"Automotive wing" and "Rear wing" redirect here. For the similar rear attachment designed to control air flow rather than produce downforce, see Spoiler (car). For cars with wings producing upward, rather than downward, lift, see Flying car. For aircraft with multiple sets of wings, see Tandem wing.
Three different styles of front wings from three different Formula One eras, all designed to produce downforce at the front end of the respective race cars. Top to bottom:Ferrari 312T4 (1979), Lotus 79 (1978), McLaren MP4/11 (1996)
Downforce is a downwards lift force created by the aerodynamic features of a vehicle. If the vehicle is a car, the purpose of downforce is to allow the car to travel faster by increasing the vertical force on the tires, thus creating more grip. If the vehicle is a fixed-wing aircraft, the purpose of the downforce on the horizontal stabilizer is to maintain longitudinal stability and allow the pilot to control the aircraft in pitch.
