Here is all you need to know about Masayuki Minagawa, a Japanese aerodynamics engineer who designed the double diffuser
Aston Martin obviously has something hidden in the back of the vehicle. Masayuki Minagawa was recently photographed, and in the background was an Aston Martin jacket.
Who is Masayuki Minagawa ex-Honda engineer who designed the double diffuser for the F1 Brawn GP and is linked to Aston Martin
It appears that Aston Martin is developing something unique with the diffuser as the teams get ready for the 2024 season. They were able to score some favourable points as a result.
When Minagawa posted a picture with an Aston Martin Team shirt in the backdrop, rumours started to circulate.
With the diffuser, Aston Martin appears to be working on something unique as the teams get ready for the 2024 season. On the team’s first excursion with the AMR24, they even obscured the car’s diffuser during the photo shoot.
Aston Martin blurred the rear diffuser of the AMR24
Don Dan Fallows cooking hard.. pic.twitter.com/zxgmsVm9io
— Aston Martin F1 updates (@startonpole) February 18, 2024
Fans quickly made the connection between the AMR T-shirt, Minagawa’s creative efforts at Brawn, and the diffuser blurring in the AMR24 shakedown video.
The latest post by Masayuki Minagawa, the Honda engineer who invented the double diffuser for Brawn GP
Yes, this is Aston Martin T-shirt pic.twitter.com/HOYmFwevSp
— Aston Martin F1 updates (@startonpole) February 18, 2024
Beginning with the 2026 season, Honda and Aston Martin will be collaborating each other which was announced last year in May. Since Aston Martin is looking for an independent engine supplier, Honda will be providing the new engine regulations.
In keeping with owner Lawrence Stroll’s aspirations to turn Aston Martin into a title-contending team, the exclusive arrangement also implies the team will go from being a customer team to having a works engine.
Who is Masayuki Minagawa?
Masayuki Minagawa is a Japanese aerodynamic engineer who is credited for his design of a double defuser.
After spotting the loophole in the rules, he presented the suggestion. Charlie Whiting went through the proposal with the FIA member, who suggested that there was nothing wrong with it and that it was compliant with the rules.
Prior to joining Brawn, he was an F1 employee of Honda. Afterwards, Honda changed its name to Brawn Championship. However,Minagawa is still employed by Honda even after quitting the F1 project.
The concept of a double diffuser for the Brawn GP was attributed to Minagawa. In 2009, they were the ones that first added the cutting-edge aerodynamic component to the F1 car. Due to this advantage, the team was able to win multiple races as well as the championship in that particular year.
The brainchild of junior aerodynamicist Masayuki Minagawa, the double diffuser exploited a loophole in the new-for-2009 regulations to devastating effect and left teams who did not have one feeling perturbed.