A Formula One car or F1 car is a single-seat, open-cockpit,
open-wheel
An open-wheel car is a car with the wheels outside the car's main body, and usually having only one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or inside fend ...
formula racing car used to compete in
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
racing events. It has substantial front and rear wings, large wheels, and a
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...
engine
positioned behind the driver. The cars are constructed of
carbon fibre
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers ( Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon comp ...
and other composite materials for durability and are built to withstand high impact forces and considerable
g force
The g-force or gravitational force equivalent is a mass-specific force (force per unit mass), expressed in units of standard gravity (symbol ''g'' or ''g''0, not to be confused with "g", the symbol for grams).
It is used for sustained a ...
s.
The early F1 cars were simpler designs with no wings, front mounted engines, and required significant driver effort to control. Later improvements saw the introduction of lighter cars due to metallurgical advancements, introduction of
ground effect cars with the addition of wings and other aerodynamic surfaces, and control electronics. The introduction of turbocharged engines with higher efficiency, and
energy recovery system to boost speeds led to faster and efficient racing cars.
A modern F1 car has a carbon fibre
monocoque
Monocoque ( ), also called structural skin, is a structural system in which loads are supported by an object's external skin, in a manner similar to an egg shell. The word ''monocoque'' is a French term for "single shell".
First used for boats, ...
with an open cockpit consisting of a single driver seat and detachable
steering
Steering is the control of the direction of motion or the components that enable its control. Steering is achieved through various arrangements, among them ailerons for airplanes, rudders for boats, cylic tilting of rotors for helicopters, ...
. The 1.6 L
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a six- cylinder piston engine where the cylinders and cylinder blocks share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
The first V6 engines were designed and produced independently by Marmon Motor Car Company, ...
is capable of producing up to , which enables the car to reach speeds of up to . It uses
semi-automatic gear boxes with an eight speed
transmission and an electronic-hydraulic control to drive the car. The 18 inch wheels are fitted with
slick tyres during normal dry conditions, and are fitted with carbon
disc brakes
Disc or disk may refer to:
* Disk (mathematics), a two dimensional shape, the interior of a circle
* Disk storage
* Optical disc
* Floppy disk
Music
* Disc (band), an American experimental music band
* ''Disk'' (album), a 1995 EP by Moby
Other ...
capable of handling temperatures of up to . The wings act as inverted
aerofoil
An airfoil (American English) or aerofoil (British English) is a streamlined body that is capable of generating significantly more lift than drag. Wings, sails and propeller blades are examples of airfoils. Foils of similar function designed ...
s to produce negative
lift
Lift or LIFT may refer to:
Physical devices
* Elevator, or lift, a device used for raising and lowering people or goods
** Paternoster lift, a type of lift using a continuous chain of cars which do not stop
** Patient lift, or Hoyer lift, mobile ...
, resulting in increased down force.
The regulations governing the cars are specified by the
FIA and have undergone considerable changes since their introduction in the late 1940s. The cars are constructed and operated by the
constructors in racing events, though the design and manufacture can be outsourced. Since the 2000s, several changes have been made by the FIA, which are aimed at sustainability and cost reduction, such as the cap on car parts, usage of mixed fuel, and usage of energy recovery systems. It has also sought to reduce the downforce and limit speeds, while simplifying car design and improve close racing. Cars have also been made safer with durable materials, improvement in safety features and addition of
halo
HALO, halo, halos or haloes may refer to:
Most common meanings
* Halo (optical phenomenon)
* Halo (religious iconography), a ring of light around the image of a head
* ''Halo'' (franchise), a sci-fi video game series (2001–2021)
Arts and en ...
.
History

The early F1 cars were simpler designs with no wings, front mounted engines, and required significant driver effort to control. In the early 1960s, lighter cars with
aluminum
Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...
chassis were introduced with the addition of wings towards the end of the same decade. In the 1970s, understanding of
aerodynamics
Aerodynamics () is the study of the motion of atmosphere of Earth, air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dynamics and its subfield of gas dynamics, and is an ...
began to impact the car designs singnificantly, with the introduction of nose boxes in the front, and air boxes behind the driver to increase air flow to the engine. The advent of
ground effect cars in the 1980s, allowed to increase downforce with a small drag penalty. With continuous improvement in engines and the introduction of
turbochargers
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...
