F1 Teams Are Using Too Much Downforce At The Austrian GP: Here's Why

Low air density means teams have to run far more downforce than usual for a track like this.

Each race weekend we see a new set of wings on our favourite F1 cars. These provide downforce, pushing the car into the ground so it can navigate corners faster. But at the same time, they create drag, which slows the cars in the straights. So it's a fine line for teams, who are always looking to find that happy medium. For this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, it looks as though the teams are running far too much downforce, and therefore far too much drag, but there's a simple reason behind this. Read on to find out what that is.

The Austrian Grand Prix consists of only 10 corners and 4.3km of tarmac, so it's one of the smaller tracks of the F1 season. And while it certainly requires the utilisation of an adequate level of downforce, the long straights on either side of Turn 1 ask for plenty of straight-line speed.

But, as we've seen from photos from the track, teams are running larger wings than we'd expect. This is because of the air density, which is much lower than the majority of the tracks on the calendar. 

Air Density

The Spielberg track is 670m above sea level. Compare that to the likes of Silverstone in England which is only 150m above sea level, and you can soon see why the air density is so different.

Because the air is so thin, the aerodynamic trickery on the car doesn't have as much effect, so teams will run larger wings to create the same amount of downforce, and that's what we're seeing here. 

Other Effects of Low-Density Air

Low air density doesn't just affect the aerodynamics of a car. It also negatively affects brake cooling, as well as the power the internal combustion engines can create. 

Think of it this way. Internal combustion engines need three things: fuel, a spark, and oxygen, each precisely measured via sensors so the right amounts can be ignited. When the air is less dense, this means there's less oxygen in the same volume, reducing this magical trio and therefore, reducing power. 

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