The Race F1 Podcast Tech Show: Why wind plays havoc with F1 cars + Explaining Red Bull’s recent renaissance
Sep 25, 2025
Gary Anderson, an experienced Formula 1 engineer known for his work on the Jordan 191, joins to explain how gusty winds in Baku challenged drivers' car balance, as headwinds increase downforce while tailwinds reduce it. He discusses the differences in wind sensitivity among cars and the role of turbulent airflow in grip loss. Anderson also reveals how Red Bull's recent gains come from smarter setups and improved driver feedback, predicting that these advantages will carry over to the upcoming Singapore track.
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Trade-Off Between Robustness And Peak Pace
- Cars with surfaces running 'too hard' stall earlier and become more wind-sensitive even if they’re fast.
- Designing with a performance cushion reduces sensitivity but may sacrifice peak pace.
Use Simulators, But Trust Drivers
- Stop treating the simulator as gospel and validate setup with on-track driver feedback.
- Use the rear wing as a tuning tool once you find a happy front-wing/underfloor characteristic.
Leadership Fixed Communication Gaps
- Loran Mechias (sic) has engaged drivers and engineers to extract deeper setup feedback.
- Gary recalls Jenson Button's radio examples where detailed driver input exposed simulation mismatches.