Why F1 teams have become obsessed with narrow nose designs

F1 teams have followed a trend in recent years of trying to make their nose designs as narrow as possible - an idea pioneered by Mercedes. But the thinking behind this trend goes back much further than what Mercedes did in 2017. As Edd Straw explains in this video, the theory behind the narrow noses of today can be traced back 30 years, and what we see on the current cars are a consequence of several rule changes over the last decade
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[@plonzz]

0:47 I like how they quickly show the 2014 Caterham car and cut immediately like they're ashamed of it.

[@Moray2023]

After the nose cone was modified that car actually looked class.

[@justamanchimp]

​@@Moray2023 Yeah I agree, it wasn't that bad anyway, just if you looked at it from the front it looked a bit funny. The rest of it was pretty nice! Reminded me of the HSBC Jaguar from mid 2000's

[@blazi2293]

Well, they can't show a penis on youtube I guess

[@supaG-1.0]

Was just about to type that!

[@एड्वर्डकॅस्ट्रो]

They want new subscribers, not loose them showing hideous pictures! 🤣

[@hughjainisis1683]

Those "protrusions" on the 2014 cars satisfied the regulations in more ways than one

[@redbullsauberpetronas]

Watch us get penis noses again next year

[@andrewramero4560]

There, I made it 69 likes. Please keep it, or make it 6.9k likes.

[@guss25100]

Nice. But holy hell are they ugly

[@sturdzenaru]

@Hugh Jainisis, I see what you did there! 😂

[@JR-rq5mk]

Khp

[@frosts1956]

its weird how torro rosso had one in 2017 and then switched straight back until recently lol

[@noahd.4551]

Ya I wish they had mentioned that. I'd be curious to hear why

[@oisinjoyce]

Probably didn't work in conjunction with the rest of the car in terms of aero performance, hence the reason to revert back...

[@The_Curious_Cat]

Maybe because it didn't work with the High-rake concept? Remember that Mercedes had some issues in the first half of the 2017 season in understanding the car, until they started refining the car with the cape and other things, the car wasn't that "friendly" to drive. And they use a low-rake concept since then. Maybe Toro Rosso encountered similar issues or they decided to go for a more conventional approach because it worked better with the rear of the car.

[@TMJ32]

4:14 never...EVER...show the 2014 cars. That is a black hole in history. We do not, under any circumstances, ever admit that the dildo cars existed.

[@dgrblue4162]

Something's an aid is necessary

[@watchnocatch171]

Thank God the by far best car was the by far best looking car as well.

[@RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE]

Mercedes: what dildo?

[@m.r.9127]

Caterham was always coming up the rear

[@watchnocatch171]

@Scom Tott That's not true at all. Then Williams and Force India would have been directly behind them, but they were over a second slower as them as well although they had the same power unit.

[@XpcrewX]

The moment merc started slimming their noses I always wondered why the other teams didn’t try to copy it with their own philosophies.

[@gav6189]

I think just because it actually changes quite a bit. The Mercedes aero was always designed to pick up air around the nose, but the other teams had parts designed to pick up airflow from under the nose and through that wide gap in it. Changing the nose structure would require an extensive redesign of the car.

[@buttercupstruelove340]

Copying piecemeal parts don't always work in tandem with the rest of the aero on a different car. That's why when Racing Point introduced their 'pink Mercedes' it worked almost out of the box because it was an integrated proven design.

[@lexuslfa4739]

Its because it wasn't working that well for merc, Merc had the worst aero out of the top 3 and struggled in downforce dependent circuits, it also shredded its tires more because it was a low drag low downforce car, luckily they had that power unit and could also light up their tires nicely for quali to get themselves into "lucrative" positions, basically the merc was the 2019 ferrari. The slim nose did not work for them since the intro of the high downforce regs until 2019 when the front wing design changed, this meant merc could now maximize the potential of the nose, thus teams started to take note since then because now merc had become the best car aerodynamically and force india copying the merc only cemented this, their aero was so superior it negated any chassis deficiencies, thus teams started to gravitate towards that. Its like the high rake philosophy, teams only copied redbull because they were the best team aerodynamically. No one will copy you unless you can show the results of your innovation.

