Both. Lightweight for more speed. Aero to keep it down or it will lift off or not go anywhere. It’s kind of silly when you think about it. We take hundreds of pounds off a car then add a bunch back with downforce…
The reason we add downforce is because it isn’t actual mass, just a force downwards. To turn a 1000kg car round a corner is harder than a 500kg car with 500kg of downforce, because the weight isn’t what is hard to turn, its the mass.
Weight. Aerodynamics pretty much only affects top speed (with the exception of wings - I will get onto those). True performance comes from all round speed, but mainly from acceleration and cornering. A bit of very basic physics, F=ma, force is proportional to mass, so with less mass more acceleration can be gotten from the same amount of force (or power). This means it takes less force to corner, do a 0-60 and in braking.
Aerodynamics mainly limits drag, in straight line speed this is very beneficial as the force from the engine is combating the force from drag, so you can achieve a better top speed. The aerodynamics that affect performance in track (corners, etc) is downforce. This is why F1 cars have massive wings, those wings give the car more force into the ground, but without adding any weight. This force means the tyres grip more.
TL;DR, Weight is ultimately more important, but as you get faster and lighter, you need aerodynamics to increase performance any further.
If you want more let me know… this has been a bit long
That’s great, thanks! And I read your other comment about a 1000kg car vs a 500kg car with 500kg downforce, makes a lot of sense :)
much info vey satisfied!
Aerodynamics because if you have too much drag, you are going to have a bad time.
weight, because aerodynamics are designed to create a larger downward force to increase the force of friction on the road, but less force of friction is needed to move a smaller mass, so weight can be better than aerodynamics. Also aerodynamics are only useful in accelerating forward, and around turns, but not braking. In a lighter car less force is required to do anything, so nothing else can be as important as saving weight.
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weight reduction bro!!
Both. Lightweight for more speed. Aero to keep it down or it will lift off or not go anywhere. It’s kind of silly when you think about it. We take hundreds of pounds off a car then add a bunch back with downforce…
The reason we add downforce is because it isn’t actual mass, just a force downwards. To turn a 1000kg car round a corner is harder than a 500kg car with 500kg of downforce, because the weight isn’t what is hard to turn, its the mass.
Weight. Aerodynamics pretty much only affects top speed (with the exception of wings - I will get onto those). True performance comes from all round speed, but mainly from acceleration and cornering. A bit of very basic physics, F=ma, force is proportional to mass, so with less mass more acceleration can be gotten from the same amount of force (or power). This means it takes less force to corner, do a 0-60 and in braking.
Aerodynamics mainly limits drag, in straight line speed this is very beneficial as the force from the engine is combating the force from drag, so you can achieve a better top speed. The aerodynamics that affect performance in track (corners, etc) is downforce. This is why F1 cars have massive wings, those wings give the car more force into the ground, but without adding any weight. This force means the tyres grip more.
TL;DR, Weight is ultimately more important, but as you get faster and lighter, you need aerodynamics to increase performance any further.
If you want more let me know… this has been a bit long
That’s great, thanks! And I read your other comment about a 1000kg car vs a 500kg car with 500kg downforce, makes a lot of sense :)
much info vey satisfied!
Aerodynamics because if you have too much drag, you are going to have a bad time.
weight, because aerodynamics are designed to create a larger downward force to increase the force of friction on the road, but less force of friction is needed to move a smaller mass, so weight can be better than aerodynamics. Also aerodynamics are only useful in accelerating forward, and around turns, but not braking. In a lighter car less force is required to do anything, so nothing else can be as important as saving weight.