Question 1

The F1 Sprint Race - what is it?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The F1 Sprint Race As an opportunity to add further entertainment over a race weekend, F1 trialled a sprint format in 2021 and cemented them as a fixture in 2022. Sprints are designed to create more racing action and change up the grid ahead of Sunday with an extra, shortened race on Saturday. This has been tweaked for 2023. This exciting F1 Sprint Race is one-third race distance, with the top eight finishers earning points toward their championship standing. No fastest lap points are awarded. Traditional qualifying, normally held on a Saturday, takes the place of FP2 on Friday, forming the grid for Sunday's Race. The sprint replaces the Saturday Qualifying, and the grid is set by the new SPRINT SHOOTOUT held on Saturday morning. [caption id="attachment_10127" align="alignnone" width="1000"] F1 Sprint race

Sprint : autosport.com[/caption]

Question 2

Do F1 drivers lose kilos in a race?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Drivers lose kilos per race in sweat.

F1 drivers lose kilos per race as they are subject to sweltering temperatures, high-stress and thick fire-retardant clothing for up to 2 hours. This means the driver is sweating profusely and only supplied 1.5 litres of fluids on board. Meaning a driver can lose up to 4 kg per race! In very hot conditions, drivers will wear an ice vest, to help keep their core temperature down, before the race start.

Watch this short clip on how drivers keep cool on WTF1.com - here

[caption id="attachment_10792" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Lose kilos

Ice Vest : dailyexpress.co.uk[/caption]

Question 3

Car starter - how does it work in F1?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Firing up an F1 car is a process that takes time and utilises an external car starter. The engine is so precise it has zero tolerance and it will not start if cold. So the engine and gearbox must be preheated before starting can be initiated. F1 cars need to be as light as possible so there is no room for a starter on the car. Therefore an external unit inserted at the rear to fire up the car. [caption id="attachment_10685" align="aligncenter" width="600"] starter

(Photo by Rainer Schlegelmilch - motorsportimages.com)[/caption] This is an older clip, referring to the V8, but the equipment and principal are exactly the same today.

Question 4

What are the top end of F1 car revs?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

An F1 car Revs Up To 15,000 RPM While Normal Vehicles Go Only Up To 6,000 RPM

How high are F1 car revs? The naturally aspirated engines for Formula 1 cars haven't changed over the years and have been consistent with the output. A typical vehicle can achieve up to 6,000 RPM, while a Formula 1 racecar reaches more than twice as much, around 15,000. This is made possible because of the power that's produced by the engine. Before the 1980s, most Formula 1 engines were limited to 12,000 RPM because the valves were closed with metal springs. They were replaced by Pneumatic valve springs from Renault, which allowed the higher rate to be achieved. F1 car revs

The replica shown available - here

Question 5

What is the average age of an F1 driver?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The average age of a driver on the current F1 grid (2022) is 27.75. The oldest driver on the grid this season is Alpine’s Fernando Alonso, who turned 41 on July 29, 2022. Alonso’s first season in the sport was in 2001, meaning his career now spans three separate decades. The youngest is Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri who is only 22. The oldest driver to start an F1 race was Monocan Louis Chiron at 55 years and 292 days he placed 6th in the 1955 Monaco GP. He entered another race at 58 and 277 days but recorded a DNQ. No doubt the average age was a lot higher back then.

Question 6

F1 reserve driver vs test driver

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 reserve driver and a test driver - what's the difference? Backing up the team's drivers are the third driver, or reserve driver; both terms are regularly used, although some teams combine this role. The third driver is often referred to as the test driver helping the drivers and engineers improve the car. Now and then, a third driver may take charge of a test day or Friday practice to build a better feel for the car. Demonstration days or publicity events often fall to the third driver too. Whereas, a reserve driver is on standby during race weekends to step in if one of the drivers cannot drive. They are present at most race weekends and can be spotted in the garage. Reserve drivers also regularly work in the simulator. F1 Reserve Driver

Reserve drivers : autosport.com

Question 7

What is ERS Management?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

ERS Management refers to how the energy is being used, either deployed ore regenerated.

The teams have various modes for this. You can have high deployment, low deployment, high regeneration, low regeneration, balanced, top speed, overtake, etc. The teams all have different versions of all of these, depending on how they need the car to handle.

The reason for all these different modes is how the energy is being harvested and distributed. You have energy coming in from the MGU-H, and MGU-K, and either going to batteries or deployment to produce more power.

