A Formula One car is a single-seat, open-cockpit, open-wheel racing car designed for use in Formula One competitions. It has two wings (front and back) as well as an engine behind the driver.
The Formula One races are held on specially constructed racing tracks known as “circuits.” They are sometimes held on closed public roads as well.
Fomula One is a racing series that takes place in
The chassis and the engine are the two main components of every Formula One car. The chassis of today’s Formula One cars is made of carbon fibre and ultra-lightweight components. The total weight, including the driver and tyres, but excluding the fuel, must not be less than 702 kg (1548 lbs).
A Formula One car must have a maximum width of 180 cm and a maximum height of 95 cm; the maximum length is not specified, but all cars are nearly the same length.
Engines: Starting in 2014, all F1 cars must use 1.6 litre turbocharged V6 engines, according to new regulations.
F1 cars currently use semi-automatic sequential carbon titanium gearboxes with 8 forward gears and 1 reverse gear and rear-wheel drive.
Many functions are available on the steering wheel of an F1 car, including changing gears, adjusting brake pressure, calling the radio, and adjusting fuel.
Formula One cars run on a closely controlled combination of regular gasoline that can only contain commercial gasoline components, not alcohol compounds.
Since 2009, Formula One vehicles have used smooth thread, slick tyres. An F1 car’s tyre measurements are as follows:
- 245mm front tyre (width)
- 355mm and 380mm rear tyres (width)
- Disc brakes with a rotor and calliper at each tyre are used in Formula One cars.
Performance and Speed
All F1 vehicles can accelerate from 0 to 100 mph (160 kmph) in less than 5 seconds and decelerate to 0 in less than 5 seconds. F1 cars have clocked high speeds of around 300 kilometres per hour, or 185 miles per hour on average.
Some cars, however, have reached speeds of 400 kmph or higher without fully conforming with F1 criteria. These figures are largely the same for all F1 cars, but tiny differences may exist due to gearing and aerodynamics design.
Helmets are required in Formula One races. Their design is both robust and light, so they don’t contribute extra weight to the driver’s head when driving at high speeds. These are also fire-resistant. Of course, the helmets must meet FIA requirements. The helmet is made up of numerous layers that are put through rigorous testing. The weight of the helmet is usually around 1.2 kg. F1 helmets are painted by hand, which is a unique feature.
HANS (Head and Neck Support) is an acronym for Head and Neck Support. HANS is designed to protect the driver’s vertebrae and avoid a head-to-steering-wheel contact in the event of an accident. It is made of carbon fibre and is attached to the seat belt in the cockpit. Elastic straps are attached to it. After a significant crash in 1995, HANS was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame.
F1 drivers’ attire is meant to protect them from fire incidents in the event of a crash. It’s a multilayered suit that meets NASA’s requirements.
Nomex is the most recent fibre material to be utilised in the construction of F1 driver suits. Thermal testing is performed on the suit, which is both fire resistant and lightweight. The pit crew also wears the costume. Before being tested, the costume is washed and dried several times. The suit has two handles on the shoulders that can be used to secure it to the seat. This lets the pit crew to take the driver out of the car in one piece, including the seat, in the event of a collision, reducing injuries. For more than 10 seconds, Nomex fibre can withstand temperatures of 700-800 degrees Celsius.