Before the start of the F1 season, all the teams participate in 3 days of pre-season testing. This is when the cars take to the track for the first time, and engineers can record data on the new challengers. It also allows drivers to test the car and see where it can be improved.
F1 Pre-Season Testing Explained: Format, Insights, and Key Takeaways
Tools are added to the car to help the teams gather the data needed. In pre-season testing, you will often see aero rakes and flow-vis paint added to the cars. What do they do and how do they help teams?
What are Aero Rakes?
When you first see the cars take to the track in pre-season testing, there is a high chance they will have an aero rake attached. These are metal structures added to a part of the car the teams are testing. Their job is to help teams understand how air flows around the car. This will help generate the best setup and create the optimum amount of downforce.
Lewis sporting some aero rakes on his opening run 👀#F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/6xdluFQTm3
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2025
These devices are also used to help teams understand the car in comparison to the wind tunnels and CFD. While working on the car, teams can only use wind tunnels and CFD before the testing session, so it’s important to make sure the data correlates.
The rakes are covered in small sensors which measure air pressure. The sensors measure how the metal bends due to the air pressure. As the data is fed back instantly, teams can then bring the cars back to the pits to try a different setup.
What is flow-vis paint?
Flow-visualisation paint also helps the teams understand airflow around the car. It is a blend of fluorescent powder mixed with oils and is applied to the part of the car the engineers are testing.
Quite a lot of flow-vis on Lando Norris’ McLaren! 🤯#F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/aowzyoapXP
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2025
The car is sent with the paint wet. As the car speeds up and corners, the paint dries up and forms streaks, leaving the airflow pattern. Engineers can use this data to make sure their data from the wind tunnels is accurate. It also shows them which parts of the car need tweaking to make it optimum.
This is all crucial work to make sure the car is ready for the season opener. Teams can still upgrade their car before the season starts, making it key to gather as much information as possible. If their car is not ready or at its best by the opening race, it will put the team on the back foot and make the team need to recover quickly.
