Formula 1 car air-intakes are placed high for a number of reasons.
It takes advantage of the body work that is already there, a requirement for roll-over safety. It also allows the heavier cooling systems (oil, water, electronics) to be placed lower in the body for better handling. With a mid-rear engine layout it also means relatively little plumbing is required.
Some road cars utilise them, but the majority you will see are fake. Placing the intake in open air is only really required for a ram-air effect, otherwise it can introduce unneeded increases in frontal area.
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