Information about F1 technology
Formula One is often referred to as the pinnacle of open-wheel racing. Every year, some of the best automotive engineers in the world work together to shave a few grams, or extract a few extra horsepower to create some of the fastest vehicles known to man. With the help of cutting-edge technology, the likes of …
There is no doubt about it: F1 cars are lightning quick. It is part of the reason why us fans like watching and indulging in the sport so much; the raw speed alone can give such an amazing adrenaline rush. We place so much importance on the internal machinery of the cars, like the engine …
Some of you more eagle-eyed Formula One fans may have realised a slight change to the overall look of F1 cars in recent years. Whenever the likes of Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes teams roll out of the pitlane, the Pirelli tyres seem to have a plasticky sheen on their surface. Now, this shiny look …
It seems to go against all convention; you would think a smooth slick tyre would slip around more on the tarmac. Like comparing ice with sandpaper. But in reality, every F1 car on the current grid uses slick tyres, unless the track is wet of course. Since Formula One is always in pursuit of the …
Formula 1 is undeniably a real sport which takes a very physical toll on the body. Therefore it is of utmost importance that the drivers take on board fluids regularly so as to avoid dehydration. But with both hands gripped tight around the steering wheel for the entire race, how are F1 pilots able to …
If you have been fortunate enough to attend a Formula One race in real life, you may have been surprised at just how big the cars look from the grandstands. They seem to take up most of the wide racetrack, and this is by no means an illusion. So why are F1 cars so big? …
Formula 1 outfits hire the most talented group of engineers that money can buy in order to gain miniscule advantages on track, where milliseconds mean the difference between 1st and losing. Teams would often try to exploit the rules or introduce wacky innovations in a bid to one-up their closest rivals. One such technology that …
All cars in the current Formula One paddock are rear-wheel drive, meaning 100% of the power generated by the engine is sent to the rear set of wheels. One might expect 4WD to provide extra levels of grip compared to RWD, but the costs of the technology have been found to far outweigh this sole …
As one would expect, Formula 1 drivers spend the vast majority of a race going round the track with their nose in front. Having to go backwards is an extremely rare occurrence. But in the unlikely event that an F1 car has to reverse, will it be able to? There are actually 2 ways to …
Refuelling, that is the addition of extra fuel into a car during the course of a race, has been banned from Formula since the start of the 2010 season. We saw a noticeable increase in the length of F1 cars from 2009 to 2010, to allow space for a considerably larger fuel tank required to …