Battery deployment purely refers to the battery being used to create more power. This can either be from the engine mode - for instance, high deployment or hot lap mode, or using the overtake button.

Question 8

Do F1 Teams get holidays?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 is intense and multifaceted. Teams constantly work to deliver the best possible car for the next event while considering pending upgrades and developing the next season's car. When the action on track concludes for the season, teams have a busy programme to design, build, launch, test and start their car for the next season. The FIA mandates a compulsory two-week break during the summer to protect the well-being of the team's personnel. This applies to everyone from the technicians to the designers and management team. And, of course, the drivers.

Question 9

What happens if there is a false start?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Once all the cars are in their respective grid box, the starting procedure starts.

Cars are fitted with transponders that detect any movement before the lights go out – and a false start may result in the race being stopped and the cars lined up for a restart. 

Any driver who deliberately or repetitively jumps the start may be penalised with a five or ten-second penalty or a drive-through, depending on the advantage gained.

[caption id="attachment_9753" align="aligncenter" width="960"]<img class="size-full wp-image-9753" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/False-Start-Pastor-Maldonardo.webp" alt="" width="960" height="455"> Pastor Maldonado - not actually a false start. Pastor's reflexes were so good he got the jump on the entire grid...[/caption]

Question 10

What is the difference between undercut and overcut

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 cars are very closely matched, with a mere 1,000's of a second separating any two cars. Passing on track is difficult, so teams must look at alternative strategies. Often, this means doing the opposite of the car you are competing with. 

The undercut is when a driver, struggling to get past another car, pits early to get a performance advantage from fresh tyres. Hopefully, putting them ahead when their rival pits. By getting the jump on new tyres, they can put in a series of faster laps, closing the gap and hopefully being ahead when the other driver exits the pits. 

The overcut is the opposite of the undercut., where the chasing car lets the car in the front pit first. While pitting, the chasing car will push to close the gap between them in the hopes that they stay ahead even after they pit.

[caption id="attachment_8841" align="alignleft" width="1280"]<img class="size-full wp-image-8841" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Undercut-vs-Overcut.jpeg" alt="" width="1280" height="720"> Undercut vs Overcut : thesportsrush.com[/caption]

Question 11

What happens to used and leftover tyres

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Once the tyre has been fitted, it is considered used, whether it is fitted to the car or not. You might pick one up as a souviner or coffee table on F1Authentics, but the majority are burnt to fuel cement factories. As part of Pirelli’s ‘green technology’ programme for the betterment of the environment, the tyres are ‘ecologically disposed’, which means they are recycled. The tyres are crushed to fit more of them in fewer containers and then shipped to a cement factory near Didcot, Oxfordshire after each Grand Prix The shredded tyres form small pellets, which are then burnt at extremely high temperatures as fuel for cement factories. The extremely high temperatures mean that no harmful fumes are released during the process, and the only particle that remains is non-poisonous ash.

Question 12

How much do F1 Tickets cost?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 ticket options vary considerably on the venue, type and number of days.

For general admission, tickets range in the order of $100 – $225 for three-day access. Grandstands will cost between $200 and $700 with Monaco being the most expensive, followed by Miami.

Paddock Club, F1 ExperiencesF1® Experiences F1 Experiences provides you with Official F1 Ticket Packages to Formula 1 races worldwide and ensures that you get... There's more... and Hospitality will start at $1,500, and options available to the public go as high as $15,000.

Of course, all sorts of unique and exclusive options are available to those with the means to access them.

We should point out that F1 weekends give you much more than Formula 1; in addition to the super-charged atmosphere and buzz of the crowd, there are often support category races, displays, entertainment areas and superstar performers post-race (this does vary considerably from event to event).

Don’t forget, the ticket is just the beginning… Travel, accommodation, transport, merchandise and concessions will need to be included in your budget.

In our view, watching F1 live is a unique format to see the world and experience a range of cultures, while immersing yourself in a sport you love. Money well spent.

Start your search for tickets at F1Tickets.comF1Tickets.com will redirect you to tickets.formul1.com who are the official seller of tickets for all F1 events. You can access... There's more... – here

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Start your search for tickets at F1Tickets.com - here

Question 13

How to buy F1 Tickets?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Plan ahead and book early. F1 has grown in popularity over recent years with most events selling out with record crowds. There are usually several ticket options available, but the specifics can vary from venue to venue. Ticket options include

General admission, access to open areas - 1 day or 3. With race day being the premium.
Grandstand, fixed seat - prices vary depending on the
Multi grandstand, fixed seat at a different grandstand each day. Not available at every event.
F1 Experiences, grandstand seats with additional privileges, like a pit lane walk (before the cars come on track), guest speakers and driver appearances.
Hospitality. Premium access to the Paddock Club and or Corporate Box and other exclusive areas.