, cars produced an increased amount of thrust.
The maximum permitted width of the cars was with a front axle and wide rear axle, and the maximum width was reduced to in .
Following the
1994 San Marino Grand Prix, a number of changes were introduced, which led to the development of modern day F1 cars. A thick wooden
skid block
A skid block, also known as a plank, is a common term for a mandatory attachment to the underside of a racing car. Initially applied to Formula One cars in 1994, it has also been used in other categories including Formula 3000 and Formula 3. It ...
was added on the underbody to enforce minimum ground clearance. In the following seasons, several modifications were introduced, the underbody plank was lengthened and a tall, wide block was added on top of the plank to minimize the ground effect. The front wing height was increased from and the maximum height was reduced to above the reference plane. A step wise design was introduced with reduced side pods, and engine cowling, and exclusion zones were added around the wheels to prevent any bodywork in the area apart from the suspension.

Since the 1990s, improved electronics were incorporated to increase the efficiency, handling and reliability of the cars. Since the 2000s, with
computer aided design
Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve c ...
, teams have been able to produce more efficient cars, with several changes aimed at sustainability and cost reduction, such as the cap on car parts, usage of mixed fuel, and usage of energy recovery systems.
In the 2000s, the front height was increased progressively to and the maximum width and height were defined as and respectively. FIA enacted further changes to the body structure over the subsequent years such to improve racing changes to the structure and height of the front wing, and changes to floor design. The governing body outlawed several structures introduced by the teams, including double diffusers, modified exhaust ducts, and extra aerodynamic elements such as sharklets, cooling slots, winglets and dive planes. Modifiable front wings were also trialed in and the
Drag reduction system (DRS) was introduced in . The latest rules in the late 2010s introduced simpler front wings, which reduced the dirty air from the cars, and enabled more closer racing.
The underside of the vehicle must be flat between the axles with the wear of skid block limited to a maximum of during the race. The latest regulations which came into effect in with the intention of enabling more closer racing, simplified the aerodynamic components, which reduced vortices, and created more ground effect.
Design
The modern Formula One car is a single-seat, open-cockpit,
open-wheel
An open-wheel car is a car with the wheels outside the car's main body, and usually having only one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or inside fend ...
racing car with substantial front and rear wings, large wheels, and a
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...
engine
positioned behind the driver. The
monocoque
Monocoque ( ), also called structural skin, is a structural system in which loads are supported by an object's external skin, in a manner similar to an egg shell. The word ''monocoque'' is a French term for "single shell".
First used for boats, ...
is constructed of reinforced
carbon fibre
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers ( Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon comp ...
, lined with
kevlar
Kevlar (para-aramid) is a strong, heat-resistant synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed by Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont in 1965, the high-strength material was first used commercially in the early 1970s as ...
and fire resistant materials to protect the drivers from high impact crashes and fires. The driver cockpit consists of single seat with a detachable steering wheel in the front. There is a halo mounted on top of the open cockpit, which was introduced in . Two front and rear wheels are bolted to the suspension and the engine is mounted behind the driver. The front and rear wings are aerodynamic surfaces fitted on the extremes.
The minimum weight permissible is including the driver, while fitted with dry-weather tyres and no fuel. The cars are limited to dimensions of in length, in width, and in height.
Components
Engine and fuel

Since its inception, Formula One has used a number of different
engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy.
Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power ge ...
regulations
Regulation is the management of complex systems according to a set of rules and trends. In systems theory, these types of rules exist in various fields of biology and society, but the term has slightly different meanings according to context. Fo ...
.
During the early years, a
front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout
In automotive design, an F4, or front-engine, four-wheel drive (4WD) layout places the internal combustion engine at the front of the vehicle and drives all four roadwheels. This car layout, layout is typically chosen for better control on many ...
was used with a 4.5
L naturally aspirated
A naturally aspirated engine, also known as a normally aspirated engine, and abbreviated to N/A or NA, is an internal combustion engine in which air intake depends solely on atmospheric pressure and does not have forced induction through a turboc ...
or a 1.5 L
supercharged
In an internal combustion engine, a supercharger compresses the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to produce more power for a given displacement. It is a form of forced induction that is mechanically powered (usually by ...
engine capable of an output power of up to . Progressively the
engine capacity and power were reduced, and was limited to 0.75 L with compressor or 2.5 L without one during the late 1950s. In 1961, the engine was
positioned behind the driver and the capacity was regulated to 1300–1500 cc with a power output of 150–225 hp without supercharging. In 1966, FIA increased engine capacity and allowed up to 3.0 L atmospheric with a power range of or 1.5 L supercharged with a power range of . While the basic structure and configuration of a Formula One remained same since the late 1960s, the power output of the engines increased progressively to at 12000
rpm
Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or r⋅min−1) is a unit of rotational speed (or rotational frequency) for rotating machines.
