You’ve probably heard the terms “dirty air” and “slipstream” right? But… what’s the difference?
Dirty Air vs. Slipstream
They’re actually quite similar with only a slight difference. Slipstream takes place when a car is behind another down a straight. Dirty air takes place in the corners, where cars already have less grip than on the straights.
Slipstream = Straights
As air passes over a Formula One car, it creates “turbulent” air behind it, affecting the aerodynamic flow of cars behind it. However, when on a straight, the car in front essentially punches a hole in the air for the car behind it.
When a car is driving down the straight behind a leading car, the hole in the air acts as a low-pressure zone, which reduces the drag, and gives the car behind some extra pace. The car behind basically has to work less hard to overcome air resistance.
The car behind can use this “hole” to their advantage by using the extra speed to get past the leading car. This is slipstream in a nutshell!
Dirty Air = Corners
Dirty air is the turbulent air that follows a leading car affecting the efficiency of the car behind it by reducing its downforce, making it slower in corners, and limiting efficacy of the cooling system.
In past seasons, dirty air is the main reason we’ve seen drivers struggle to follow one another closely. Cars need grip moreso in the corners than they need pace.
DRS
Drag Reduction System (DRS) is only allowed to be used in marked zone on a track (called “DRS zones”) AND when a car is less than one second behind the leading car ahead. DRS was introduced in 2011 as a solution to problems caused by the turbulent air (“dirty air”) behind the leading car that typically leads to a drag on the car behind, which reduces the trailing car’s downforce. DRS is a flap that, when lifted, will reduce the drag and increase the downforce (thus allowing the trailing car to go faster) to help overtake the leading car on a straight.
The 2022 season brings forth new regulations with the goal of making it more competitive than ever before. The design of the new cars have “simplified” top-body aerodynamics and an aerodynamically sensitive front wing hoping to tackle to all too well-known “dirty air” issue. Close battles, anyone?