[@lexuslfa4739]

@@buttercupstruelove340 if the net gain is much higher, teams will copy and find a way to make it work. Like that slim nose mclaren introduced last yeat, it did not work with the car and the driver running it that weekend seemed to struggle, but mclaren run with it and pushed it because of long term gain, they can modify the car to work with it.

[@The_Curious_Cat]

Because the front of the car directs the airflow to the sides and rear of the car. So applying a different nose to a car means changing the sides and rear diffuser to work with the new nose. It's not just cut and paste and done. And of course, all this costs money to develop.

[@lfc-europe]

Really it's their homage to Michael Jackson, who I hear was a big F1 fan.

[@SKB-fn8vr]

Lmao😂😂😂

[@guffy4269]

@BNG 100 He had a lot of plastic surgery to make his nose smaller.

[@PG-20]

@BNG 100 A LOT of plastic surgery will do that to ya

[@MENQN]

I thought of Michael Jackson when I see 👃 nose as well

[@khanyilemgwebi2575]

Ow no you didn't😂😂

[@Miles.T]

I hate the thumb tip style noses that were mainstream until 2020 Always thought they made the cars look absolutely massive.. Still hate them on the 3 teams still using the wide noses

[@rosegraham5283]

Anything to get rid of the thumb noses is visually an improvement in my book.

[@mtcuppers]

Yet that's still the base model for the F1 2021 game.

[@laccelo]

I agree so much. I hate the look of ferrari for years now

[@padmalathajonnalagadda9804]

@@laccelo in 2019 they were using that nose to slow down the with that rocket engine and in 2020,2021 they were stuck with it

[@PyroBun_2844]

The 1990 Tyrell looks so weird yet good.

[@Mpayne1472]

That was a great car

[@joela6542]

Literally

[@katamattyon]

Narrow noses look so much prettier, especially rounded ones like Merc rather than ones with mouths like RB

[@aryanthacker]

I like both and certainly better than fat noses

[@marhej3514]

RB nose really be like: :D

[@F1ll1nTh3Blanks]

I actually liked the complicated noses from 05-08 but then I love it when the aero gets agressive.

[@iiTzKaran_YT]

RB is still sexy, Ferrari's one is meh

[@matejmarincak8429]

@@iiTzKaran_YT it is meh but still better than last year :D

[@darknessesdarknesses2492]

As long as they don't go back to schlong noses. That's not a full circle that I want to see.

[@matthewlui1004]

Can't wait for teams to find weird loopholes in the new regulations and make the cars as hideous as possible. Don't get me wrong, I just want a good laugh from it.

[@R9naldo]

Theyre not as ugly as 2014 but theyre not pretty right now. Not visually appealing to the eye, atleast compared to some older designs

[@Cecil97]

they should move towards smaller cars now. after years of expanding the size to fit new tech, they should move to make things smaller.

[@SomeYouTubeGuy]

How do you propose they do that given the cost cap?

[@Cecil97]

@@SomeKZbinGuy well like always the teams will make their car to fit the rules, some cars will be shit and some will be good. Teams will learn from each other and eventually find the new meta. This may also help them to innovate in new ways for R&D to be more efficient and effective (ie: process of making carbon fiber is a very expensive process, and maybe they can find a cost effective way to make carbon fiber. Now you have a process to make carbon fiber commercially viable to a wider market). These are professionals, you don't need to baby them with the rules.

[@polarpenguin3]

@@SomeKZbinGuy God help them if they can't build a smaller car with $140 million...

[@K4YNINE]

Exactly what I have been saying👍 too big

[@astroboi_9998]

One of the recent technical changes that actually look good ! 🤤

[@rishi857]

It gives a aggressive look to the cars. I love it 😍

[@maxx_2245]

Anything is better than the 2012 and 2014 noses, good lord! I say that F1 has made the noses much prettier, though that 2008 McLaren still has my favourite of the bunch.

[@rishi857]

@@maxx_2245 2012 and 2013 McLaren is also good tho.

[@hMint]

@@rishi857 only because they somewhat stuck to what the regulations had intented to be, but I agree thank god for mclaren in those years especially with the vodafone livery as well.

