Play · Wind tunnel

Aero Lab

Design a car like a legendary designer. Set the wings, the active-aero flaps and the ride height, watch the air bend, then run a lap and try to beat the target time.

Teaching model, not CFD. Numbers are indicative.Streak colour = local air speed, blue slow to red fast. The wings push air up; the air pushes the car down.

Downforce0kg

Drag0N

L/D ratio0downforce / drag

Balance0% frontsweet spot 40–48%

Top speed0km/h750 kW, corner mode

Est. lap0:00.000

Setup

Front wing angle

Rear wing angle

Ride height

Lower = more floor suction. Too low and it porpoises.

Tunnel speed

Changes the live numbers and the airflow, not the lap.

Straight mode (active aero)

2026 cars have no DRS: both wing flaps open on the straights. On a lap run they open only on straights of 700 m or more.

Track & lap

Choose a circuit Street circuit (twisty) 2.8 km Balanced circuit 5.3 km Temple of speed (long straights) 5.8 km

Target 0:00.000 Your best –

Tune the car, then hit Run lap.

How the model works

Each wing uses thin-airfoil theory: lift coefficient = 2π × angle (in radians), trimmed by an efficiency factor. Past about 16–17° the flow separates: grip falls away and drag jumps.
Every bit of downforce costs drag. Induced drag grows with the square of the lift coefficient, so steep wings get expensive fast.
The floor makes downforce through ground effect: the lower the car, the faster the air under it and the stronger the suction. Below about 22 mm the car starts porpoising and loses grip.
The lap is a simple point-mass sim: corner speed comes from tyre grip plus downforce, straights from 750 kW against drag. A badly balanced car (outside 40–48% front) under- or oversteers and gives time away.