Tickets can be purchased through F1 Tickets, F1 Experiences, from the event organiser or your travel specialist.

See ticket options - here

Our advice is to seek out all online options for the event you have chosen and register for notifications on ticket sales. Do not rely on F1 Tickets alone. A relatively new phenomenon is the sale of “early access” options. Where you pay an amount to be included in the first, second or third release of tickets before the balance is offered to the public. If you want to go, this is worth considering. Keep an eye on our schedule to see when tickets become available - here. Please don't rely on this exclusively; we only update occasionally and don't want you to miss the opportunity because of this.

Question 14

F1 Driver size - Do they all need to be the same size?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 Driver size - Do they all need to be the same size? The short answer is no, drivers vary in height and weight, although they are all as lean as possible. Cars are regulated to a minimum weight of 796Kgs (done 2Kgs from 2022), inclusive of the driver, and the difference in driver weight determines how much ballast their car needs, as well as how that ballast is positioned. Designers like smaller drivers as they fit the car better and generally with less. But not all drivers are created equal... Compare F1 drive size in the following list of the 2022 F1 driver’s heights and weights.

Alex Albon – 186cm – 73kg Fernando Alonso – 171cm – 68kg Valtteri Bottas – 173cm – 68kg Pierre Gasly – 178cm – 70kg Lewis Hamilton – 175cm – 66kg Nicholas Latifi – 185cm – 74kg Charles Leclerc – 179cm – 69kg Kevin Magnussen – 174cm – 68kg Lando Norris – 170cm – 68kg Esteban Ocon – 185.5cm – 66kg Sergio Perez – 173cm – 63kg Daniel Ricciardo – 175cm – 66kg George Russell – 185cm – 66kg Carlos Sainz – 178cm – 64kg Mick Schumacher – 176cm – 67kg Lance Stroll – 182cm – 70kg Yuki Tsunoda – 159cm – 54kg Max Verstappen – 181cm – 72kg Sebastian Vettel – 175cm – 62kg Zhou Guanyu – 175cm – 63kg

Yuki Tsunoda is the smallest driver on the grid at 159cm tall and 54 kg. While Esteban Ocon is the tallest at 185.5cm and Nicholas Latifi is the heaviest at 74 kg.

[caption id="attachment_8835" align="alignleft" width="1600"] F1 driver size

Driver heights : planetf1.com[/caption]

Question 15

What happens in the hour before the race start?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

60 Minutes out...

The pit lane opens for teams to start their pre-race preparation. They begin the process of shifting all the equipment needed to complete the car set-up and start the race, including tool boxes, generators, tyres and computer stations. The team in the garage spend this time completing their set-up and running through their pre-race checks, including radio checks and confirming that the telemetry is working.

40 Minutes out...

The light at the end of the pitlane goes green, indicating that the track is open. Cars leave their garage on a used set of tyres and carry out installation laps on their way to the grid. Depending on the track, they may have the opportunity to pass through the pits to do more than one lap to check the car and gather data from last-minute setup changes. There may be an opportunity for a practice start at the pit lane exit. Cars pull up to the back of the grid and are lifted onto trolleys for the pit crew to roll them through the throng of teams, media and others. [caption id="attachment_8324" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]

Prestart procedure - therace.com[/caption]

30 Minutes out...

The pit lane closes, and anyone not on track at that time must start from the pit lane. On the grid, the driver exits the car to run through their prestart ritual. This might include a bathroom stop, a last-minute briefing with the engineer, focus and reflex work as well as hydrating and keeping cool. The car is in parc ferme, so there is very little that can be done on the car. Tyre pressures can be adjusted, and electronic settings like the engine map can be altered. The engineers will run through final checklists, carry out fire-ups to run the fluids and place custom fans around the car to keep specific components cool.

17 Minutes out...

Around the 17-minute mark, the drivers will assemble at the front of the grid for the national anthem of the host country.

10 Minutes out...

The driver will don his helmet and get into the car to be securely strapped in, and a final test fire-up may be carried out.

