That is why the battle for supremacy on the racing circuits these days is being fought as much by aerodynamicists at team headquarters as by drivers on the track.
Success brings greater revenues and more lucrative sponsorships, which in turn leads to more success via bigger backup teams, greater resources and off-track talent such as aerodynamicists and data analysts.
By working closely together, aerodynamicists and designers can determine the precise shape of the various bits of the car's body needed to ensure that the air slows down on all upper surfaces but speeds up on the under surfaces.