Heading that checklist is a significant change on the entrance of the automotive, because it sports activities a pull-rod suspension association this 12 months, moderately than a push-rod system.
Each Pink Bull and McLaren made that change in the beginning of this regulation cycle two years in the past, so it’s not groundbreaking in any manner, nevertheless it does recommend there’s a tangible profit for having the format, given the upheaval required to make the change.
The repackaging of the inboard suspension components will consequence of their weight being positioned decrease in chassis which makes life just a little trickier by way of making setup adjustments. However, as all the time, it’s the aerodynamic advantages which have possible tilted the stability by way of making the shift.
Stake F1 C44 Roll Over & Airbox
Photograph by: Sauber F1 Group
The largest departure truly comes within the type of its roll hoop and airbox association, because the workforce has overhauled the design utterly in comparison with its final eight machines.
Six of those vehicles featured a variant of the blade-style rollover hoop with the airbox segmented round its backbone, while the C39 and C41 utilised a triangular roll hoop and a hood behind the principle meeting.
The adjustments made to the laws for 2024 have clearly contributed to this modification and are the results of ongoing enhancements made by the FIA to extend security. These adjustments have been made in mild of the incident involving Zhou Guanyu on the British Grand Prix in 2022, the place the roll hoop failed after his automotive was flipped over.
Sauber C44
Photograph by: Sauber F1 Group
Sauber had already made the change to a downwash ramp-style sidepod resolution for 2023 nevertheless it has upped the ante for this season, not solely optimising the form of the bodywork but additionally incorporating a function that can little doubt be seen up and down the pitlane this season and originated on the RB18, earlier than being developed additional.
On this case, it’s resulted in an elongated lip for the decrease forefront of the sidepod bodywork inlet that tapers to the shoulder part, which creates a large however shallow inlet.
This additionally adjustments the profile of the undercut, with way more house afforded beneath the inlet that may be formed to optimise the airflow’s trajectory and opens avenues by way of growth for each it and the ground alongside.
The higher floor of the sidepod has additionally been a spotlight of the workforce’s consideration, with the shoulder prolonged alongside the complete flank, making a refined gully that can ship the airflow to the rear of the automotive and into the coke bottle area.
Stake F1 C44 Sidepods and ground edge
Photograph by: Sauber F1 Group
The engine cowl bodywork is much like the one used on the again finish of final season, with a shelf-like shoulder in operation to assist divide the passage of circulation to the higher portion of the automotive, whereas the rear cooling outlet stays downwardly angled.
The sting wing already appears to be like totally different from the specification that the workforce used to shut out final season, because the ahead part now sports activities the swept profile which is divisible by three strakes that we’ve seen variants of on rivals’ vehicles all through 2023.
Stake F1 C44 Entrance Wing
Photograph by: Sauber F1 Group
Returning to the entrance of the automotive, the C44 has an identical nostril and entrance wing association to that developed all through the course of 2023.
However a small element that’s discovered on the renders, that wasn’t current on the automotive offered within the studio, may be discovered within the decrease rear quarter of the endplate, as a crooked finger-like winglet protrudes out from the place a cutout beforehand existed.
That is related, in some respects, to the winglets posted on this place by the likes of Mercedes, Haas, Pink Bull and Ferrari final season, albeit with a geometry that’s extra tailor-made to its given environment.
In every of those instances these winglets are permissible resulting from their place throughout the given volumes posed by the laws however their existence was not supposed as they’ll undoubtedly work together with the opposite surfaces within the endplate and wing junction to enhance the outwash being generated by the wing.
Stake F1 C44 Rear Wing
Photograph by: Sauber F1 Group
The rear wing can also be very a lot a carryover from final 12 months’s challenger at this stage too, with an honourable point out for the re-inclusion of the endplate swage line that the workforce launched on the Qatar Grand Prix final season.