[@gibospartan6185]

To be fair though McLaren didn’t do it for aesthetics or because they didn’t want to exploit the rules. They simply believed that their design was just as good or better than a stepped nose which it very well might have been.

[@JohnSmithShields]

You can imagine the FIA constantly rolling their eyes and sighing every year, then amending the rules.

[@rishabh3150]

Mcleran switching to the 2021 nose last season.. keeping in mind the token system was a genius move which helped them focus completely on the engine switch..👌

[@mrsparkle444]

Walrus nose

[@xuanyulyu52]

The cape 'picks up' but not 'guide" the flow induced by the Y250 vortices. The downwash and inwash induced by Y250 hits the edge of the cape, creating a counter rotating vortex which pulls the air between itself and the Y250 downwards like a pair of chopsticks, creating a seal which will arrive at the side edge of t-tray and leading edge of the bargeboard. The cape itself is in fact somewhat a replacement of the turning vanes under the front suspension arms, most eminently on the Mercedes since they eliminated the turning vanes completely when they begin to use the cape starting from the Spanish Grand Prix in 2017. The Y250 induces downwash and inwash on the inner top, pushing air flow sideways into the nose under current regulations. Thus, making the nose narrow means shaping them closer to a tear drop when looking from the top, reducing the potential turbulence shedding from their side edges, as well as guiding the incoming air under the chassis more effectively, both of which are critical optimizations for the aero performance under yaw (while cornering).

[@jamesbertini1695]

Cause Mercedes are doing it and they’re winning.

[@ay-leck1369]

well it's not that simple but you can think what you want

[@ctdesing]

Some teams including Red Bull copied Haas rear wing endplate details, Hass is not winning nor is Mercedes, same with z floors, introduced by Alpha Tauri/Aston Martin, etc

[@procatprocat9647]

This is a very naive opinion.

[@lexuslfa4739]

it was not working for them until the 2019 regulation changes, the merc had the worst aero out of the top 3 since the high downforce regs, thus teams did not think it was advantageous to run a narrow nose

[@pranavsarang168]

uuuhhhhhh.......

[@muhammadbailey3245]

Me causally waiting for next week to get a Bugatti Chiron for $3,700,000 and they’re all in my investment on crypto...

[@janetsaliu8265]

What is this crypto and why are people investing money in it...?

[@muktarsulaiman2497]

What’s the crypto? Investment or bank?

[@abigailliam6120]

@@muktarsulaiman2497 Crypto is a trading system that generates more money for you when you get into the portfolio trading

[@muhammadbailey3245]

@@janetsaliu8265 it’s an investment online investment that has been a lucrative way of making no I have been in it over a year now

[@salomimarkus3065]

Crypto/bitcoin is a digital cash... very profitable

[@abdulrafayshaikh1441]

These low and narrow nose concept has given birth to the most gorgeous F1 cars in this decade. Gonna miss these designs in 2022.

[@Wingbar]

Was about to say. These are definitely in my opinion the best looking F1 cars we’ve ever had followed closely by the early 2000’s era and the 2010-2011 seasons

[@hjones3056]

The 2022 cars could look pretty sexy though

[@abdulrafayshaikh1441]

@@Wingbar yes man the 2010 and 2011 Redbulls vere sexy AF

[@abdulrafayshaikh1441]

@@hjones3056 naw man. According to fan sketches and concepts. They are looking like glorified go-karts xd.

[@BlogVomMax]

@@abdulrafayshaikh1441 Not to advertise my instagram but I made a 3d model of a 2022 car following the measurements in the rules. Cause most concepts on insta are way out of proportion and look like toy cars. My instagram is maax.noetzel

[@the2dgamer392]

The thumbnail reminded me of stoffel vandoorne. What a great driver missing out on a formula 1 seat

[@andreawhite7375]

I especially love the look of the Red Bull/Alpha Tauri nose 🔥

[@herzkine]

Build what you want, you will always have the look of an old fizzy drink can. :-D

[@Bala.the.Baldie]

Well I just can't wait for the new cars and more than that this year's championship is even crazier till now atleast

[@Lukeywoodsey]

2014: "Satisfying the regulations with a protrusion" Everyone else: "Penis nose"

[@Aleks-yl5hf]

I can't understand people who think and say that today's cars look better than those we have had back in the 90s and early 2000s Those cars were soooo beautiful, e.g. MP4/6, B195, MP4-13, F2000, F2004...

