F1 Aero Design Thinking (CAD): Hands-On with 2026 Front Wing from Udemy

Ever wondered how a Formula 1 front wing is designed to at F1 Teams using Design Thinking Principles ? Dive into an immersive learning experience that blends Design Thinking with hands-on CAD modeling, and discover the secrets behind the design of a

Section 1: Design Thinking – Foundational Principles for an

What is Design Thinking?: Explore the user-centric, iterative approach that drives innovative solutions in Formula 1 and beyond.

Work Setup and Platform: Learn how to set up your software, tools, and environment for a seamless modeling experience.

Section 2: Building F1 Front Wings Using Design Thinking

Aero Profiles and Wireframe Approach: Understand how aerodynamic contours are conceptualized and translated into wireframes.
Constructing an Aerofoil at an F1 Team: Step into the shoes of an F1 engineer to shape leading and trailing edges accurately.
Planview & Front View Curves: Lay down critical geometry for the wing, ensuring stability and performance.
Discussion: Why Are Wing Elements Special?: Analyze the unique challenges of designing functional aerodynamic surfaces.

Section 3: First Element of the Front Wing – Wireframe to Main Surfaces

Wireframe Construction: Build a precise skeletal structure as the foundation of your front wing.
Main Surfaces: Evolve your wireframe into fully rendered surfaces, ready for performance analysis.

Section 4: Endplate Design – Design Thinking in Action

Designing the Endplate: Incorporate creative solutions and iterative feedback loops to perfect endplate geometry.
Q&A Session: Brainstorm design improvements, troubleshoot issues, and clarify concepts.

Section 5: Surfacing the Endplate

Vertical & Horizontal Elements: Apply advanced surfacing techniques to finalize endplate contours.
Blends & Finishing Touches: Discover how small modifications can significantly affect airflow.
Q&A for Surfacing: Address common challenges and fine-tune your approach.

Section 6: Assembling the

Trimming & Variants: Learn how to trim and adjust the front wing to meet different performance goals and aesthetic demands.

Section 7: How to Become an Aerodynamics Design Engineer

Career Guidance: Explore pathways, skill sets, and next steps to excel in motorsport aerodynamics.

By the end of this course, you’ll not only have a fully realized 2026-style F1 front wing in your CAD portfolio, but you’ll also have sharpened your design thinking mindset—equipping you for innovative problem-solving in any engineering challenge. Join us and accelerate your journey into the thrilling world of F1 Aerodynamics and Design.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Apply design thinking principles to conceptualize and iterate on f1 front wing designs.
Understand fundamental aerodynamic concepts (aerofoil profiles, leading/trailing edges, endplate function) and how they influence performance.
Use cad tools and techniques to create wireframes, surfaces, and final assemblies for a 2026-style f1 front wing.

Integrate multiple design elements (wing elements, endplates, blends) and explore how to modify designs for different variants or performance goals.
Learn how to upskill themselves to become an f1 design engineer

Apply design thinking principles to conceptualize and iterate on f1 front wing designs.
Understand fundamental aerodynamic concepts (aerofoil profiles, leading/trailing edges, endplate function) and how they influence performance.
Use cad tools and techniques to create wireframes, surfaces, and final assemblies for a 2026-style f1 front wing.
Integrate multiple design elements (wing elements, endplates, blends) and explore how to modify designs for different variants or performance goals.
Learn how to upskill themselves to become an f1 design engineer

Syllabus

Learn about design thinking fundamentals for F1 front wings. Set up tools for efficient CAD modeling.

Instructor Introduction

What is Design Thinking ?

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Uses design thinking principles, which are crucial for innovation and problem-solving in the fast-paced world of Formula 1 engineering

Provides hands-on experience with CAD modeling, a fundamental skill for designing and analyzing aerodynamic components in F1

Focuses on the 2026-style F1 front wing, ensuring relevance to the latest regulations and design trends in Formula 1

Explores career pathways and skill sets needed to excel in motorsport aerodynamics, offering practical guidance for professional development

Requires CAD software and tools, which may necessitate a subscription or purchase, potentially posing a barrier for some learners

Involves Q&A sessions, which provide opportunities to brainstorm design improvements and troubleshoot issues, enhancing the learning experience

Reviews summary

F1 aero design and cad hands-on

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and engaging approach to understanding F1 aerodynamics through Design Thinking and CAD. Students frequently highlight the clear explanations and hands-on CAD sessions as major strengths, particularly focusing on the detailed process of designing a 2026-style front wing. The course is seen as providing significant value for those interested in motorsport design and offers useful career guidance. While some reviewers mentioned the pace might be challenging if new to CAD, the overall feedback is overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing the practical application of complex concepts.

Includes helpful career advice.

"The career counselling session was a unexpected but valuable addition, offering real insights."

"It was helpful to hear about the pathways and skills needed to become an F1 Design Engineer."

"Getting guidance on how to upskill myself for a career in motorsport was very useful."

"The advice given for pursuing a career in this field felt practical and actionable."