5 Minutes out...

Race tyres, still in the tyre blankets, are fitted, and the team begin to disperse as only eight are allowed to stay on the grid from this point. They take as much equipment as possible with them.

1 Minute out...

With a minute to go the engine is fired-up. The blankets left on the car until the last possible instant are now removed.

30 seconds to go...

The crew move off the grid and with 15 seconds to go, they have to have their feet behind the white lines marking the edge of the track.

Formation lap

The grid sets off on a single lap to prepare the car while the crews remove everything trackside. The drivers spend the lap warming the brakes and tyres, cooling the engine, learning various gears, and preparing the clutch. The last part of the formation lap, after the last corner, is critical and when drivers test the bite-point with their clutch control and do a sequence of burnouts to get heat into the rear tyres. The cars line up in their grid positions and once the last car is in a marshal signals to the starter by crossing the rear of the grid with a green flag.

Lights on...

The start sequence is initiated, and the five lights over the start line come on progressively, followed by a short hold before they go out and... "It's lights out and away we go..."

Question 16

What is late braking?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Late braking, or out braking your opponent in Formula 1 is when you brake later than them going into a corner. This will allow you to get ahead and take track position, but it can come at a cost.

By braking later, your car will be carrying more speed into the corner, and you will get to the apex of the corner first. If your car is on the inside, then your opponent won’t be able to defend. However, get it wrong and you may overshoot the corner, losing time and likely giving back the position.

It might sound simple to brake later than your opponent, but it’s not. F1 cars reach speeds over 300 Kph and brake heavily at the last minute. Judging exactly where your opponent will brake and matching, or bettering, them corner after corner is challenging, and taxing on the tyres. Drivers need to bide their time and pick the right moment. 

If you brake early, you won’t get to the apex of the corner quick enough, and the other driver may drive around your car through the corner. If you brake too late, then there’s the risk of locking the brakes and running wide, costing you more time, and crashing into the defending car or going off the track.

Late braking is a skill and comes with risk, so some drivers are more apt to use this passing manoeuvre than others. For example, Daniel Ricciardo is often called "The last of the late brakers". 

[caption id="attachment_8128" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]<img class="size-full wp-image-8128" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Late-Braking-planetf1.com_.jpeg" alt="" width="1200" height="768"> Late Braking : planetf1.com[/caption]

Question 17

Do F1 cars have a fire suppression system?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The major cause of fire in an F1 car is fuel spillage in case of an accident.

Fuel tanks are moved to the rear of the car to give the driver time to move out in case of a fire outbreak. Moreover, fuel tanks used in F1 cars are made from Kevlar and polyurethane. These tanks are structurally sound and robust. Being rubbery and elastic, they are likely to deform but very unlikely to puncture. This fuel tank construction has greatly reduced the incidence of fire outbreaks in Formula 1.

In case of fire, F1 cars do have a fire suppression system. This system is mounted in the survival cell. The fire suppressant in the system will prevent fire spread within the vehicle. The system can be conveniently operated by the driver or remotely by the team crew from the pits. This system significantly reduces the risks to a Formula 1 driver in case a fire breaks out.

In addition, marshals are equipped with fireproof overalls and extinguishers at all track access points. 

[caption id="attachment_7684" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]<img class="wp-image-7684 size-full" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Fire-suppression-1.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="900"> 2JGFBCK Spielberg, Austria. 10th July, 2022. 55 SAINZ Carlos (spa), Scuderia Ferrari F1-75, action crash, accident, car in fire, burn during the Formula 1 Rolex Grosser Preis Von Osterreich 2022, 2022 Austrian Grand Prix, 11th round of the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship from July 8 to 10, 2022 on the Red Bull Ring, in Spielberg, Austria - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI[/caption]

Question 18

Who is the youngest F1 driver ever?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Max Verstappen was only 17 years old when he first competed in a Formula 1 racing competition.

The Dutch driver took the youngest driver in F1 history record when he debuted at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix. While Max held a super license, he was not old enough to drive on the road.

Question 19

Do F1 cars have brake lights?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

No. Drivers follow the same line and brake in the same zones so brake lights are not required. 

The red lights on the back of the car are Rain Lights and are required to be sued in wet conditions.

Modern F1 cars flash to indicate when the car is harvesting energy from the MGU-K or MGU-H. This is a warning mechanism for approaching cars as a car is slower while harvesting. 

The lights can flash green to indicate that a rookie driver is on track without a full super license.