One revolution per minute is equivalent to hertz.
Standards
ISO 80000-3:2019 def ...
in 1986. In 1987-88,
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...
eight-cylinder engines were introduced alongside atmospheric engines with fuel caps for races introduced for turbocharged engines. Turbocharges were banned from
1989
1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...
with 3.0 L engines becoming the norm in the 1990s and led to the introduction of
V10 and
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a twelve-Cylinder (engine), cylinder Internal combustion engine#Reciprocating engines, piston engine where two banks of six cylinders are arranged in a V engine, V configuration around a common crankshaft. V12 engines are more c ...
s.

The teams started constructing engine components using advanced metal alloys such as
titanium
Titanium is a chemical element; it has symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Found in nature only as an oxide, it can be reduced to produce a lustrous transition metal with a silver color, low density, and high strength, resistant to corrosion in ...
and
beryllium
Beryllium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Be and atomic number 4. It is a steel-gray, hard, strong, lightweight and brittle alkaline earth metal. It is a divalent element that occurs naturally only in combination with ...
, which reduced weight and improved the efficiency and durability. FIA outlawed the use of these towards the late 1990s with only
iron
Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...
and
aluminum
Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...
permitted. The introduction of
pneumatic valve springs in the same period allowed the engines to reach up to 20,000 rpm.
For a decade, the F1 cars had run with 3.0 L naturally aspirated V10 engines producing of power with top speeds of up to . Though the FIA continually enforced material and design restrictions to limit power, the V10s in the
2005 season were reported to develop , power levels not seen since the ban on turbocharged engines in 1989. Before the
2006 season, FIA introduced a new engine formula, which mandated cars to be powered by 2.4 liter naturally aspirated
V8 engine
A V8 engine is an eight- cylinder piston engine in which two banks of four cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
Origins
The first known V8 was the Antoinette, designed by Léon Levavasseur, a ...
configuration, with no more than four valves per cylinder and banned variable intake trumpets. For the
2009 season, the engines were limited to 18,000 rpm to improve engine reliability and cut costs.
In 2012, the engines consumed around of air per second with a race fuel consumption rate of .

For the
2014 season, FIA introduced 1.6 L six-cylinder turbocharged engines with a
kinetic energy recovery system
A kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) is an automotive system for recovering a moving vehicle's kinetic energy under braking. The recovered energy is stored in a reservoir (for example a flywheel or high voltage batteries) for later use under ...
(KERS) to increase fuel-efficiency.
For , a modified V6 configuration was introduced with a more powerful KERS. Over the years, FIA has been gradually reducing the overall allocation of engines per season and with the increasing number of races, each engine is expected to last for at least . FIA had also introduced standardization of certain engine parts and cap on engine components to reduce costs with grid penalties applied for drivers who exceed the allocation.
As per the current regulations, a maximum of five power units are allowed per season. The engine is located between the driver and the rear axle and is bolted to the cockpit at the front end, and transmission and rear suspension at the back end.
The
fuel
A fuel is any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as thermal energy or to be used for work (physics), work. The concept was originally applied solely to those materials capable of releasing chem ...
used in F1 cars is a mixture of
unleaded petrol and
ethanol
Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is an Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol, with its formula also written as , or EtOH, where Et is the ps ...
with a tightly controlled mixture ratio. As a part of the regulation change in 2022, the ethanol content was increased from 5.75% to 10%. Cars were allowed to be refuelled during the race till 2010, after which refueling was banned. The cars are stipulated to carry a maximum fuel of 110 kg per race, with at least 1 kg to be made available to the FIA for post race inspection. Any abnormalties in the fuel or failure to provide the sample results in disqualification from the race. The
fuel bladder
Fuel bladders or fuel storage bladders are a type of flexi-bag used as a fuel container. They are collapsible, flexible storage bladders (also known as tanks) that provide transport and storage (temporary or long term) for bulk industrial liquids ...
is made of high quality rubber lined with
kevlar
Kevlar (para-aramid) is a strong, heat-resistant synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed by Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont in 1965, the high-strength material was first used commercially in the early 1970s as ...
for protection against crashes and is located in front of the engine, behind the cockpit.
