EXPANDING UNDERFLOOR AIR: How the Diffuser Creates Pure Suction
What Is an F1 Diffuser? Pressure Differentials and Underfloor Suction.
“The diffuser is the exit ramp for underfloor air, acting as an aerodynamic vacuum pump.”
Located at the very back of the car underneath the rear structure, the diffuser is the final piece of the underfloor puzzle. Without a well-designed diffuser, the high-speed air rushing through the Venturi tunnels would crash into normal atmospheric pressure and stall out.
The Expansion Principle
As the underfloor tunnels reach the rear of the car, the bodywork curves upward and flares outward. This deliberate expansion allows the high-speed air to slow down smoothly and expand before rejoining the outside atmosphere.
This expansion acts like a vacuum pump, pulling more air through the tunnels ahead of it and massively increasing total underfloor suction force.