Cars
Formula 1 cars are the most advanced form of racing car in the world. As a technology story alone, an F1 car stands alone even outside its interest racing on the track. From carbon fiber to carbon brakes and from sculpted chassis to sculpted tires, find out how the F1 technology works, how it is different to other racing cars and the main lines of its development.
Formula 1's Kinetic Energy Recovery System
In 2009 as part of Formula 1's effort to become more environmentally friendly and relevant, the series began using a Kinetic Energy Recovery System to collect energy normally wasted during braking, and to re-use it in short bursts of power to increase speed and help in overtaking.
In 2009 as part of Formula 1's effort to become more environmentally friendly and relevant, the series began using a Kinetic Energy Recovery System to collect energy normally wasted during braking, and to re-use it in short bursts of power to increase speed and help in overtaking.
A Formula 1 Car as a Carbon Fiber Cake
A revolution in racing car materials in the early 1980s led to the standard F1 car body of today. No longer made of a metals, today's cars are made of an ultra light, strong plastic-like material called carbon fiber. It was associated more with the airplanes in the past, but now F1 engineers have become so adept with carbon composite materials that other industries turn to them for advice.
A revolution in racing car materials in the early 1980s led to the standard F1 car body of today. No longer made of a metals, today's cars are made of an ultra light, strong plastic-like material called carbon fiber. It was associated more with the airplanes in the past, but now F1 engineers have become so adept with carbon composite materials that other industries turn to them for advice.
The Coming Era of the Standard ECU
One of the most high tech parts of a Formula 1 car is the ECU, used to gather data from electronic sensors on the car. The data is sent from the track to the engineers to tell them how parts of the car are reacting on the track. In order to reduce costs in F1, starting in 2008 teams will no longer create their own ECU, but will share a standard ECU made by Microsoft and the McLaren team.
One of the most high tech parts of a Formula 1 car is the ECU, used to gather data from electronic sensors on the car. The data is sent from the track to the engineers to tell them how parts of the car are reacting on the track. In order to reduce costs in F1, starting in 2008 teams will no longer create their own ECU, but will share a standard ECU made by Microsoft and the McLaren team.