Steering and transmission

A typical steering wheel used in a F1 car is an electronic control with an array of knobs, buttons and levers. It is made of carbon fibre with titanium,
silicon
Silicon is a chemical element; it has symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent metalloid (sometimes considered a non-metal) and semiconductor. It is a membe ...
,
fibreglass
Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass ( Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass c ...
, and
copper
Copper is a chemical element; it has symbol Cu (from Latin ) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orang ...
parts. It has two driver handles on the sides with a
LCD display in the center,
LED
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (corresp ...
gear shift lights at the top and gear shift paddles in the back. The steering wheel is used to control various functions of the car such as gears, engine revolutions, fuel–air mix, brake balance, differential mapping, among others. The display displays various data points including engine parameters, gears, temperature and time. The steering wheel is also used to access the
radio
Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connec ...
and control the drinking mechanism. It weighs about and can cost about $50,000.

While conventional
manual gearbox
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canadian English, Canada, British English, the United Kingdom and American English, the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed ...
es were used earlier, modern Formula One cars use
semi-automatic sequential
In mathematics, a sequence is an enumerated collection of objects in which repetitions are allowed and order matters. Like a set, it contains members (also called ''elements'', or ''terms''). The number of elements (possibly infinite) is call ...
gearbox
A transmission (also called a gearbox) is a mechanical device invented by Louis Renault (who founded Renault) which uses a gear set—two or more gears working together—to change the speed, direction of rotation, or torque multiplication/r ...
es with a
rear-wheel-drive
Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the rear wheels only. Until the late 20th century, rear-wheel drive was the most common configuration for cars.
Most rear-whee ...
. It has eight forward gears and a reverse gear operated with paddle-shifters. The gearbox is constructed of carbon reinforced titanium, and is bolted onto the back of the engine.
Fully-automatic gearboxes, and systems such as
launch control and
traction control were banned in the 2000s to keep driver skill and involvement important in controlling the car, and reduce costs. When the driver initiates gear shifts using paddles mounted on the back of the steering wheel, a system of
solenoids
upright=1.20, An illustration of a solenoid
upright=1.20, Magnetic field created by a seven-loop solenoid (cross-sectional view) described using field lines
A solenoid () is a type of electromagnet formed by a helix, helical coil of wire whos ...
,
hydraulic
Hydraulics () is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of pneumatics, which concer ...
actuator
An actuator is a machine element, component of a machine that produces force, torque, or Displacement (geometry), displacement, when an electrical, Pneumatics, pneumatic or Hydraulic fluid, hydraulic input is supplied to it in a system (called an ...
s, and
sensor
A sensor is often defined as a device that receives and responds to a signal or stimulus. The stimulus is the quantity, property, or condition that is sensed and converted into electrical signal.
In the broadest definition, a sensor is a devi ...
s perform the actual shift, and
electronic throttle control
Electronic throttle control (ETC) is an Automotive engineering, automotive technology that uses electronics to replace the traditional mechanical linkages between the driver's input such as a Car controls#Throttle control, foot pedal to the vehi ...
.
Clutch control is also performed in the same manner except when launching from neutral into first gear, where the driver operates the clutch manually using a lever on the back of the steering wheel. The clutch is a multi-plate carbon design with a diameter of less than , and weight of less than , capable of handling up to . The cars use seamless shift
transmissions, which allow almost instantaneous changing of gears with minimum loss of drive and a
shift time
Shift time refers to the time interval between gear changes in a transmission. This interval is the time in which power delivery is transferred to the next selected gear, and engine speed is reduced or increased to synchronize the speed of the ...
s of 2–3
ms. As a measure to reduce costs, gearbox ratios are fixed for a season.
Wheels and tyres
During the 1950s and 1960s, Formula One tyres were treaded rubber tyres similar to the automobile tyres but larger.
