F1 Car Information

Formula 1 (F1) racing cars have pushed the boundaries of available auto technology. The website Formula 1 Art & Genius suggests that the modern era of Formula 1 began in 1950 when F1 cars reached a power output of 100 bhp/liter, around the same as a modern road car.

  1. Regulations

    • According to Formula 1, its regulations are reviewed and enforced every year to maintain the safety of drivers within cars with limits placed on the technologies available in F1 cars. For example, Formula 1 Art & Genius reports regulations were introduced in 1999 limiting the use of technologies such as active suspension and traction control.

    Engine

    • In 2009, F1 car engines were limited to the 2.4 liter V8, which according to Formula 1 has been the standard since 2005 when the larger 3 liter V10 was outlawed.

    Revving

    • Formula 1 reports that F1 cars are limited to a revving size of 18,000 RPMs; revving at this speed consumes 650 liters of air every second.

    Aerodynamics

    • Formula 1 explains how aerodynamic wings were introduced in the 1960s to work in the same way as aircraft wings but in reverse to provide down force instead of uplift. This benefits F1 cars by increasing cornering abilities and reducing speed-altering turbulence.

    Steering Wheel

    • Originally, F1 steering wheels were wooden and taken from road cars. Formula 1 reports the high speeds now involved in F1racing have forced controls and gauges to be moved to the steering wheel with advances in technologies including gear paddles attached to the wheel.

    Safety

    • Formula 1 reports safety features of F1 cars include the ability of drivers to escape a car involved in an accident in 5 seconds or less.