Top Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Tech Updates: Latest F1 Innovations & Upgrades

Welcome to Round 5 in Saudi Arabia, as Formula 1 returns to the world’s fastest street circuit for the fifth time since the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021!

This race is one of four F1 events in the Middle East, joining Bahrain, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Floodlights illuminate the race, known for its incredible speed. Average speeds around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit are approximately 250km/h - faster than those at Silverstone and second only to Monza, famously known as ‘The Temple of Speed.’ Simply put, it holds the title of the fastest street circuit ever seen in Formula 1.

The track also boasts the most corners on the calendar, with 27, many of which are quick, sinuous bends as drivers navigate along the Jeddah waterfront. With these characteristics, a significant portion of the updates observed this weekend will be circuit-specific.

Performance vs Circuit Updates

The distinction between performance and circuit-specific updates is somewhat blurry, as any update should enhance performance (or so the teams aspire). A performance update involves the team playing a crucial role in designing and optimising the car, allowing it to perform well across multiple setups. Conversely, a circuit-specific update is designed to match a specific track's unique characteristics. While it’s possible to apply a circuit-specific update to a different track later in the season, it’s ‌intended for a specific purpose. Teams typically use performance updates on a large scale, replacing components they have identified as needing improvement.

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Lets get into the top updates that have caught my eye this week.

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McLaren

Diffuser

As we discussed with the Ferrari updates last week, the diffuser is a key aerodynamic part of the F1 car. McLaren have made an update to theirs for this weekend with the team describing the changes in the FIA document, as the diffuser being reshaped to improve overall flow conditioning in this area. This is done with the aim of gaining aerodynamic performance.

The diffuser redirects the fast-moving air under the car upwards and outwards, expanding or diffusing it into the slower, high-pressure air above. By doing so, it generates downforce, which improves traction, stability, and efficiency while minimizing drag caused by turbulent air. The team have also added a New Rear Brake Duct Winglet arrangement to the rear corner of the car. Having had huge success with the front corner of the car, the team will be hoping for a similar performance gain on the rear corner in a bid to make them even more aerodynamically efficient.

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Ferrari

Rear and Beam Wing

Ferrari, of course, made a debut to a host of parts last time out in Bahrain, which we discussed in the special Ferrari edition last week. Those updates are said to have given them a tenth last week in performance gains and will be even more evident at a high-speed track.

To go alongside that new floor that is on the SF25, Ferrari’s updates are focussed this week on the rear wing.

The updates are:

• Decambered / shorter chord top rear wing flap element
• Offloaded top rear wing
• Offloaded single element lower beam wing

The top wing and lower beam wing options are carried-over components from last year’s low/medium downforce events, and provide a larger step compared to the flap described above. The lower beam wing can be combined with different top wing assemblies. This suggests an almost modular style to the rear wing in which the main part will remain stable, but will enable different top parts to be slotted in.

If successful, this is actually a great cost-saving measure, as it will mean that the team will be able to just develop and produce the upper element, saving them development time and resources that can go elsewhere. Rear wings are crucial for generating downforce, improving grip, and reducing drag. They are strategically designed and adjusted to optimize performance across various tracks. Rear wings significantly contribute to a car's overall aerodynamic load, and their shape and angle can be modified during races to enhance overtaking and reduce drag.

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Red Bull

Coke/ Engine Cover

Red Bull have cited the extreme hot weather as the main source of their updates for this weekend, with a focus on cooling being the key for them. The team has said that they have an enlarged central exit, which is needed due to the demands of the circuit in Jeddah. With the forecast of ambient temperatures, they require the use of a larger top body to reject the heat needed for cooling. The central exit is normally behind the driver’s head on an F1 car; it’s the exhaust exit for the exhaust gases. Little of this is actually seen with the covers on the F1 car, as the teams tightly pack these areas to maximize space to aid aerodynamic performance. There are also exhausts around the sidepod area, but focus for the Red Bull is on the central one.

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Aston Martin

Rear Wing Flap

Aston Martin has brought a minor update to the rear wing for this circuit and, like Ferrari, is utilising the main part of the rear wing by introducing just a new top flap for this track.

The team says that it’s part of standard development to provide a wing with less load and hence drag to suit the characteristics of this circuit. The F1 rear flap wing, a crucial part of the Drag Reduction System (DRS), works by allowing a driver to open a movable flap on the rear wing to reduce drag, increasing straight-line speed. When the flap is closed, it creates downforce, providing grip and stability, while opening it reduces aerodynamic drag, allowing the car to accelerate faster in a straight line. With the high speeds of Jeddah, Aston Martin will be hoping this will allow them to remain strong in the corners, while not losing out on the straights.

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Haas

Rear Wing

I have highlighted this one - not because of the technical advancements - but because it shows how teams are using their cost cap effectively. We have discussed the purpose of the rear wing already, but it was the fact that Haas have stated in their updates that two carry-over rear wings from VF24 will be available on track - both with reduced drag and load level, achieved by raising and decambering the profiles.

The reason this caught my eye was because the 2025 Haas is called the VF25, meaning that due to the regulations staying pretty much the same, the team is able to call on previous parts and designs to aid them. This is handy from a cost cap perspective, but adds more value in a circuit-specific update if there is more than one track it can be used on.

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I hope you have enjoyed the insights into the technical world of F1 with the updates!

Miami and Imola and the start of the European leg of the F1 calendar promise to bring even more updates to the cars! We, of course, can't forget that Spain will be when the new front wing technical regulations hit the teams, so that is also going to highlight some interesting updates. 

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You can also find me on the Fantasy Formula here on FanAmp, where I will be bringing the tech to the world of Fantasy F1 once more for 2025 with Adam and our new host, Zach.

Don’t forget, we also have our feature league for you to join and all the latest on the F1 Fantasy game.

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See you all next time!

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