[@jupekz6147]

Love the amount of quality videos recently, keep it up! :)

[@TheSiameseDreamer]

2008 Had the best cars in every aspect. Sound, design, size... it was awesome.

[@USMCLP]

I’d say 2007 actually. 2008 cars had those big ass wheel covers on every car.

[@TheSiameseDreamer]

@@USMCLP I like 08 specifically because it pushed development to new extremes. It was the peak.

[@g_webb21]

Ferrari: "I think I'll ignore that"

[@herzkine]

Lets just add a hidden cylinder somewhere or 2...ah feck that, V 12 forever, time to build race cars again :-D

[@chengchu7501]

I can't wait to see what next year offers in terms of aerodynamics when the teams are done maximising their aero packages

[@andrewhunt7328]

1996 Williams was my favorite Nose design.

[@maxavery9963]

Great video. Explained exactly what I was looking to understand in great depth and detail!

[@Doggy-B]

Can you please, if you haven't already, do a video based around next year's regulations and what we may see in terms of innovations.

[@merijnfluitman5761]

Easy answer. It is aesthetically pleasing

[@GuidoHaverkort]

If there's one thing f1 cars don't consider for shape it is aesthetics

[@merijnfluitman5761]

@@GuidoHaverkort that is not true. When the rules created the incredibly ugly stepped nose cars, the rules were changed the next year because it was just ugly.

[@rubennouta2406]

This is a topic I needed answered for a while now

[@Shenmoki]

before even watching the video - whatever the reasoning is, thank god. the 2014 nose designs trickling down to their successive years has looked absolutely awful

[@yawningdeer9831]

Wow, this explains why my face is very aerodynamic when I'm traveling at speed

[@lexuslfa4739]

the slim noses are an absolute thing of beauty and they make these F1 cars the all time best looking cars, the 2019 W10, 2020 RS 20 and the 2017 SF70h are my all time best looking F1 cars, the W11 is also close but i preferred the silver paint

[@GNX157]

I liked the 1996 Ferrari F310/2 High nose version used at the Monza GP that year.

[@mastrdzastr]

Is videos from the race double as a vibe machine With the music in the background, love it!

[@MiguelMartinez-wv6ji]

That 2014 Toro Rosso nose looks kind of weird to me.

[@leonardocorrales9643]

Can you make a video explaining the history of the spare car!! I was watching old F1 videos and saw that some races car didn’t work before the start and the drivers run to the pits and get the spare car. When was this allowed, when did they start using them and when was the last time they use them? Please please please

[@gorgeous2135]

If I remember correctly the use of a spare car was forbidden to minimise cost for smaller teams.

[@King_Ears]

I prefer the low noise to the raised nose. The best looking cars imo were the low nosed late 80s early 90s ones so I'm glad we've somewhat returned to that style again

[@bimonsolivar8898]

"Why F1 teams have become obsessed with narrow nose designs" *weird Ferrari noises*

[@billyjov]

They actually tried to change their nose to as narrow as they could, but without spending any tokens. They'll most likely have a narrow nose design next year.

[@Xiphactinus]

Narrow-nosed Ferrari is going to look great!

[@billylawuk]

'Ferrai' is almost as bad as 'Ferarri'

[@bimonsolivar8898]

@@billylawuk Or eveb Frrraie :P

[@bimonsolivar8898]

@@billyjov You're right. They eeked out everything they could from the tokens they had and thank God they found some decent performance compared to last year!

[@beefcake97]

nice video and all, but can we just appreciate how nice the music was

[@hakuginka]

my favourite nose designs were the high ones from early 2010s

[@davidgretlein9384]

To be fair, the Weber Valencia incident wasn’t because the nose was low, it was because Weber drove his car right into the rear. Pilot error. If he didn’t crash into the car ahead, no flip (high nose or not). But your point is well taken - to protect the pilots from themselves😉

[@acoralreefer2148]

Front wing on the 2008 cars look horrendous

[@fix0the0spade]

1:10, that Gilles power slide, I've gone all wobbly at the knees...