In the late 1950s,
cotton
Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...
fabric was replaced with
nylon
Nylon is a family of synthetic polymers characterised by amide linkages, typically connecting aliphatic or Polyamide#Classification, semi-aromatic groups.
Nylons are generally brownish in color and can possess a soft texture, with some varieti ...
fabric, which reduced weight and increased durability. In the 1960s, the tyres became wider and synthetic rubber was used along with nylon.
Slick tyres were introduced for the first time during the
1971 season. In the
1975 season, the cars used 26.0"×16.2"–13" slick tyre (diameter × width) in the rear on a 13"×18" rim, and a 20.0"×9.2"–13" slick tyre in the front on a 13×10" rim. For the
1981 season, the maximum diameter of the rear tyre was limited to 26.0", and the diameter of the front tyres was increased, with the tyres measuring 25.0"×10.0"–13" in the front and 26.0"×15.0"–13" in the rear. Ahead of the
1993 season
The General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as:
* International Year for the World's Indigenous People
The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its calendar advanced 24 hours to th ...
, the width of the rear was reduced from 18" to 15". In 1998, grooved tyres were introduced with three groove lines in the front tyres and four groove lines in the rear tyres. Between and , regulations required the tyres to feature a minimum of four grooves in them, with the intention of slowing the cars down as the slick tyre, with no indentations, provides the most grip in dry conditions. The tyre sizes were limited to at the front and at the rear, and the maximum diameter was for dry and for wet tyres. Briefly in , tyre changes during the race were outlawed and the tyre compounds were made harder to last the full race distance.

Slick tyres were reintroduced at the beginning of , with the front tyres narrowed from to , to shift the balance towards mechanical grip in an attempt to increase overtaking.
Since the introduction of slick tyres in 2009, the tyre construct has remained almost the same with only variations to tyre sizes.
The teams are given a fixed number of sets of three compounds of slick dry weather tyres, and additional sets of grooved intermediate and wet weather tyres for a race weekend. The tyre compounds are demarcated by a colour coding, with the teams mandated to use at least two dry compounds during a dry race. Briefly in
2016
2016 was designated as:
* International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly.
* International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...
, teams were given an option to choose tyre compounds. For the
2017 F1 season, significantly wider Pirelli tyres were introduced at both the front and rear axles, while the overall diameter of the tyres was increased from . Front tyre size increased to 305/670-R13 while rear-tyre size increased to 405/670-R13. For the
2022 F1 season, the wheel rim diameter size was increased from , and the diameter was increased from .
Disc brake
A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the #Calipers, calipers to squeeze pairs of #Brake pads, pads against a disc (sometimes called a rake
Rake may refer to:
Common meanings
* Rake (tool), a horticultural implement, a long-handled tool with tines
* Rake (stock character), a man habituated to immoral conduct
* Rake (poker), the commission taken by the house when hosting a poker game
...
rotor) to create friction. There are two basic types of brake pad friction mechanisms: abrasive f ...
s are used for braking, similar to road cars. The brakes consist of a rotor disc and a caliper, with six piston clamp pads inside each caliper. The driver applies pressure on the brake pedal, which uses hydraulic pressure to drive the clamps and the friction on the disc slows the car. The front brakes are simpler with direct pressure applied onto the breaking discs to slow down. In the rear, braking is achieved by the combination of three forces, friction on the brakes, resistance from the engine, and the energy recovery system. The driver can control the effect of these and brake distribution using the steering wheel.
An average F1 car can decelerate from in less than and hence the brakes are subjected to high temperatures of up to and severe
g force
The g-force or gravitational force equivalent is a mass-specific force (force per unit mass), expressed in units of standard gravity (symbol ''g'' or ''g''0, not to be confused with "g", the symbol for grams).
It is used for sustained a ...
s. To withstand high temperatures, brakes are made of carbon composites. The brakes are cooled by air passing through numerous small holes in the brake ducts.
Wings

Early designs linked wings directly to the suspension, but several accidents led to rules stating that wings must be fixed rigidly to the chassis.
