Red Bull and Haas headline the technical updates brought to the third round of the Formula 1 season at the Japanese Grand Prix.
At the start of a triple header that also incorporates rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, there are limited new parts brought by teams but Red Bull does have a performance upgrade with a tweak to its rear suspension. Red Bull describes it as a “mild revision to lower wishbone shroud and fairing into the rear wheel bodywork”, that should improve flow around the rear brake duct.
There are also adaptations to the engine cover and exit ducts on the rear brakes, although those are targeted more at the upcoming races and include blanking options for Suzuka where temperatures are lower this weekend.
Haas has one significant update as it introduces a new floor at the home race of its new technical partner Toyota, with the central floor re-shaped. The team says the aim is to improve stability when the car is running at low ride-heights in high speed corners, something that it was able to do more effectively using its previous specification on the smoother surface in China that led to it scoring double points.
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At Racing Bulls there is an update to the Halo shroud that influences the performance of the rear wing and the floor downstream, while Williams has a new front wing in Japan. An update to the front wing flap and end plate work in conjunction and lead to improved control of the front wheel wake.
Last year’s 10th-placed team Stake has brought a number of new items to Suzuka, at what will be the first race weekend for new team principal Jonathan Wheatley. Like Haas, there is a new floor that focuses on upgrades to the floor fences, outboard floor and diffuser, while a fresh rear wing increases overall efficiency and improved cleanliness of the rear wing assembly.
Stake also has a new beam wing this weekend, with the team adding an upper element to the existing main wing to increase overall load.