Concepts explained clearly and concisely.

"The instructor did an excellent job of explaining complex aero concepts in an easy-to-understand way."

"Lectures broke down the design thinking process and aerodynamic principles very clearly."

"I found the explanations on wireframe construction and surfacing particularly clear and helpful."

"The course material was well-structured and presented, making it easy to follow."

Offers valuable hands-on CAD practice.

"The CAD sessions were incredibly helpful, walking through the steps of building the front wing piece by piece."

"Loved the hands-on aspect, actually modeling the front wing elements solidified my understanding significantly."

"Applying the concepts directly in CAD was the highlight for me; it wasn't just theory."

"It was great to learn how to apply CAD techniques specifically to aerodynamic surfaces like an F1 wing."

Deep dive into F1 specific design.

"Focussing on a 2026 F1 front wing made the course incredibly relevant and exciting."

"Getting insights into how F1 teams might approach design was fascinating and unique."

"This course is perfect for anyone passionate about F1 and wanting to understand the engineering behind it."

"The discussion on why wing elements are special was a great look into F1 design specifics."

Pace may require prior CAD familiarity.

"If you're completely new to CAD, you might need to pause and practice a bit more to keep up."

"The pace was good, but definitely helps if you've used some CAD software before diving in."

"Some sections moved quite quickly, especially during the surfacing part."

"Having some basic CAD knowledge beforehand would be beneficial for following along smoothly."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in F1 Aero Design Thinking (CAD): Hands-On with 2026 Front Wing with these activities:

Review Aerodynamics Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of aerodynamics principles to better grasp the concepts behind F1 front wing design.

Browse courses on Fluid Dynamics

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Review basic concepts like lift, drag, and pressure.
Study how airfoils generate lift.
Understand the impact of wing angles on aerodynamic forces.

Read 'Competition Car Aerodynamics'

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Gain a deeper understanding of the aerodynamic principles governing race car design.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Competition Car Aerodynamics'.
Read the chapters related to wing design and aerodynamics.
Take notes on key concepts and formulas.

Follow CAD Modeling Tutorials

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Enhance your CAD skills by working through tutorials focused on surfacing and complex shape modeling.

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Find tutorials on surfacing techniques in your CAD software.
Practice modeling complex shapes and blends.
Apply the techniques learned to model a simple airfoil.

Four other activities

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Design a Simplified Front Wing

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Apply design thinking and CAD skills to create a simplified version of an F1 front wing.

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Research existing F1 front wing designs.
Sketch your own simplified design.
Model your design in CAD software.
Refine your design based on feedback and analysis.

Document Your Design Process

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Create a presentation or report detailing your design process, challenges, and solutions.

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Outline your design process.
Document your design decisions and rationale.
Prepare a presentation or report.

Read 'Race Car Design'

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Broaden your understanding of race car design principles and how aerodynamics fits into the bigger picture.

View Race Car Design on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Race Car Design'.
Focus on the chapters related to aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics.
Consider how the front wing design impacts overall vehicle performance.

Contribute to an Open Source CAD Project

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Apply your CAD skills to contribute to an open-source project related to engineering or design.

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Find an open-source CAD project on platforms like GitHub.
Identify areas where you can contribute, such as bug fixes or new features.
Submit your contributions following the project's guidelines.

Career center

Learners who complete F1 Aero Design Thinking (CAD): Hands-On with 2026 Front Wing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Motorsport Engineer

A motorsport engineer designs, tests, and optimizes race cars for maximum performance. This course helps build a foundation in the design thinking principles used by Formula 1 teams to create front wings. The course's focus on aerodynamics, CAD modeling, and iterative design gives you a head start in understanding how to optimize race car performance. In particular, experience creating wireframes and surfaces may be useful to a career as a motorsport engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motorsport Engineer

Aerodynamicist

An aerodynamicist designs and analyzes the movement of air around objects, with the goal of optimizing performance and efficiency. This course helps build a foundation in the design thinking principles used by Formula 1 teams when creating front wings. By understanding how aerodynamic contours are conceptualized and translated into wireframes as well as how to analyze the unique challenges of designing functional aerodynamic surfaces, learners can gain insight into the work of an aerodynamicist. The hands-on CAD modeling experience provided in this course may be useful in the prototyping aspect of this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aerodynamicist

Design Engineer

A design engineer creates technical drawings and specifications for manufactured products. This course directly applies design thinking principles to CAD modeling within the context of Formula 1 front wings. Through hands-on experience in wireframe construction, surface development, and final assembly, you'll refine your ability to create detailed and accurate designs. The course emphasizes the importance of iterative design and performance optimization, which may be useful in your work as a design engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Engineer

Computational Fluid Dynamics Engineer

A computational fluid dynamics engineer uses simulation software to model and analyze fluid flow, heat transfer, and related phenomena. This course shows how Formula 1 teams are using design thinking principles for front wings which may be useful in understanding how to set up simulations and interpret results as a computational fluid dynamics engineer. The course's focus on aerodynamic profiles and wireframe approaches could give you a head start, along with the techniques you will learn for creating blends and other finishing touches.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computational Fluid Dynamics Engineer

CAD Technician

A CAD technician creates technical drawings and models using computer-aided design software. This course focuses on hands-on CAD modeling to build a 2026-style F1 front wing, improving your proficiency in creating wireframes, surfaces, and final assemblies. By following the course, you will apply design thinking principles to CAD projects, enhancing the quality and precision of your technical drawings. This course may be useful for a CAD technician.

