Although 2023 is coming to an end, and the latest event is on a street circuit, many teams such as McLaren, Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri have decided to bring a significant amount of upgrades to the track, designed to adapt the cars to Marina Bay both to improve the car with a view to the end of the season and collect data for 2024.
Despite the fact that the 2023 season is coming to an end, and during this weekend they will drive on the streets of Singapore, atypical compared to most other tracks, many teams have decided to bring a considerable quantity of upgrades to the track – contrary to expectations. Upgrades designed both to adapt the cars to the Marina Bay city track and, in most cases, to improve the car with a view to the season finale and collect information for the 2024 season.
News which, in all likelihood, represents the last package of developments for many teams and which are the result of the work carried out by the members back at base over the summer, up until the summer break, which were brought to the track in Singapore as they were unsuitable for the unique Monza layout and both for logistical reasons, given that next week they will race in Japan, one of the most titillating trips for the teams, due to the distance and the back-to-back with Singapore) where historically no new pieces are introduced.
The first team to analyse is McLaren which has brought a large amount of innovations to the MCL60, starting from a new floor, revised in the area of the trailing edge of the pavement in which the “rail” in the lateral area has been lengthened, which, in all probability, must increase the pneumatic seal of the car, increasing the downforce produced by the floor, fundamental for these ground effect cars.
Not only that, since the inlets of the sidepods have been revised in the central area of the car (modified in geometry), a different bodywork has been introduced (closer to the mechanics) and the halo where small flaps have been positioned in favor of the micro-aerodynamics.
At the front, however, the front wing has been revised in the endplate area. Also in favor of maximum downforce, a maximum downforce rear wing was brought onto the track, as was the beam wing, with an extended chord and a significant and modified angle of attack on the trailing edge, now more squared.
Photo credit: McLaren Racing
Great work was then carried out by the AlphaTauri team which, after a disappointing season, hopes at least to close in a decent manner and collect important data for the 2024 car. For this reason, a new surface has been brought in, revised in the fences (with different geometry) and new lower profile which, together with a new diffuser, will have to maximize the downforce at Marina Bay.
In the central area, new inlets of the sidepods have been brought which work in synergy with the new bodywork, now clearly inspired by Red Bull, with the clear aim of promoting the downwash effect of the flows, increasing the air flow, from the upper area, towards the bottom of the car.
Also in the sidepods area, new mirrors have been introduced, with slightly revised support but which now no longer feature the four mini flaps in the lower area.
Photo credit: Red Bull Content Pool
Even at Alfa Romeo, on the wave of enthusiasm after the good race in Monza, there is no shortage of news, starting from the floor where the floor fences have been redesigned as well as the entire geometry in the lower area of the single-seaters and the diffuser: all with the clear aim of increasing efficiency in a key area of the car and increasing downforce.
With the same objective, the front wing was also revised, in which the chord of the last flaps was increased to maximise vertical thrust.
Photo credit: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake
