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Spanish GP: Best F1 2021 technical images from Barcelona

Join us as we delve into the latest technical developments from the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, courtesy of Giorgio Piola and Sutton Images.

Mercedes W12 front detail

Mercedes W12 front detail

Giorgio Piola

Giorgio Piola's F1 technical analysis

Giorgio Piola is the preeminent Formula 1 technical journalist. View our full selection of Giorgio's technical illustrative content

Click on the arrows in the images to scroll through them…

Red Bull Racing RB16B front drum brake detail

Red Bull Racing RB16B front drum brake detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The front brake duct of the Red Bull RB16B with a surface coating used on the crossover section in order to limit the transfer of heat created under braking and that would otherwise increase the bulk temperature of the tyre. The divider arrangement inside the inlet is also different for this race, again, having been adjusted for the Portuguese GP too.
Ferrari SF21 front detail

Ferrari SF21 front detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Ferrari has set up its car with an asymmetric front brake duct layout, as it looks to treat the front tyres differently in terms of temperatures that are transferred from the brakes into the tyre.
Ferrari SF21 rear detail

Ferrari SF21 rear detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A look at the diffuser and rear brake duct fins on the Ferrari SF21 as the team waits for the car to be scrutineered.
Williams FW43B rear wing detail

Williams FW43B rear wing detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Top-down overview of the Williams FW43B rear end, note addition of a monkey-seat winglet between the rear wing pillars and the twisted nature of the upper T-Wing element. Also look at the heavy contouring of the endplate which has allowed it to increase the role of the upwash strikes and, more importantly, place one in the upper front corner too.
Aston Martin AMR21 rear wing detail

Aston Martin AMR21 rear wing detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Aston Martin with a similar design on the endplate allows that upwash strike to be deployed in the upper front corner.
McLaren MCL35M rear wing detail

McLaren MCL35M rear wing detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

McLaren doesn’t have the upwash strike in the upper front corner but note how the endplate leans away from the vertical. McLaren also has a twin T-Wing arrangement for the Spanish GP.
Aston Martin AMR21 floor detail

Aston Martin AMR21 floor detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The updated floor that Aston Martin ran on Lance Stroll’s car in Portugal and will also be on Sebastian Vettel’s car in Spain. It features an extra wavy section on the floor's edge and a scroll extension.
Alpine A521 rear detail

Alpine A521 rear detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The Alpine A521 diffuser, which has been altered recently and features a shorter fence in the outboard section.
McLaren MCL35M rear detail

McLaren MCL35M rear detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The McLaren rear end, note the large cooling outlet and the tight-knit rear brake duct winglets in the lower half. It is still the only team to have inner strakes join up to the transition in the centre too.
Cognizant, Crypto.com, BWT and JCB branding on an Aston Martin AMR21

Cognizant, Crypto.com, BWT and JCB branding on an Aston Martin AMR21

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

A look down the flank of the Aston Martin AMR21 shows how much cooling the team has open on the sidepod panel.
Ferrari SF21 floor detail

Ferrari SF21 floor detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A look at the floor area ahead of the rear tyre on the Ferrari SF21, with the four-fin arrangement on the floor’s edge and a longer strake inboard of that.
Red Bull Racing RB16B rear wing detail

Red Bull Racing RB16B rear wing detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Overview of Red Bull’s rear wing on Sergio Perez’s car, note the lack of T-Wing whereas most of the teams will have one for Barcelona.
Mercedes W12 rear wing detail

Mercedes W12 rear wing detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The higher downforce rear wing on the Mercedes W12, along with the W-shaped T-Wing.
Red Bull Racing RB16B front detail

Red Bull Racing RB16B front detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A good overview of the Red Bull RB16B’s front end.
Mercedes W12 front detail

Mercedes W12 front detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The Mercedes W12 taken down to the pitlane for scrutineering without the nose and front wing attached gives us a great view of the front brake duct fence and the fins mounted on it.
Alpine seat detail

Alpine seat detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

A seat from the Alpine A521, these are inserts that are custom-made for each driver in order that it fit to their body and providing the necessary points of contact in order that the seat can be extricated along with the driver if they’re in an accident and the safety crew wants to keep their body as still as possible.
Front suspension detail of the Mercedes W12

Front suspension detail of the Mercedes W12

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Top-down overview of the Mercedes W12’s front suspension.
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