See salaries and explore the career path for CAD Technician

Aerospace Engineer

An aerospace engineer designs and tests aircraft and spacecraft. Aerospace engineers apply design thinking principles and gain hands on experience which is similar to how this course applies these to Formula 1 teams when creating front wings. This course helps you build a foundation in aerodynamic concepts and CAD modeling techniques. The course's insights into wireframe construction, surface development, and assembly can translate to designing aircraft components and optimizing performance in an aerospace environment, and will be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aerospace Engineer

Automotive Engineer

An automotive engineer designs, develops, and tests vehicles and their components. Automotive engineers need to be able to apply design thinking principles and gain hands on experience which the course provides for Formula 1 teams when creating front wings. This course may be useful; it helps build a foundation in aerodynamic concepts and CAD modeling techniques, both of which could be useful in optimizing vehicle performance and efficiency. Through the course, you'll learn to create wireframes, surfaces, and final assemblies, enhancing your ability to contribute to automotive design projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automotive Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

A mechanical engineer designs, develops, and tests mechanical devices and systems. This course may be useful; it helps mechanical engineers build a foundation in design thinking and CAD modeling. The hands-on experience with creating a 2026-style F1 front wing can translate to various mechanical engineering projects by directly applying skills in wireframe construction, surface development, and assembly. Gaining an understanding of aerodynamic principles through this course can also provide unique perspectives on optimizing mechanical designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Simulation Engineer

A simulation engineer creates and runs computer models to predict the behavior of physical systems. This course helps build a foundation in design thinking and CAD modeling, specifically in the context of Formula 1 front wings. This course's insights into wireframe construction, surface development, and assembly can inform the development of accurate and reliable simulations. Simulation engineers are better able to model these systems when they learn to trim and adjust the front wing to meet different performance goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Simulation Engineer

Research and Development Engineer

A research and development engineer innovates and improves existing products and technologies. This course helps build a foundation in design thinking and CAD modeling for F1 front wings, which may be useful in developing new concepts and prototypes. The knowledge gained from this course about aerodynamic principles and wireframe construction methods can be applied to various R&D projects, enhancing their ability to create innovative solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research and Development Engineer

Product Designer

A product designer conceptualizes and designs new products, considering both aesthetics and functionality. Product designers may find this course useful in enhancing their understanding of design thinking and CAD modeling. This course's focus on user-centric design and iterative feedback loops, as applied to F1 front wings, can inform their approach to product development. Moreover, the practical skills in creating wireframes and surfaces can translate to designing a wide range of products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Wind Tunnel Technician

A wind tunnel technician assists in conducting experiments to measure aerodynamic forces on scale models. This course helps build a foundation in aerodynamic principles and design thinking, and may provide valuable context for understanding the behavior of F1 front wings in wind tunnel tests. Understanding how aerodynamic contours are conceptualized, how wireframes are constructed, and how surfaces are developed can enhance your ability to interpret experimental results and contribute to design improvements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wind Tunnel Technician

Automotive Designer

An automotive designer creates the visual appearance of vehicles, focusing on aesthetics and ergonomics. This course may be useful to an automotive designer; it helps build a foundation in design thinking and CAD modeling within the context of Formula 1 front wings. This course's emphasis on iterative design, surface development, and aesthetic considerations provides valuable tools for shaping the visual appeal of vehicles. Automotive designers learn to create wireframes and surfaces, enhancing their ability to translate design concepts into tangible forms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automotive Designer

Stress Analyst

A stress analyst uses computer simulations and mathematical models to predict how components will behave under different loads and conditions. Stress Analysts apply design thinking principles and gain hands on experience which is similar to how this course applies these to Formula 1 teams when creating front wings. This course may be useful to a stress analyst; it helps in the design of durable, high-performance parts. The knowledge about wireframe construction, surface development, and assembly may provide valuable insights into the structural behavior of complex designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Stress Analyst

Manufacturing Engineer

A manufacturing engineer develops and optimizes the processes for producing goods. This course may be useful to a manufacturing engineer; it helps build a foundation in design thinking and CAD modeling, with a focus on Formula 1 front wings. The insights into wireframe construction, surface development, and assembly can inform their decisions about manufacturing processes. In particular, the course emphasizes how to trim and adjust the front wing to meet different performance goals and aesthetic demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manufacturing Engineer

F1 Aero Design Thinking (CAD)

Hands-On with 2026 Front Wing

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

F1 aero design and cad hands-on

Activities

Career center

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