[@herzkine]

He seems to compensate a lot, i mean a very little with that big tire. :-D hooe he didnt make vroom vroom sounds at least :-D

[@kieranfay29]

I loved the look of the 2009 to 2013 noses and actually liked the step in the nose design

[@krampus_cs]

Interested to see how teams will change the 2022 design

[@volrath__]

"With a protrusion"... We all know that wasn't the word used in the original script 🤣

[@herzkine]

I have the script her, the word actually was that, but i cant Show the graphic pictures they added to show the concept. :-D

[@WesleyQuint]

cool video its ok they change the nose but still i noticed that it makes the car less agrassive looking and making it soft

[@RDMracer]

I mean, it has been a tough journey through 2014, but the 2020 end result is very nice.

[@F_r_a_n_y]

So excited for next year's cars

[@stevie_vee306]

I personally prefer the low nose designs. I honestly really enjoyed the cars from 2004-2008 the most. Unfortunately the designs with winglets etc made them really hard to follow and then overtake.

[@captaintoyota3171]

I mean its obvious to me the cape gains WAY more than a wide nose allows clean airflow. Mercs cape has been huge for years took others awhile but between that and" barge" boards that are crazy. I really cannot wait to see how 22 cars look. Newey etc going huge ground effect tunnels and who is gona find that huge loophole. Seriously the fia car means zip they will build to regs itll look different but i predict a double diffuser type thing happening. 1 or few teams will figure it out gaining HUGE. Its gona be great specially since teams started on the aero back when it was 2021s plan. I mean an extra year 2 think study etc? Cost cap most fap they have been spending millions on 22 for YEARS

[@TheLPN05Fan]

I really like the more narrow noses. Looks more like Darts, Arrows or Scalpels rather than Knives or Swords. Basically high Precision Instruments.

[@realamerican5016]

I'm glad they have because it looks so much sexier than just big fat noses.

[@dmark2639]

It's amazing how quickly I get used to the aeathetics of the cars through the years since the 1980's....The changes always look hideous at first, but then i get used to them.

[@BoySnOiZe96]

Happy cause it looks so much better

[@chemwrite]

I just wish the aero devices were not disguised in black but were more visible by being a brighter color. So much is concealed from prying eyes, but it makes the enjoyment of F1 harder for fans.

[@rabidlenny7221]

I was at that 2017 Spanish Grand Prix, and I was wondering why everyone didn’t do it

[@nickypoundtown9568]

One thing I learnt with risen noses was they were nothing without the lip that extended off the wooden plate under the tub

[@TimmyTheSnail]

Take me back to those 2010/11 high noses 😍

[@RobCabreraCh]

I personally really like the nose design of 2012. That Ferrari car was really cool looking, I think. And what a battle that 2012 season was, with Alonso vs Vettel to the very end. I'm a huge fan of Red Bull since those years, but Alonso will always be my number 1 favorite driver.

[@thatguy4087]

Can we pixelate that thing hanging off the front of the caterham please?

[@riegelvega.8880]

Wait, The Race video with subtitle? What a great move

[@sashas8168]

nothing better than the mp4/4 - 6 McLaren low flat nose.... glad to hear the noses are more flatter now....certainly look better.

[@chrisgarner6079]

the new noses for the cars look so much better like its not even close

[@badad0166]

Function over form, but some of them looked pretty goofy.

[@Artiick]

Aside from the Aerodynamic needs... The small nose actually looks good.

[@Olivyay]

My favourite ones were the high noses of 1997-2004

[@MattBakerDrums]

I sometimes wonder whether, if time travel was possible, what a current F1 engineer or designer could do with their knowledge of today’s cars but back in the 80s or 90s. Surely they would improve the cars, but would the technological and mechanical limitations back then limit this?