[caption id="attachment_7508" align="aligncenter" width="736"]<img class="size-full wp-image-7508" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Rear-lights-beyondtheflag.com_.webp" alt="" width="736" height="485"> Rear lights : beyondtheflag.com[/caption]

Question 20

How Do F1 Teams Transport Their Goods?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

As Formula 1 is the largest multisite sporting event on the planet the logistics are impressive. More than 1,400 tons of equipment, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, is transported across the world to every race. This includes the team's tools, equipment and technology, as well as catering facilities, meeting spaces, and everything the teams need for the weekend. And don't forget fuel, tyres, broadcasting and hospitality all needing to be transported as well. The teams use air, road, and water depending on where the next location is and how much time there is between race weekends. For the European legs, teams use trucks to move their equipment and they provide their own "motorhome" facilities - offices and hosting facilities. For fly-away legs, outside of Europe, the teams will ship or fly equipment and the host country provides the motorhome facilities. DHL is the logistics provider for F1, utilising a huge truck fleet and five Boeing 777 freighters for a flyaway event. If there is a lower series race, F2 or F3, at the same track then it can be up to seven planes. Wherever possible gear is shipped in advance so there will be multiple sets of equipment being sent to subsequent races. This gives teams the opportunity to set up the facilities before the cars and specialist kit arrives.

Question 21

Do F1 cars refuel during a race?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

No, since 2010 the regulations have stated that F1 cars must start with sufficient fuel to complete the race and provide a sample for testing after the race. 

Refuelling was banned to reduce costs, by doing away with costly equipment, and to improve safety during the pitstop.

The current hybrid cars start a race with around 110kgs of fuel on board, this affects the car's performance and requires adjustment in both car setup (engine map) and driving technique during the race. You may hear the drivers engineer instructing him to conserve fuel. 

Fixed fuel loads are also the reason that non-racing laps (behind the safety car) are counted, as there is only enough fuel to circulate the track for the specified number of laps.

Question 22

How does a pitstop work?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

[caption id="attachment_7093" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]

Pitstop : mclaren.com[/caption] With a pitstop taking roughly 2.5 seconds, every member of the team needs to work with absolute precision. Watch this very cool pitstop in action clip from McLaren.com.

Question 23

How Many Workers Of An F1 Team Travel To Each Grand Prix?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 teams are massive, as such, only necessary people travel with the team and most stay back at the factory.

The people who go to the races are team principals, managers, assistants, key designers, and of course, race mechanics, race engineers, and drivers.

Although the difference in the number of workers from a large team to a small one is huge, this is not so noticeable in races, as more or less the same number of people usually go. In a large team, about 88 people travel while about 54 do so in small teams.

Question 24

What are all the roles in an F1 team?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Formula 1 teams are massive, complex organisations with hundreds of people filling a myriad of roles. These are some of the key roles involved in delivering a car to the start line.

Team Principal: They are the director, the head of each team. The nature of the boss depends on the nature of the team. Some teams are owned by the car manufacturers, who put one of their top employees in charge, while others are privately owned.

Managers: They are in charge of different groups of people from different areas, supervising and guiding them. Large teams have more managers because their areas are subdivided into more areas.

Assistants: They are in charge of helping and organizing the calendar, events, and procedures. It is made up of receptionists, personal assistants, and secretaries…

Race Engineers: They manage the races, and they communicate with the driver when they are on track. There are different types of engineers: track, data, systems, electronics, strategy, and reliability … Their main role is to make sure that everything goes well before and during the race.

R&D Engineers: They are in charge of researching, planning, and developing possible improvements in car components.

Designers: They are responsible for both the general and specific design of the car and its components. As large teams have more designers than small ones, they evolve their cars more during the season.

Aerodynamicists: They are aeronautical engineers responsible for the car’s aerodynamics to be adequate and efficient. To do this, they use a wind tunnel if the team owns one.

Other Engineers: They perform more specific software, nondestructive testing, small testing, and other departments.

Race Mechanics: They are what we see in each Grand Prix. They are in charge of changing and repairing the car’s components during the weekend.

Production: They are responsible for producing and developing car parts. Small teams with fewer workers buy them from suppliers.

