Where does a wing’s downforce come from?

The force that loads the tyres

Downforce is an aerodynamic force directed towards the track. The wing’s profile and angle change pressure and airflow direction. In reaction, the assembly produces a force on the car.

Why teams do not always use maximum wing

Additional downforce helps in corners but may increase drag on straights. A circuit with many slow corners and one with long straights require different compromises. Efficiency matters more than a single figure.

The car works as a whole

The front wing also influences the air flowing downstream. A component cannot be fully assessed in isolation from the floor, wheels and rear wing. Without data, the visible shape permits observations but does not demonstrate a lap-time gain.