Ferrari F1 staff assessments rain spray guards that appear to be fenders
Ferrari this week examined new spray guards for its System 1 vehicles because the FIA appears to be like to sort out the issue of visibility on moist tracks.
The take a look at, which came about at Ferrari’s personal Fiorano circuit, noticed Arthur Leclerc (brother of present Ferrari F1 driver Charles) driving final 12 months’s race automobile with the experimental spray guards whereas Ferrari F1 reserve driver Oliver Bearman adopted within the staff’s 2024 F1 automobile.
The spray guards primarily add fenders to the open-wheel F1 vehicles. They’ve two holes on the entrance however are full open on the again. Pictures present that two variations had been examined: one with strong sides, and one with spoke-like sides. Even with the spray guards fitted, the images additionally present the lead automobile throwing up a big quantity of spray.
As famous by Motorsport.com, the take a look at was organized by the FIA, which is taking a look at spray guards as an answer for bettering visibility of following vehicles throughout wet on-track classes. Even when there is not sufficient standing water on the monitor to trigger issues about hydroplaning, spray can restrict drivers’ visibility, inflicting classes to be cancelled or resulting in crashes.
System 1 spray guard testing – Photograph by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Pictures
An earlier model of the spray guards had been examined at a moist Silverstone Circuit final 12 months with Mercedes-Benz AMG reserve driver Mick Schumacher. McLaren driver Oscar Piastri drove behind Schumacher to check visibility. Whereas no images of that take a look at had been launched, 3D photographs launched by the FIA confirmed a design that coated much less of the wheel than the spray guards examined at Fiorano, based on Motorsport.com.
F1 vehicles already bought a radical visible overhaul for 2022, however the adoption of those spray guards may change their look even additional—on wet days, at the least.
Equally, F1 additionally adopted the Halo cockpit safety system just a few years again to enhance crash security.
