In motorsport, every aerodynamic detail can make the difference between winning and just finishing the race.
In this video, filmed inside NOPE Engineering’s offices, we take you behind the scenes of the new aerodynamic upgrade package designed for an imaginary car — ready to make its debut at the Barcelona Grand Prix.

At the core of this development lies a brand-new floor, engineered to increase downforce — a key factor for stability and speed through corners.

Using advanced CFD simulations — Computational Fluid Dynamics — NOPE’s engineers analyzed how pressure and velocity are distributed around the car. The colors tell the story: blue areas indicate low pressure, while red shows high pressure. A low-pressure zone under the floor creates a suction effect that pulls the car closer to the ground, boosting aerodynamic grip.
The new design enhances this effect, generating a more intense and stable low-pressure region. This is thanks to a series of vortex generators along the outer edge of the floor, which help seal it to the ground and maximize downforce.

Another key element is what engineers call the “operating window” of the floor. The updated package now maintains high downforce levels even with greater ride heights — essential for bumpier circuits or when running over curbs. By widening this performance window, the car becomes less sensitive to ride height changes, allowing consistent grip and stability in a wider range of conditions.

But the research doesn’t stop at pure aerodynamics. The team is also studying how the aerodynamic components flex under load, ensuring they deform in a synchronized way to avoid unwanted shifts in balance during cornering — a phenomenon known as load migration.
Finding the perfect harmony between aerodynamic flexibility and mechanical stiffness is one of the biggest challenges in race car development — and one that NOPE is tackling successfully through close collaboration between the aero and setup departments.

The result is a significant step forward: a net downforce gain of around three points — a meaningful margin in Formula 1 terms — reduced sensitivity to ride height, and better management of the turbulent airflow generated by the front wheels.
All thanks to new aerodynamic elements that clean up the flow entering the venturi tunnels, a crucial factor in the overall efficiency of the car.