Spot the Difference: Analyzing the Sidepod Designs of All 10 F1 Teams in 2025
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Spot the Difference: Analyzing the Sidepod Designs of All 10 F1 Teams in 2025
As Formula 1 enters the 2025 season, the evolution of car designs continues to be a topic of intense interest. The sidepods, which play a crucial role in the aerodynamics and cooling of each car, have undergone significant changes over the past few seasons. In this report, we take a closer look at how each of the 10 teams has approached their sidepod designs for the upcoming season, focusing on the cooling inlets and aerodynamic implications that come with these innovations.
Convergence in Sidepod Designs
Over the course of the current generation of Formula 1 cars, the sidepod designs have largely converged, with most teams opting for a downsloping bodywork. However, despite this common trend, there are still key differences between the designs, especially when it comes to the inlet arrangements, which have a significant impact on the car's cooling system and aerodynamic performance. Let's dive into the unique solutions adopted by each team for the 2025 season.
Alpine: The Outlier with the Underbite
Alpine has chosen to retain a unique sidepod design for 2025, sticking with the underbite layout that most of their competitors have moved away from. This decision is not entirely surprising, as the team is using the same chassis as in 2024, limiting their ability to implement significant changes beneath the bodywork. However, Alpine's approach still shares some similarities with other teams on the grid. The French team continues to use the P-shaped inlet design, which is also featured on the 2025 McLaren and Ferrari cars.
McLaren: Optimizing the P-Shaped Inlet
McLaren has made a notable shift for 2025, moving from a traditional hooped-style inlet to a P-shaped inlet, similar to those used by Alpine and Ferrari. This change allows the team to optimize the undercut and further enhance the aerodynamics of the car. One of the most interesting aspects of McLaren's design is how they've created a depression in the chassis around the inlet, allowing for a smaller intake than would otherwise be possible. This clever use of space is just one example of the team's commitment to maximizing every aspect of their car's design.
Ferrari: P-Shaped Inlet with a Twist
Ferrari's 2025 sidepod design builds upon their 2024 changes, with the team retaining the P-shaped inlet introduced at Imola last season. However, Ferrari has taken this design a step further by pushing the inlet back underneath the overbite, which is now formed by a mid-wing similar to McLaren's. This adjustment allows Ferrari to further optimize their car's aerodynamics and cooling systems, setting them up as strong contenders for the upcoming season.
Red Bull: Two Inlets for Better Aerodynamics
Red Bull made a significant change in 2024, opting for a two-inlet solution. This design features a horizontal intake, located under the overbite, and a vertical intake that runs up the side of the chassis, mimicking the bypass intake introduced by Ferrari in 2023. Red Bull has retained these two inlets for 2025, while removing the additional intakes around the airbox. The team also continues to use smaller intakes beside the halo, which are crucial for enhancing cooling and aerodynamics. This configuration has been a key factor in Red Bull's dominance over the past seasons, and they look set to continue their success in 2025.
Mercedes: A Similar Approach to Red Bull
Mercedes, which has experimented with various sidepod shapes during this regulation era, has largely converged on solutions similar to those of Red Bull for 2025. The W16 car features a two-inlet configuration, with a wider vertical inlet beside the chassis compared to Red Bull's. This design could be influenced by the need for more cooling for Mercedes' power unit and ancillary components. Interestingly, Mercedes has chosen not to use the supplementary intakes beside the halo, unlike Red Bull. This design decision could have implications for the car's overall aerodynamic efficiency.
Racing Point: A Bold Redesign for 2025
Racing Point (now Aston Martin) has made a bold move for 2025 by reworking the entire front end of their sidepod. This significant design change sets them apart from many of their competitors, as they did not adopt the overbite solution that other teams introduced mid-season in 2024. The team has opted for a larger horizontal inlet, which compensates for the lack of additional intakes beside the halo. This change could offer improved cooling and aerodynamic performance, giving Aston Martin an edge heading into the new season.
Williams, Haas, and Sauber: Traditional Inlet Configurations
The remaining teams—Williams, Haas, and Sauber—have chosen more traditional sidepod designs for 2025, with hooped inlets mounted high beneath the overbite. The Sauber C45, however, stands out by incorporating a mid-wing arrangement that pushes their inlet further back. Williams, on the other hand, has adopted a similar design to Ferrari's 2024 car, while Haas sits somewhere in between these two configurations. These designs prioritize aerodynamic efficiency while providing adequate cooling, ensuring that these teams can compete effectively in the 2025 season.
Aston Martin: A Mid-Wing Design with Halo Inlets
Aston Martin's 2025 sidepod design features a mid-wing arrangement similar to that of McLaren and Ferrari, which has allowed them to push the inlet further back on the chassis. However, unlike McLaren and Ferrari, Aston Martin's inlet curves only halfway down the chassis, creating a unique design element. This configuration allows the team to optimize the undercut while maintaining a high level of aerodynamic performance. Additionally, Aston Martin has included supplementary intakes beside the halo, a small but important feature that improves cooling and reduces losses around the cockpit and safety structure.
Conclusion: A Diverse Range of Sidepod Designs
The 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet, with each team adopting unique solutions to optimize their sidepod designs. From Alpine's underbite layout to McLaren's innovative P-shaped inlet, teams are pushing the boundaries of aerodynamics and cooling systems. While there is a general convergence around certain design philosophies, the subtle differences between the teams' sidepods could make all the difference in the upcoming season. As the competition intensifies, every small detail will count, and it will be fascinating to see how these sidepod designs play out on track.
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