DOWNFORCE
Engineering
When a race car moves at speed it generates downforce via two main components, the front splitter and the rear wing.
Airflow over these areas of the car creates a downward push on the car, this means that the cars mass is forced down through its tyres and onto the road resulting in heightened grip. Downforce also applies g-force onto the driver and the car and increases the rotational g-force that a car can pull through a corner on a race track. |
Art
For a track that winds such as the Nürburgring shown below, a high downforce setting is essential to get the most out of the car. Doing this will allow you to brake later into corners, go faster during the corners, however this will reduce the cars straight line speed.
For a track that has long straights and minimal corners such as Monza shown below, a low downforce setting will be more favourable. This increases the top speed of the car along the straights, however the lower downforce reduces cornering speeds. This also increases breaking distances into each corner.