Car Design exploration 2/9

Due to my interest in car designs, I decided to open a new topic about special designs of cars.

Red Bull Racing RB4 shark fin

(RB4)

Sharks are one of the most popular ocean animals. They are famous for their appearance and the ability to chase prey in a breakneck speed. Dorsal fins help with stability which is exactly what they do on F1 cars.

From 2009 to 2016, the high rear wings sat in relatively clean air, maximizing their effectiveness. However, the reintroduced lower wings face more turbulence, reducing their efficiency. Shark fins help streamline this chaotic airflow, guiding it more smoothly to enhance the rear wing’s performance.

This design is used not only by red bull but by also others.

(Renalt)

After being restricted in 2011, shark fins came back in 2017 before being partially regulated again. Modern cars use smaller, refined versions to comply with new aero regulations.

(Ferrar’s racing car in 2017)

Why it disappears?

The 2022 regulations introduced a shift towards ground effect aerodynamics, reducing reliance on upper-body aero elements like shark fins. The new rules aimed to create cleaner airflow around the car, minimizing the turbulent wake that makes overtaking difficult. With a stronger focus on underfloor downforce, teams no longer needed large shark fins to stabilize airflow for the rear wing.