Formula One car facts for kids
A Formula One car is a racing car used in Formula One races. They have one seat, which is open to the air. They have aerodynamic wings on their front and rear, and the engine is positioned behind the driver. The regulations governing the cars are unique to the Formula One championship. The regulations say that cars must be built by the racing teams themselves, though the design and manufacture can be done by others.
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Technology
F1 Cars have technology to make them faster, more drag resistant and safer. Some of this technology is described below.
ERS
ERS stand for Energy Recovery Systems. There are two basic types of ERS systems - mechanical and electrical and both recover energy without using fuel and damaging the environment. The rule to use KERS was introduced by the FIA in 2009. It works by storing energy in a flywheel or battery (like the one on the right) that would be lost when braking, and allow that energy to be re-used when accelerating. ERS was introduced in 2014 to activate wherever a driver chose permanently throughout a race weekend
Traction Control
This is used a lot in corners because it controls the wheel spin when under and over steering. They mean simply to which end of the car runs out of grip first as the tyres only have limited amount of grip. In an under steer, the front axle and wheels runs out of grip first and in Over steer the rear end runs out first. When this happens it is like a handbrake skid. Traction Control is the device that tries to keep the car stable by adjusting the wheel movement in these turns.
DRS
DRS stand for Drag Reduction System. It is an addition to the rear wing of the car introduced in 2011 Formula 1 season aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag in order to promote overtaking. It is used when a driver is close to somebody in front of him. He will be able to open the rear wing so the car becomes more streamline and aerodynamic so he can overtake his opponent. The device is then disabled as soon as he overtakes his opponent.
Materials
Formula One teams do much research into materials. Below are list of materials used in the F1 world, what they are, what they do, where they're placed and why F1 teams choose them over everything else.
Carbon fibre
Carbon fibre is a very strong and light material that contains carbon fibres. It may sometimes contain other fibres such as Kevlar, aluminium and glass. Although it has a very big price tag, its strength to weight ratio and the good rigidity of it make it a very valuable piece of material. However as is it gets cheaper it is being used in much smaller products like sports equipment, bodies for instruments and also household objects.
Carbon fibre is most commonly used in the bodywork of an F1 car and also the air box, the wings, the engine cover, steering wheel and in the suspension. It is sometimes reinforced with titanium or steel.
It is used over every other kind of material because it’s lightweight, very strong, very stiff and can easily be moulded into any shape.
Kevlar
Kevlar is another fibre like carbon. Some of its properties are very similar. Kevlar is a very strong and lightweight material. If you have an equal amount of steel and Kevlar, Kevlar would be 5 times stronger than the steel. When it is woven, it is suitable to take underwater. Kevlar is also used by the army as it a very sturdy material and it is used to make a range of items like helmets.
Kevlar is used in pretty much the same areas as carbon fibre is used. For example it is used in the bodywork, the wings, the suspension and more.
Kevlar is an extremely firm material. As F1 cars go at high speed it adds extra protection to drivers and stops massive damage being done to the cars.
Aluminium
Aluminium is an element. It is very light and hard. It is often used for ships so that ship doesn’t get corroded and it is very stable due to its oxide coating. Aluminium is used in the bodywork and almost every single part of a F1 car. Aluminium is used because it is extremely light and very strong.
Magnesium
Magnesium is another chemical element and is very light and strong. Its main use is to combine with aluminium to make alloys which are extremely light and strong, such as magnalium. It is used mainly in the wheels and some small parts in the engines.
Gold foil
Gold foil is a type of foil which is gold coloured and stops heat from escaping. It is used between the engine and fuel tank. It is used in that certain position so it can stop heat transfer from the engine to the fuel tank.
Images for kids
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The victorious Mercedes-AMG W11 from the 2020 season, which featured the unique Dual Axis Steering (DAS) system, driven by Lewis Hamilton
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The dominant McLaren MP4/4. Driven by Ayrton Senna in 1988.
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The 1993 Williams FW15C; which is considered by many to be one of the most technologically advanced Formula One cars of all time.
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The Lotus 49B with by the Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8 engine. Pictured at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
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The first Formula One car to be powered by a turbocharged engine; The 1977 Renault RS01. Pictured in 2013.
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The Lotus 78; designed by Colin Chapman. This car, and its successor (the Lotus 79) exploited the aerodynamic effects of downforce, known as ground effect, which was later banned by the FIA in 1983.
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The 2009 Brawn BGP 001; harnessed effects of downforce by a "double-diffuser". This type of diffuser was used by several teams for two seasons before later being banned by the FIA in 2011.
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A Renault RS26 V8 engine, which powered the 2006 Renault R26
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The BRM H16 engine, a 16-cylinder 64-valve engine used by the BRM team
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The 3.0 L Tipo 044 N/A 3.0 L V12 engine; which produced 700 hp @ 17,000 rpm, and used in the Ferrari 412 T2 in 1995.
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The V12 F1 engine Tipo 043, a 3.5 L N/A V12 engine produced over 830 hp @ 15,800 rpm, and was used in the Ferrari 412 T1 in 1994.
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The Tipo 053 engine. The engine produced over 865 hp @ 18,300 rpm, and was used in the highly-successful Ferrari F2004, in 2004.
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The gearbox with mounted rear suspension elements from the Lotus T127, Lotus Racing's car for the 2010 season.
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The streamlined body of a 1954 Ferrari 553 F1
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The 1979 Lotus 80 was designed to take ground effect as far as possible
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The McLaren MP4-21's rear engine cover designed to direct airflow towards the rear wing
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A modern-day Ferrari Formula One car being tested by Fernando Alonso at Jerez. The car is the Ferrari F10.
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The rear wing of a modern Formula One car, with three aerodynamic elements (1, 2, 3). The rows of holes for adjustment of the angle of attack (4) and installation of another element (5) are visible on the wing's endplate.
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Front and rear wings made their appearance in the late 1960s. Seen here in a 1969 Matra Cosworth MS80. By the end of the 1960s wings had become a standard feature in all Formula cars
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A low downforce spec. front wing on the Renault R30 F1 car. Front wings heavily influence the cornering speed and handling of a car, and are regularly changed depending on the downforce requirements of a circuit.
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A rear diffuser on a 2009 Renault R29. The diffuser is the black structure, near the ground, with vertical fins. Rear diffusers have been an important aerodynamic aid since the late 1980s
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The front wing is lower than ever before, as seen on the 2012 Mercedes F1 W03
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A ban on aerodynamic appendages resulted in the 2009 cars having smoother bodywork, as shown on this Williams FW31
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The 2022 concept chassis, revealed at the 2021 British Grand Prix
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A 2012 Lotus F1 wheel, with a complex array of dials, knobs, and buttons.
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Crash resistant fuel bladders, reinforced with such fibers as Kevlar, are mandatory on Formula One cars.
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Bridgestone Potenza F1 front tyre
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Brake discs on the Mercedes MGP W02.
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The carbon brakes on a Sauber C30
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The 2005 BAR-Honda set an unofficial speed record of 413 km/h (257 mph) at Bonneville Speedway
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The Williams FW14-Renault and its successor Williams FW15C (pictured), considered among the most technologically advanced racing cars ever built, won 27 Grands Prix and 36 pole positions in the early 1990s, until the active suspension and accompanying electronic gadgetries were outlawed by FIA in 1994.
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A wider 1979 McLaren M28
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A much narrower 2011 Red Bull RB7
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A 2010 Sauber C29
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See also
In Spanish: Automóvil de Fórmula 1 para niños