This answer is an extract from a great article on onestopracing.com. Read the full article - here

Question 25

What Do Teams Do On The Grid?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

30 Minutes before the race start, the pitlane opens and the drivers carry out an installation lap to put their car in their grid box in preparation for the race start. The mechanics use grid trolleys to get the garage to the grid. Each mechanic has the same role as in the garage, and they are in charge of keeping the engine and brakes at the correct temperature using fans for the first two and blankets for the tires. The cars are plugged into computers to monitor the multitude of sensors and check the car's settings. Following the anthem, the driver gets in the car the tires are fitted, and all the equipment begins to be withdrawn from the car. The car is fired up, the tire covers are removed and the mechanics head to the side of the track to let the cars out for their formation lap. During this lap, the teams and all their equipment relocate back to their pit garages. Most of the crew in the grid formation are involved in the pit stops, so they need to be ready if there is an incident during the first laps.

Question 26

How hard does an F1 driver have to push on the brake pedal?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The drivers really have to stamp on the brakes with every application, almost standing up in the car to do so. On road cars, servo-assisted brake systems multiply the pressure you apply to the master cylinder but the regulations in Formula One demand that the braking force has to be generated by the driver alone. They need very strong legs to do this, but they do get some help from the violence of the braking manoeuvre itself. The cars decelerate at around 5G (compared to the 1G we might see during an emergency brake in our road cars). At this deceleration, their leg will weigh approximately 100kg, and the weight of their leg on the brake pedal provides its own form of servo-assistance to help them - the harder they press, the more the car slows, the more it slows, the more their leg weighs which helps them to press harder. What is remarkable is that in the midst of all this, while pressing the pedal with well over 100kg of force, the driver is required to modulate his effort on the pedal with all the delicacy of a concert pianist in order to coax the car through the corner at the very limit of what the tyres will permit - it is a delightful contrast of violence and gentleness.

This answer is a snippet from an article on F1 Brakes on the AMG Mercedes website. See the full article - here

Question 27

What are the home races?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

A home race is one held at a venue where the driver or team are from the same country. The British GP is the biggest home race of the season with 2022 seeing three drivers and seven teams competing in front of their home fans. This is because teams have historically based themselves in the UK. This is a legacy scenario dating back to the 1950's when F1 started and the UK was seen as a great source of talent, engineering facilities, race tracks and close proximity to Europe. What happened next is often described as the 'snowball' effect where teams were attracted to set up in close proximity to others. We should note here, that the teams like Red Bull, Alpine and Mercedes who are all based in the UK did not establish themselves here, rather, they purchased existing teams that had been established by Brits. Is there a home race advantage, it is hard to say, but there is no doubt the drivers and teams are boosted by the energy of the crowds. 2022 Drivers Home Race : , & George Russell 2022 Teams Home Race : McLaren, Williams, Aston Martin, Mercedes, , Red Bull Racing and Haas [ngg src="galleries" ids="12" display="pro_mosaic"]

Question 28

What is meant by the Silly Season in F1

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The Silly Season refers to the driver market movements, with drivers and teams beginning their negotiations for the next season and possibly subsequent seasons. F1 drivers are contracted to teams for a year or two, but some have multi-year deals that extend beyond four or five. Max Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028. When a driver is coming available, the negotiations start and the pundits love to speculate about all of the potential outcomes. An early move often triggers the period by announcing a driver and essentially taking an option out of play, this can trigger a run of deals as parties scramble to lock in the best option for the next season. With Sergio Perez and Pierre Gasley recently announcing contract extensions, that leaves seven drivers looking to secure a seat in 2023.

Fernando Alonso - Looking very comfortable in the car and getting results so likely to re-sign with Alpine.
Sebastian Vettel - Is said to be happy with progress at Astin Martin and likely to re-sign.
Lance Stroll - struggling to keep up with his teammate but is in a strong position as it's his family's team.
Yuki Tsunoda - Holding his own but 2023 is possibly questionable.
Nicholas Latifi - Said to be a 'pay driver' and struggling at the bottom of the timing sheets.
Alex Albon - In a good place and working well with the team. Should be in a seat in 2023.
Zhou Guanyu - Said to be a 'pay driver' but holding his own and a major play for F1 in the Chinese market.

