BMW Sauber F1.08 - shark finned engine cover 26 April 2008
Since last season it seems most teams have found from their wind tunnel and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) aerodynamic testing that elongating the engine cover provides clear advantages in terms of rear-wing efficiency. By improving the quality of airflow directed towards the rear wing, the fin increases downforce and allows the squads to run lower rear-wing angles, enhancing the car's top speed. BMW Sauber have adopted this philosophy with their 'mini' shark fin. Similar in style to the one found on McLaren's MP4-23, the rearmost edge of the fin curves steeply downwards (top red arrow) and ends with a jagged cut (bottom red arrow).
