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Gallery: Key tech shots from the second F1 test

A selection of the best technical images from the first day of the second pre-season test in Barcelona courtesy of Giorgio Piola and Sutton Images.

Pierre Gasly, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR13

Pierre Gasly, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR13

Sutton Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-AMG F1 W09

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-AMG F1 W09

Photo by: Sutton Images

A close up of the W09’s rear end, including a nice view of the outwardly slotted and curved rearward Gurney tabs that surround the diffuser. Also note the thermal temperature strips on the crash structure as the teams monitor the exhaust plume’s interaction with it.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB14 rear

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB14 rear

Photo by: Sutton Images

A rear end shot of the highly raked RB14. Note also how the main exhaust and wastegate pipes are upwardly angled, a trait shared by all the Renault powered teams. Red Bull’s version is not as aggressive as the ‘works’ team’s solution.
Red Bull Racing RB14 front wheel and Pirelli tyre

Red Bull Racing RB14 front wheel and Pirelli tyre

Photo by: Sutton Images

A close up of the ultra soft shod RB14 shows the team has retained the hollowed blown front axle.
Marcus Ericsson, Alfa Romeo Sauber C37 rear detail

Marcus Ericsson, Alfa Romeo Sauber C37 rear detail

Photo by: Mark Sutton

A close up of the C37’s rear end gives up lots of small details, including the outer section of the diffuser. This follows the feather style flap philosophy that Ferrari used for a number of years.
Mercedes AMG F1 W09 front wing detail

Mercedes AMG F1 W09 front wing detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Mercedes’ new front wing as tested at the last day of the first test, which features a vastly revised endplate.
McLaren MCL33 rear bodywork detail

McLaren MCL33 rear bodywork detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Having had temperature issues throughout the first test, McLaren made some hurried changes at the rear of the engine cover for the second test. You’ll note the two scorch marks behind the original bodywork outlet which are thought to be caused by its proximity to the heat generated by the turbo and exhausts. For this second test three more outlets have been added (just below Stoffel Vandoorne’s number) in order to help the heat be evacuated. This is after the team suffered a failure during the first test, when a clip failed and the exhaust became detached, scorching the bodywork and curtailing running.
 Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team VF-18

Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team VF-18

Photo by: Andrew Hone / Motorsport Images

A nice action shot showing the rear end of this year’s Haas. Note the use of the feathered flap style diffuser extensions on the outer section, helping to drive performance of this section harder.
Alfa Romeo Sauber C37 front wing detail

Alfa Romeo Sauber C37 front wing detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The Sauber C37 fitted with a slow-motion camera on the nose which looks across at the front wing in order to monitor its deflection. Also note how the large ‘S’ duct inlet under the nose is perfectly aligned with the nose nostril’s exit.
 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber C37, carries green flo viz paint

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber C37, carries green flo viz paint

Photo by: Mark Sutton

The Sauber C37 plastered in flo-viz paint on one side of the car as the team looks for answers on how it aero is performing in order that it can continue to make gains. You’ll note it also has a substantial kiel probe array on the opposite side of the car to gather more data with.
Marcus Ericsson, Alfa Romeo Sauber C37 with aero paint and aero sensors

Marcus Ericsson, Alfa Romeo Sauber C37 with aero paint and aero sensors

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A forward view of the C37 with flo-viz sprayed all over it.
Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1 Team RS18 with aero sensors

Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1 Team RS18 with aero sensors

Photo by: Sutton Images

The Renault RS18 with a large pair of kiel probe arrays mounted behind the rear wheels and diffuser as the team monitor their interaction.
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF71H in the pitlane

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF71H in the pitlane

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The Ferrari SF71H with a pair of large kiel probe arrays mounted behind the car. Also note the triple pitot tube setup mounted high up on stanchions above the rear wing.
Pierre Gasly, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR13

Pierre Gasly, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR13

Photo by: Sutton Images

A kiel probe array mounted behind the left front tyre, as Toro Rosso monitor the aerodynamic behaviour of the wake being generated.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB14

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB14

Photo by: Sutton Images

The RB14 with two kiel probe arrays mounted just ahead of the sidepods.
Williams FW41 engine detail

Williams FW41 engine detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A look under the covers of the Williams at the 2018 Mercedes power unit and how it’s installed in the FW41.
 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren MCL33

Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren MCL33

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Stoffel Vandoorne circulating in the MCL33 with kiel probes mounted in the airbox to study the airflow’s behaviour as it reaches the inlet. Another kiel probe array is mounted ¾’s of the way down the car to see how the airflow in that region is behaving.
Mercedes AMG F1 W09 front nose detail

Mercedes AMG F1 W09 front nose detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The modified nose ‘cape’ introduced and run by Mercedes on the last day of the first test.
Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 rear sensors detail

Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 rear sensors detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A row of tiny pitot tubes are fitted on the floor beside the rear wheel and sidepod in order to gather data.
Rear detail of the Ferrari SF71H

Rear detail of the Ferrari SF71H

A look down at the trailing edge of the floor and diffuser of the Ferrari SF71H.
Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren MCL33 with aero paint on sidepod and floor

Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren MCL33 with aero paint on sidepod and floor

Photo by: Mark Sutton

The McLaren MCL33 floor painted with flo-viz in order to see if it’s performing as the simulations predicted.
Mercedes AMG F1 W09 diffuser detail

Mercedes AMG F1 W09 diffuser detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Mercedes made an alteration to the central section of its diffuser for the first day of the second test, adding serrations on the trailing edge of the upper Gurney tab to help the airflow to overcome the tall flap above.
 Sergio Perez, Force India VJM11

Sergio Perez, Force India VJM11

Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images

The rear end of the VJM11 shows the team is utilising a similar outer design scheme as the ‘big three’.
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