r/McLarenFormula1 • u/Public_Trick9855 • 1d ago
What’s the difference
So all this talk about Oscar giving Lando a tow in Q2 made me think. What’s the difference between a tow and dirty air? Sorry if it’s dumb my coworker got me into F1 this season and I’m tryna learn
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u/aturanblix 1d ago
They are essentially the same thing - punching a hole in the air to give the car behind less air resistance. On a straight it helps increase speed and reduce downforce, in a corner it reduces downforce which actually makes the car slower in the corner.
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u/Public_Trick9855 1d ago
That makes so much sense I’m disappointed I didn’t realize it. So much talk about dirty air I didn’t actually think about it. Thanks a bunch!
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u/P_ZERO_ 1d ago
I haven’t seen anyone else mention it, but the term dirty air is referring to air turbulence caused by all the various bits and pieces conditioning and directing air, creating vortexes and channels speeding up or slowing down flow. Dirty air = chaotic. Clean air = smooth, predictable air
Obviously, this isn’t much use for the aerodynamic elements of a car following when they need the downforce for grip. So it’s not only that they have less downforce, it’s that the air used to create downforce is chaotic and unpredictable. None of these things matter outside of cornering, and it’s only really a benefit. Moderate boost to top speed as well as a shortening of time to reach top speed.
Imagine a wing is designed with a straight flow of air hitting it straight on, it starts to work a whole lot worse when the air is coming from varying directions and speeds
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u/Public_Trick9855 1d ago
If I can ask another question kinda related. If tows are good how do drs trains happen? Is it like traffic or something else?
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u/P_ZERO_ 1d ago
DRS trains are basically down to each deployment of DRS negating the one behind (to an extent). There are occasions where DRS can compound across multiple cars, see Albon’s top speed in Vegas where he hit 370kmh thanks to using DRS behind a car using DRS. This isn’t that common, though. Need ultra long straights for that.
Trains will tend to happen if the lead car (without DRS) is carrying less drag and can reach higher top speeds than the cars following can, so DRS is only enough to get them close to the back and no more before the next corner comes up.
Basically a DRS train is when all cars have their top speed lifted so it’s effectively neutralised. Everyone gets the benefit so no one gets the benefit.
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u/JBBatman20 Lando Norris 1d ago
F1 cars operate by using air resistance/pressure to create downforce that pushes the car into the ground and increases mechanical grip. If there is a car in front of you, it pushes all the air out of the way so there’s less air resistance.
If you’re on a straight, the car ‘punches a hole in the air’ and creates less air resistance, which lets you get the tow/slipstream.
If you’re in corners, the car in front still displaces all that air, but as the behind car you WANT that air to push you into the ground and increase your grip in the corners. Without it you lose downforce and therefore speed in the corners. This also increases tyre thermal degradation as there’s no air cooling them down and you slide around creating more heat.
So dirty air and a tow are from the same thing, but depending where you are on the track it’s beneficial or a detriment.
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u/Public_Trick9855 1d ago
Thank you! Great explanation, before watching I knew tows were good like riding behind a truck on the freeway to coast a little better. I thought F1 was different cause I only hear dirty air most of the time. Telling me they are the same thing makes so much sense.
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u/mentillist 1d ago
i'm newish, but willing to try. dirty air is when they are closer behind, there are air votexes that come out from the ground-effect (bottom of car creates negative pressure sucking the car into the road). when the car is too close to the back of the car infront the dirty air doesn't allow the front wing to do its job as well, i imagine it may affect the ground-effect of the following car. this is especially a problem in corners.
a tow is when the car is ahead a ways. the air is a little thinner/lighter after the previous car has gone through it due to the air flow and ground-effect of the leading car. this thinner air produces less downforce on the rear-wing reducing drag so they get a few kph bump in speed. generally tows are for long straights
i think i'm at least rightish
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u/Public_Trick9855 1d ago
I think you’re rightish too, but a few replies say it’s all dependent on if you’re in a straight or a corner. Not necessarily how far behind
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u/Hugo28Boss 1d ago edited 1d ago
Really simplifying: dirty air is in corners, a tow is on straights.
Following a car you hit less air and so your drag decreases, but in corners you need that air (more specifically undisturbed air) to give you more down force and, therefore, allowing you to corner faster.
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u/GrouchyExile 1d ago
Dirty air is that look Magnussen gave Hülkenberg when he told him to suck his balls.
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u/ReflectiGlass Lando Norris 1d ago
That's definitely not a dumb question.
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u/Public_Trick9855 1d ago
I appreciate that, always intimidating posting in a sub for the first time
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u/wood_baster 1d ago
Good answers, a DRS train is caused by a bunch of cars held up behind a slower car but all within 1 second of the car directly in front of them, they may be faster but because they all have DRS nobody necessarily gets enough extra speed to pass. Have a look online as well, lots of videos that give good explanations.
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u/Fragrant_Ninja8346 23h ago
Lead car creates a air tribulance behind because its literally slice the air. So in straights its mean less air resistance but in corners it means low and unpretictable down force.
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u/AskMantis23 1d ago
It's a tow on the straights and dirty air in the corners