The wings are
aerofoil
An airfoil (American English) or aerofoil (British English) is a streamlined body that is capable of generating significantly more lift than drag. Wings, sails and propeller blades are examples of airfoils. Foils of similar function designed ...
s on the front and rear of the car, and are made of carbon fibre composites for higher strength and reduced weight. The front wing is a forked structure with a maximum width of and must not extend more than beyond the center line. It can have a maximum of four wing elements and should not bend more than . It is made of aluminium alloy, carbon fibre and fibre glass, and can cost up to $300,000.
The rear wing consists of a main plane which spans the width of the car with smaller horizontal flaps that angle downwards. There are short upright tabs on the trailing edge of the flaps with vertical end plates at the wing tips. The DRS is a flap adjustment mechanism in the rear wings that is operated hydraulically following steering inputs from the driver.
Energy recovery system

The
kinetic energy recovery system
A kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) is an automotive system for recovering a moving vehicle's kinetic energy under braking. The recovered energy is stored in a reservoir (for example a flywheel or high voltage batteries) for later use under ...
s (KERS) recovers the kinetic energy created by the car's braking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be used to boost acceleration. There are principally two types of systems: electrical and mechanical flywheel. Electrical systems use a motor-generator incorporated in the car's transmission which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa. Once the energy has been harnessed, it is stored in a battery and released at will. Mechanical systems capture braking energy and use it to turn a small flywheel which can spin at high speeds. When extra power is required, the flywheel is connected to the car's rear wheels. KERS typically adds additional power boost for a specific time.
Other elements
A nose box or nose cone is a structure to which the front wing is attached. It directs the airflow towards the floor of the car, and acts as a shock absorber in case of accidents. It is made of high strength composite materials and is subjected to various load tests by the FIA to ensure its rigidity. The
halo
HALO, halo, halos or haloes may refer to:
Most common meanings
* Halo (optical phenomenon)
* Halo (religious iconography), a ring of light around the image of a head
* ''Halo'' (franchise), a sci-fi video game series (2001–2021)
Arts and en ...
is a safety device mounted on the cockpit, and is made of series of curved metal bars intended to protect the driver's head during crashes. The air box is situated behind the cockpit, and serves as the receptacle of the high speed air moving over the body. It supplies the pressurized air to the engine intakes, boosting its power and absorbs the turbulence generated from the air passing over the driver's helmet. Air filters are used to filter the dirty air before being passed into the engines.
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics () is the study of the motion of atmosphere of Earth, air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dynamics and its subfield of gas dynamics, and is an ...
has become key to success in the sport, and the teams spend time and money on research and development of the same each year.
The sculpted front and rear wings with the rest of the body parts such as the vanes beneath the nose,
bargeboards
A bargeboard or rake fascia is a board fastened to each projecting gable of a roof to give it strength and protection, and to conceal the otherwise exposed end grain of the horizontal timbers or purlins of the roof. The word ''bargeboard'' is pro ...
, sidepods, underbody, and the rear
diffuser
Diffuser may refer to:
Aerodynamics
* Diffuser (automotive), a shaped section of a car's underbody which improves the car's aerodynamic properties
* Part of a jet engine air intake, especially when operated at supersonic speeds
* The channel bet ...
, play a role in determining the aerodynamic efficiency of the car. A modern Formula One car capable of developing up to six
G of lateral cornering force and a
downforce equivalent to twice its weight at . The car is designed to create the maximum amount of downforce for the minimal amount of drag with the configuration often modified to the requirements of a particular track.
The interaction of various components amplify the total downforce more than the sum of their standalone contributions.
The wings operate similarly to inverted airplane wings, to produce a negative
lift
Lift or LIFT may refer to:
Physical devices
* Elevator, or lift, a device used for raising and lowering people or goods
** Paternoster lift, a type of lift using a continuous chain of cars which do not stop
** Patient lift, or Hoyer lift, mobile ...
or downward force. The profile of the front wing, along with the angle of attack against the incoming air, define the downforce generated. Other smaller elements such as flaps, and gaps between the elements help with controlling the airflow. A steeper angle of attack increases the downforce while creating increased drag. The front wing also directs the airflow to the rest of the car with the air flowing into the sidepod intakes used for the temperature regulation of the engine. The air flowing underneath the floor helps to seal the gap with the ground, contributing to the
ground effect. A low-pressure area is created which effectively sucks the car towards the ground, increasing the down force and grip of the car. The designers aspire for a smoother airflow over the body of the car, while minimizing the
wakes formed by the rotating wheels.