Only time will tell, roll on the silly season... [caption id="attachment_6706" align="aligncenter" width="760"]

Driver Market : gpblog.com[/caption]

Question 29

Why does Alex Albon race under a Thai flag?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Alex Albon is an English-born and bred racing driver with a British dad and a Thai mum. Through his dual nationality, Alex was able to select which country he represented and he chose his mother's homeland. Alex is immensely proud of his Thai heritage and he is only the second driver to represent the flag, the first being, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, or ‘B Bira’ raced in the 50s. Alex saw an opportunity to promote F1 in Thailand and give the people someone to root for. Alex visited in 2020 and was taken aback by his fame. “There were billboards and trains stickered up with my face on. I’m quite shy, so to see all that was a bit of a shock.” [caption id="attachment_6702" align="aligncenter" width="960"]

Alex Thailand Billboard : facebook.com[/caption] Alex has spent time in Thailand recently, visiting an orphanage and entertaining the children. [caption id="attachment_6701" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]

Alex Thailand : motorsport.com[/caption]

Question 30

Why are the new tyres so shiny?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

...And does that make them slippery? 

Tyres are made by Pirelli exclusively for F1. The tyres are formed in a mould that has a chrome finish to help release the tyre, a process that produces a super-smooth, glossy, finish. 

The shine is superficial and is scrubbed off by the time the car has travelled the length of the pit lane so there is no risk of slipping or sliding. 

[caption id="attachment_6618" align="aligncenter" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-6618" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Shinny-tyres-motorsport.com_.jpeg" alt="" width="2000" height="1125"> Shinny tyres : motorsport.com[/caption]

Question 31

What is meant by Tyre Management?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

In short, tyre management is balancing the wear of the tyre with the optimum race pace. Tyre management is a skill that drivers must master in order to maximise strategic opportunities. Following distance, braking and corner technique can all affect the rate of wear of the tyre and contribute to its degradation and wear. 

Each tyre compound will have a predetermined level of performance unique to the track surface and temperature and teams will match this to a "pit stop strategy". Pundits will talk about the "pit window" which is the optimum lap range for a pit stop.

A driver will greatly improve his strategic options if he can manage his tyres and extend their effective life. Running longer on one set may be the difference between a one-stop or two-stop strategy. 

[caption id="attachment_6450" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-full wp-image-6450" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Tyre-management-planetf1.com_.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="766"> Tyre management : planetf1.com[/caption]

Question 32

What is meant by driving style?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Driving style is the unique way drivers drive the car, accelerating, braking and positioning the car to take the corner.

Pundits will use terms like throttle control, early on the brakes, a pointy front end, understeer, good on the exit or smooth steering control. And while incredibly subtle, we are talking about a sport that competes to within a thousandth of a second so the minutest variance makes a difference.

Driving style means that two cars in one team may have quite different setups. This is often cited as the reason that one driver may struggle to get on top of the car where his teammate is excelling. 

[caption id="attachment_6443" align="aligncenter" width="1994"]<img class="size-full wp-image-6443" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Driver-style.jpeg" alt="" width="1994" height="1122"> Driver style : formula1.com[/caption]

Question 33

Why do F1 teams use different drivers in some practice sessions?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Teams have a long-term outlook and are constantly searching for their next superstar.

Many of the emerging drivers are contracted to a team and they will be seen working with the team, in the garage, or on the pit wall, during a race weekend. They can also fulfil simulator duties and other support roles. 

In order to compete in F1, the drivers must hold a Super License as well as having driven in an official F1 session. In 2022, the FIA regulated that the teams must provide two sessions for academy drivers.

[caption id="attachment_6342" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-6342" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rookie-motohigh.webp" alt="" width="1000" height="600"> Liam Lawson testing for AlphaTauri : motohigh.pl[/caption]

Question 34

Do drivers have to participate in practice sessions?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

In order to participate in qualifying and start the race, a driver must participate in at least one free practice session. 

However, it is unusual to see a driver sit out a practice session as there are only three one-hour sessions for them and the team to familiarise themselves with the track and dial the car in. 

[caption id="attachment_6337" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="wp-image-6337 size-large" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Free-Practice-planetf1.com_-1024x538.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="538"> Free Practice : planetf1.com[/caption]

Question 35

What happens if more than one car goes to the back of the grid due to penalties?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

When a driver takes grid penalties for exceeding their component quota they move back down the grid - 10 places for the first component and 5 places for each subsequent restricted part.

But if they take three or more parts then they automatically go to the rear of the grid and if two or more cars do the same thing, they are sent to the rear in the order that they finish qualifying.

If the upgrade occurs after quali, then they are placed in the order that they advise race control of what they are doing. So for that reason, there can be an advantage in making the decision early, particularly if there are rumours about other teams weighing up their options. 

