leading car and, consequently, it suffers from adrastic aerodynamic downforceloss, which is specially essential in curves, when cars need as much downforce as possiblein order to gain adherence and be able to take the curve at a higher speed. The FIA(F ́ed ́eration Internationale de l’Automobile) has already noticed that and, consequently,in 2022 it will implement one of the most revolutionaries changes in terms of aerodynamicregulations, which are mainly based on a simplified aerodynamic package that will reducethe turbulence of the cars and therefore will allow easier overtakes and a closer racingwhere the most talented pilot will be able to shine.The aim of present study is to evaluate the aerodynamic performance of a 2017 F1 carmodel in curves by means of a CFD study under both free stream flow and turbulent flowconditions. Once the desired results are obtained, a comparison between the performancesin both condition will be done in order to be able to quantify how the wake of the firstcar affects the chasing car and this waydiscuss if the new future regulation areindispensable.
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