[@neilmartin2253]

I am the only one who loved the crazy horns and spikes from around 10 years ago? Those cars looked evil, and fast af. Even if they weren't faster, let the teams make evil looking cars again :)

[@BernatNacente]

Let's not forget the BMW Williams 2004 initial nose... changed at the end of season to a narrow one.

[@GeorgeNoX]

for one, it looks way better than wide nose but other than that im guessing its for preparation for 2022 rule changes

[@ChrisMcLaren666]

What was wrong with pre-2009 front wings? They were much smaller, so the drivers had the opportunity to go for an overtake without risking too much to damage the front wing. I don't understand why they are so obsessed with those freaking gigantic wings... And will be the same (maybe even worse) with the new rules! I don't understand how huge front wings can help have better racing

[@benclarkson5928]

I’d love to see a side on side comparison of the pre narrow nose 2017 Mercedes alongside the narrow nosed Mercedes to see how much narrower it got

[@apexgt4]

I meant to tap a text notification but I hit this instead. So Im early I guess

[@vaggelis911]

Last year, ALL the teams following a "narrow nose philosphy" finished ahead of ALL the teams with fat noses. It's logical not to immediately change nose's philosophy since this will affect the wholw car's aerodynamic performance but I cant think of any reasons why Ferrari (if not the others with smaller budgets) has sticked to their nose

[@MotorSportsLegend93]

can we get the narrow nose in the next F1 game next time?

[@eddierancid4884]

i try my absolute best to forget the look of 2014 cars. Thanks guys......

[@wilhufftarkin8543]

Visually, I'm more of a fan of high noses. The 2011 cars were so beautiful. I think it's because I was introduced into F1 by the N64 game which was set in 1997. But anyway, I finally got used to the low narrow noses and I'm starting to like them.

[@herzkine]

For me visually, N64, its games and high noses are all horrible. :-D

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed the video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@solidoperative]

I love that Tyrell nose.

[@noliyoshida7486]

No mention of raising front wings in the 00s? Surely that affected noses and the proceeding series of reg changes for years later

[@fallenshallrise]

The Weber accident that caused all these rule changes was wheel to wheel contact and had nothing to do with the high nose design.

[@rolandotillit2867]

Mind Blown thanks chaps!

[@natjes6017]

Thank you!

[@_RobertS]

Instead of mandating HOW the nose should be designed, I would introduce a crash-test onto a cylinder shape the size of a tire. If the nose climbs over the cylinder during the test, it fails. If it doesn't, it would be safe from the type of launching-into-the-air-accidents and T-bone above the cockpit side that the low-nose regulations are trying to achieve. But, the teams would be free to come up with different designs.

[@Jrh-rp7np]

My favorite F1 Design was the late 80s early 90s

[@nickypoundtown9568]

The 86 brabham was simply beautiful although I cradle my head with my hand when I look at the driver positioning

[@MrFormulaOne2011]

Agreed; I wish I was around to see those. Although the 2005 McLaren was nice too ;)

[@CatRacer1A2A]

"Behind the tip" I see what you did there! Haha

[@CmdrVOODOO]

I liked the higher noses of the late 90s and early 00s.

[@TinyBearTim]

Literally go back to the old 80s layouts

[@nickg5156]

That Leyton House CG901 actually just went up for sale recently. I think it sold for $3.5 Million. Also, Lewis' 2010 MP4-25 is going up for auction in July. If you've got a spare $5-7 Million laying around you can own a piece of F1 history.

[@herzkine]

Those are rather good deals, dont wanna know hiw much a new F1 car today costs fresh from the line. I guess Haas also wishes he wouldnt everyrime a certain driver gets onto the track again. :-D

[@greatrespect1549]

1:02 that looks like video ends here...

[@tdyerwestfield]

At least we now know for sure that the crash structures in the narrow noses work perfectly well, with Verstappen testing it out at 210mph at Baku.

[@oceannspiritt659]

well the way i see it, merc have been using the narrow nose designs since 2015 but i think they sere just tests

[@TwistinFool]

I really hope that won't be the actual look of the 2022 cars

[@dancastell5202]

They look so much better than those much THICKER noses

[@camillaquelladegliaggettiv4303]

True, the Haas looks like a brick. Williams at least tried to hide it