Slipstream in F1
F1 is the pinnacle of open wheel, single seater car racing and arguably the highest level of any motorsport globally.... There's more..., also known as towA tow in F1, also known as a slipstream, is when the car in the front effectively pushes the air... There's more..., is when the car in the front effectively pushes the air out of the way down the straight, reducing the air resistance and therefore drag
Drag is the resistance caused by air hitting a solid object as it is propelled forward. When the solid object... There's more... for the following car.
When the lead car drives down the straight it punches a hole in the air giving the car behind the benefit of this ‘pocket of air’ that is less dense and therefore easier to get through. This allows the following car to gain a speed advantage while it is within the pocket.
Teams use this to their advantage, usually in qualifying
Qualifying (Quali) is a one-hour session used to determine pole position and the order the cars will line up behind... There's more..., where one car will give the other a tow to contribute towards the optimum lap time.