Vortices
In fluid dynamics, a vortex (: vortices or vortexes) is a region in a fluid in which the flow revolves around an axis line, which may be straight or curved. Vortices form in stirred fluids, and may be observed in smoke rings, whirlpools in th ...
created between the front wing and the nose box help to reduce the turbulence. Minor changes to the front wing can have drastic effects on the aerodynamics of the car.

The rear wings serve similarly to the front wings as inverted airfoils, and deflect the air downwards, causing a down force. The angle of the main plane and flaps determine the direction of the airflow, with other elements used to further fine tune the same. Higher angles increase downforce while also contributing to a higher turbulence and decreased stability of the rear wing. The rear wings are designed so as to withstand high loads without decreasing the downforce. The other structural elements of the car such as the side pods, and body work determine the amount of air flowing through the rear wings. The rear wing generates vortexes which keep the airflow attached to the car longer, delaying the aerodynamic stall. The rear wing can be modified to various configurations depending on the race track and the circumstances.
The DRS opens a slot in the rear wing at the behest of the driver. It reduces drag and increases power, and hence speed, and is allowed to be operated in specific instances. The
diffuser
Diffuser may refer to:
Aerodynamics
* Diffuser (automotive), a shaped section of a car's underbody which improves the car's aerodynamic properties
* Part of a jet engine air intake, especially when operated at supersonic speeds
* The channel bet ...
located at the rear is used to combine the pressurized airflow from the underside of the car to create more downforce.
Performance

The 1.6 L V6 engine on a modern F1 car churn out at 15,000 rpm. This enables a modern F1 car to accelerate from in 1.8 seconds, and from in 2.6 seconds.
It has a
power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio (PWR, also called specific power, or power-to-mass ratio) is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement ...
of 1,297
hp/
t, which would theoretically allow the car to reach in less than a second. However, due to traction loss, it accelerates slower and when the traction loss is minimal at higher speeds, the car accelerates at a very high rate. A F1 car is also capable of rapid deceleration and cornering at high speeds. Due to rapid acceleration and deceleration, the drivers may experience high levels of
g force
The g-force or gravitational force equivalent is a mass-specific force (force per unit mass), expressed in units of standard gravity (symbol ''g'' or ''g''0, not to be confused with "g", the symbol for grams).
It is used for sustained a ...
. The drivers experience 3–4 g during acceleration, and 5–6 g when braking from high speeds. During cornering at high speeds, drivers experience lateral forces between 4–6.5 g.
A modern F1 car can achieve top speeds of nearly , and operate on average speeds of about during a race.
Top speeds in practice are achieved in straight parts of a track, and is determined by the aerodynamic configuration of the car in balancing between high straight-line speed (low aerodynamic drag) and high cornering speed (high downforce) to achieve the fastest lap time. In 2005,
Mclaren
McLaren Racing Limited ( ) is a British auto racing, motor racing team based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. The team is a subsidiary of the McLaren Group, which owns a majority of the team. McLaren is best known a ...
recorded a record top speed of during testing, which was officially recognised by the FIA as the fastest speed ever achieved by an F1 car. At the
2016 Mexican Grand Prix, the
Williams of
Valtteri Bottas reached a top speed of in racing conditions. Away from the track, the
BAR Honda team used a modified
BAR 007
The BAR 007 was a Formula One car developed and used by British American Racing for the 2005 Formula One season. The car was driven by Jenson Button and Takuma Sato, but Sato was replaced by test driver Anthony Davidson for the 2005 Malaysian Gran ...
car, to set an unofficial speed record of on a one way straight-line run on 6 November 2005 at
Bonneville Speedway
Bonneville Speedway (also known as the Bonneville Salt Flats Race Track) is an area of the Bonneville Salt Flats northeast of Wendover, Utah, that is marked out for motor sports. It is particularly noted as the venue for numerous land speed reco ...
and the car set an FIA ratified record of on 21 July 2006 Bonneville.
References
External links
Official F1 siteF1 TechnicalAnimated F1 Car Guide*
ttps://web.archive.org/web/20081012214615/http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/1/f1.html Racecar EngineeringCars
Racecar EngineeringEngines
{{DEFAULTSORT:Formula One Car
Formula One
*