Formula 1 represents the pinnacle of automotive engineering and human reflexes. While fans watch the cars zoom around the track at 200 miles per hour, they often miss the hidden details that make the sport possible. For instance, a single pit stop happens faster than you can blink your eyes. Furthermore, the drivers must endure physical forces that would make a normal person pass out instantly. Prepare to lights out and away we go.
Formula 1
Formula 1 drivers lose significant weight during a single race. The intense heat in the cockpit can reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit). Consequently, a driver sweats out two to three kilograms (4-6 lbs) of water weight in under two hours.
A steering wheel costs more than a real car. Teams build these complex computers by hand with carbon fiber and titanium. Therefore, a single unit costs roughly $50,000 and features over 20 buttons that control every aspect of the engine.
The pit stop world record is 1.80 seconds. The McLaren pit crew set this mind-blowing time at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. They changed all four tires on Lando Norris’s car in less time than it takes to take a deep breath.
A loose manhole cover destroyed a Ferrari in Las Vegas. During the 2023 practice session, the suction from Carlos Sainz’s car ripped a concrete frame out of the ground. As a result, the impact caused millions of dollars in damage and cancelled the session.
The six-wheeled car actually won a race. In 1976, the Tyrrell team introduced the P34, which had four tiny wheels at the front. Jody Scheckter drove this bizarre machine to victory at the Swedish Grand Prix before the rules banned it.
Formula 1 drivers train their necks to support heavy weights. The cars generate up to 6G of force in the corners. Thus, drivers must have necks thick enough to hold up their head and helmet, which effectively weigh over 20 kilograms during a turn.
Brad Pitt filmed a movie during real live races. The production team for the movie F1 entered a modified Formula 2 car into the actual formation laps at Silverstone. Consequently, the actors drove alongside Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in front of thousands of fans.
The “plank” under the car creates sparks. A strip of wood-like material called Jabroc sits on the bottom of the car to measure ride height. Titanium skids protect this plank, so when the car bottoms out, they ignite and create the spectacular light show you see on TV.
Visor tear-offs can cause brake failures. Drivers peel off plastic strips from their helmets to clear their vision. However, these thin strips sometimes fly into the brake ducts of other cars, which causes them to overheat and retire from the race.
Formula 1 teams used to refuel cars in seconds. Before the ban in 2010, pit crews pumped fuel into the cars at a rate of 12 liters per second. However, the FIA stopped this practice because it caused too many dangerous fires in the pit lane.
A driver once taped his ear to his head. In the 1970s, Niki Lauda returned to racing just weeks after a fiery crash burned his face. The burns on his ear were still raw, so he used medical tape to keep his bandages from sliding off inside his helmet.
The halo bar can withstand the weight of a bus. The titanium protection bar above the cockpit looks simple, but it is incredibly strong. It saved Romain Grosjean’s life when his car pierced a metal guardrail and burst into flames in Bahrain.
Drivers have a “drink” button on the wheel. A pump delivers fluid through a long straw directly into the driver’s mouth. However, the drink often gets warm like tea because the bottle sits near the hot engine.
The logistics team builds a new city every week. The “F1 Circus” travels with tons of equipment, including entire buildings for hospitality. They dismantle the motorhomes, fly them across the world, and rebuild them in a few days with military precision.
Finally, the tires are essentially glue. When the rubber gets hot, it becomes incredibly sticky to grip the road. If you touched a hot race tire, your hand would stick to it almost like it was covered in adhesive tape.
