Quick F1 facts that will change the way you watch every race.
Did you know that a Formula 1 pit stop can be completed in under two seconds?
The current world record for the fastest pit stop in Formula 1 history is 1.80 seconds, set by Red Bull Racing. A crew of over twenty mechanics changes all four tyres in less time than it takes to blink twice. Every single movement is choreographed and rehearsed hundreds of times before race day.
Did you know that F1 tyres are not inflated with air?
Formula 1 tyres are filled with nitrogen instead of regular air. Nitrogen is more stable than air under extreme temperature changes. During a race tyre temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Celsius. Regular air would expand unpredictably at those temperatures making pressure management nearly impossible.
Did you know that an F1 car generates enough downforce to drive upside down?
At high speed a Formula 1 car produces more aerodynamic downforce than its own weight. In theory this means a car travelling fast enough could drive on the ceiling of a tunnel. In practice this has never been tested but the physics are real.
Did you know that drivers lose up to three kilograms during a race?
The physical demands of driving a Formula 1 car are extreme. Cockpit temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius. Drivers experience forces of up to 5G through corners. A typical race lasts between 90 minutes and two hours. By the end drivers can lose between two and three kilograms purely through sweat.
Did you know that the steering wheel of an F1 car costs more than most road cars?
A Formula 1 steering wheel contains over twenty buttons, switches and dials. It controls everything from brake bias to fuel mix to DRS activation. The cost of a single steering wheel can exceed 50,000 euros. Drivers remove it every time they get in and out of the car.
Did you know that F1 engines rev to over 15,000 RPM?
A standard road car engine typically revs to around 6,000 to 7,000 RPM. A Formula 1 power unit can reach over 15,000 RPM. The sound alone is unlike anything else in motorsport. The current hybrid power units also recover energy under braking and deploy it for extra acceleration on the straights.
Did you know that the safety car has decided multiple world championships?
Some of the most controversial moments in Formula 1 history have involved the safety car. The timing of a safety car deployment can wipe out a race lead built over thirty laps in an instant. Championship battles have been won and lost based on a single safety car decision in the final laps of the final race of the season.
Did you know that F1 teams can run over a thousand simulations before a single race?
Before every grand prix teams run thousands of strategy simulations using historical data, tyre models and weather forecasts. They model every possible scenario from a straightforward two stop race to extreme situations involving multiple safety cars and weather changes. The goal is to be prepared for every eventuality so that when something unexpected happens the team already knows what to do.
Did you know that the DRS system was introduced to improve overtaking?
The Drag Reduction System was introduced in 2011 after years of criticism that Formula 1 had too little on track overtaking. DRS allows a driver to open a flap in the rear wing when they are within one second of the car ahead on designated straights. This reduces drag and gives a top speed boost of approximately ten to fifteen kilometres per hour making overtaking significantly easier.
Did you know that some races are decided before the first corner?
Strategy calls made on the formation lap can decide a race. If rain begins just before the start teams face an immediate choice between starting on slick or wet tyres. A driver who starts on the wrong compound can lose ten positions in the first lap. A driver who gets it right can be leading by lap two. The race begins before the lights go out.
Want to put your knowledge to the test?
Now that you know the facts try our scenarios and see if you can make the right call under real race pressure.