F1 front brake-duct aerodynamics: a review
A detailed technical research study on the aerodynamic and thermal performance of Formula 1 front brake ducts, analysing their design evolution under regulatory constraints and the impact on vehicle performance.
Design architectures
The work includes a comparative study of the dominant architectures from leading teams — Mercedes and Red Bull — across the hybrid era (2014–2023), identifying the key trade-offs between cooling efficiency and aerodynamic penalties, with drag increases of up to 1.5% for larger ducts.
Aerodynamic interaction
The interaction between brake ducts and the surrounding aerodynamic components was investigated, including front wing–induced flow structures such as the Y250 vortex and downstream wake effects. A brake duct is never a standalone cooling device; it sits in the middle of the most sensitive flow region on the car.
Optimization methodologies
The study reviews the state of the art in optimization methods, including CFD-based approaches (MRF simulations, conjugate heat transfer), adjoint optimization, and reduced-order modelling techniques (RSM, LHS), as well as experimental validation methods such as PIV.
Circuit-specific adaptation
Finally, circuit-specific design adaptations were analysed — enlarged duct scoops for high thermal load tracks such as Montreal and Mexico — linking environmental conditions of altitude and temperature to cooling performance requirements.