Williams FW28 - vertical side splitter 29 July 2006
An interesting development in Germany is this vertical splitter just below the upwardly-curved flip-ups on the side of the car. It has two functions. Firstly it strengthens the flip-up structure. Secondly, it acts as a splitter in a crucial area, increasing the speed and pressure of the airflow passing close to the lower-rear section of the sidepod. As a result, this dramatically aids the rear diffuser's efficiency at extracting air from the bottom of the car, in turn raising downforce and ultimately grip.
