What an aerodynamicist does
The aerodynamicist is responsible for shaping the external surfaces of an F1 car to maximize downforce and minimize drag. They use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel testing to evaluate thousands of design variations, searching for the tiny improvements that can make the difference between winning and losing.
Their work spans the entire car: the front wing, the barge boards, the floor, the diffuser, the rear wing, and every surface in between. Each component is designed to work in harmony with the others, creating a complex airflow system that is far greater than the sum of its parts.
The most influential aerodynamicists
Adrian Newey is the most famous aerodynamicist in F1 history. His designs have won championships with Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull, and his understanding of ground effect and airflow management has shaped the evolution of F1 car design for over three decades.
Peter Prodromou has been one of the most successful aerodynamicists of the modern era, working at McLaren, Red Bull, and back to McLaren, where his understanding of aerodynamic packaging has produced some of the most successful cars of the 2010s and 2020s.
Dan Fallows moved from Red Bull to Aston Martin as technical director, bringing decades of aerodynamic expertise to a team looking to close the gap to the front.
The tools of the trade
Aerodynamicists use two primary tools: CFD and the wind tunnel. CFD allows them to test thousands of design variations quickly and cheaply, while the wind tunnel provides real-world validation of the simulation results. The best aerodynamicists are the ones who can correlate their CFD predictions with wind tunnel data most accurately.
In the 2026 era, with Active Aero adding new complexity, aerodynamicists must understand not just static airflow but dynamic airflow — how the air behaves when the wing elements change configuration during a race.