With the 2006 introduction of the 2.4 litre V8 rule, this engine was built from scratch, with its development then phased into three steps over the season. The aim was to start with a solid foundation and then gradually raise the revs. Specific figures for peak power and revs were not revealed, but...
An interesting change for Italy is the rear wing's very particular main profile, which features an apex of sorts at its centre, with slight bends towards its extremities. Such a profile assures a reasonable amount of downforce (compared to the minimal amounts usually found as part of a Monza...
Further modifications for Turkey as part of the ongoing development on the F1.06. The main profile is different, with a deeply rounded central spoon. The top edge of the endplate has changed too - it no longer slopes continuously downwards, but instead has a sharp cut with a vertical edge in the...
Continuing the seemingly endless aero development of the F1.06 are some interesting changes in front of its sidepods. A new winglet (upper arrow) has been added at the front, clearly inspired by those on the Honda and Toyota, dramatically improving the continuity of airflow passing over the sidepod,...
Along with the striking vertical nose fins they added in France, the team also added two 'horn' wings, similar to those on the McLaren, behind the driver's head. They are the only team so far to follow McLaren's lead on this solution, the main function of which is to improve the overall aerodynamic...
This radical-looking aero solution was used in the last test at Jerez and then adopted for France. The two vertical fins on the nose, around 40 cm high, give the car an unconventional look, but fall within regulations regarding bodywork height. Their purpose is to improve stability and efficiently...
It is common practice to monitor tyre temperatures, but after last year's events in the US, it was seen as even more important at Indianapolis this year - not only to ensure safety, but also to try and extract maximum performance from the tyres. During practice all the teams constantly monitored...
A small but useful change for Silverstone, these elements now feature a saw-tooth profile at the base, similar to the design used by Ferrari. This substantially ups the effectiveness of the barge boards, by dramatically reducing the vortices generated in this area, hence improving the aero...
A slightly different configuration for Imola. The double-decker concept has been revised, with the additional upper profiles shortened by around 5 cm, to reduce drag and improve top speed on this fast circuit. The key factor is the reduced surface area exposed to the airflow. The angle of the wing...
Another team invited by the FIA to make changes to their wings prior to Australia, BMW Sauber have revised the junction of the rear wing's endplates and its main profile and flap. The shape of the elements has not changed, but the connecting points between them (areas in orange) have been reinforced...
For Melbourne, the team introduced a revision to the front wing design seen in Bahrain and Malaysia. The main profile is largely unchanged, but the endplates now feature an upward-curving fin (yellow and detail), which closely resembles the one adopted on last season's Sauber. This fin reduces...
At the F1.06's post-launch test session in Valencia, BMW Sauber immediately started development of the new car's aero package, trialling different versions of the front wing. The latest used was one sporting a double profile, following the concept introduced last season by Renault and subsequently...
Viewed from beneath the front of the car, it is apparent how the area (circled) around the front barge boards is aerodynamically 'clean' - the airflow approaching it is not disrupted by any of the suspension elements, despite the fact that for 2006 the bottom of the boards must be 5cm higher than...
As on all the 2006 machines, the sidepods are smaller and narrower, particularly as they reach the 'coke-bottle' section at the rear of the car (red arrow), where the bodywork looks like a second skin applied to its internal elements. This minimal design is intended to smooth the airflow to the rear...
The area close to the rear wheels shows a strong resemblance to the previous Sauber C24 in many details, even if the bodywork is narrower close to the transmission. The notably similar elements are (left arrow) the venting gills on top of the sidepods (right in front of the short exhaust pipes),...