[caption id="attachment_6333" align="aligncenter" width="750"]<img class="size-full wp-image-6333" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Back-of-Grid-grandprix247.com_.jpeg" alt="" width="750" height="501"> Back of the Grid - grandprix247.com[/caption]

Question 36

What is the fastest corner in F1?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 is all about speed. The drivers are tested to the limit as they push the cars, repeatedly, through a series of complex corners. Some of the fastest corners on the F1 calendar include; Becketts, Silverstone, part of a series of sweeping tours with the drivers taking Becketts itself at 300 kph (186 mph). Gear 7 on entry and gear 5 on exit. The Swimming Pool, Monaco - After navigating the chicane the drivers fly through this complex at 215 kph or (135 mph) in gear 4/5. Curva Alboreto (Parabolica), Monza - a long sweeping right-hander with drivers entering at 330 kph (205 mph) and existing at 210kph (130 mph) in gear 4. Pouhon, Spa - a highspeed, gear 5, corner dipping before turning left. Drivers need to give 100% to take the corner at 290 kph (180 mph) Eau Rouge, Spa - Arguably the most challenging and the fastest on the F1 calendar. Foot flat, gear 6, and speeds of 300 kph (186 mph)

Question 37

What is the slowest corner in F1?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The slowest corner on the F1 circuit is the Fairmont Hairpin. With a radius of only 10m, it is taken at 48 kph or 30 mph. 

[caption id="attachment_6320" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]<img class="size-full wp-image-6320" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Slowest-corner-planetf1.com_.jpeg" alt="" width="1200" height="630"> Slowest corner : planetf1.com[/caption]

Question 38

Why do F1 teams heat the tyres?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Warm tyres have more grip so heating them before they go on the car means that they are in the window immediately.

In sports categories where tyre warmers are not used, the driver needs to warm the tyres by spinning them or weaving on the track to create heat through friction. 

Tyre warmers, or tyre blankets, are essentially electric blankets that heats the tyres to 100C (212F).

They have been a major topic of discussion and are likely to be phased out to reduce high energy consumption, and costs,  placing the onus of bringing the tyres into the operating window back onto the driver. 

[caption id="attachment_6097" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]<img class="size-full wp-image-6097" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Tyre-Blankets.jpeg" alt="" width="1200" height="720"> Tyre Blankets - f1chronicle.com[/caption]

Question 39

What is the difference between pushrod and pullrod?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The connection of each wheel to the rocker within the car’s body is by a pullrod or pushrod. The difference between the two is the geometric arrangement of the wheel hub in relation to the suspension arrangement within the body. Pushrods are mounted higher on the body relative to the wheel hub and ‘push’ the rockers. Pullrods are mounted lower and ‘pull’ the rocker. A common arrangement for F1 cars (since 2009) has pushrod suspension for the front axle and pullrod for the rear, as this geometry generally favours the airflow across the aerodynamic elements of the car. However, this is only a generalization – for the 2022 season, McLaren and Red Bull both employed pullrod suspension for the front axle, and McLaren even switched to pushrod for the rear. These differences in suspension arrangement were another interesting twist on the variation of the cars under the 2022 regulations.

This extract has been taken from an article on flowracers.com. You can read the full, very informative article - here

Watch F1TV's Tech Tuesday video explanation - here

[caption id="attachment_6063" align="aligncenter" width="1598"]

Pushrod vs pullrod @ScarbsTech[/caption]

Question 40

What are all the buttons on an F1 steering wheel for?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 Steering wheels are an incredibly complex interface between the team, the driver and the car. So much more than just turining the front wheels... Watch the video below from motorsport.tv for a run through the buttons on the Mercedes steering wheel or for a more detailed (button-by-button) description check out our post - here.

Question 41

When was the first F1 race?

Andrew Burden · Accepted Answer

1950 The launch of the drivers' world championship with the first race at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on May 13. It was won by Guiseppe ‘Nino’ Farina. The first official F1 race, a non-championship event at Pau, was held the previous month. From formula1.com's website Read the full article here

The 'Three Fs' were pre-race favourites

Alfa Romeo’s 158 may have been 13 years old by the time of the first world championship race, but the 1.5-litre supercharged machine was still the car to beat, and that helped the Italian manufacturer sign three of the era’s biggest names: Guiseppe ‘Nino’ Farina, Luigi Fagioli and Juan Manuel Fangio, affectionately known as the ‘Three Fs’. The trio duly qualified their scarlet cars in the top three grid slots, with British driver Reg Parnell a second down the road in fourth in the final Alfa Romeo entry. In the race Farina, Fagioli and Fangio predictably ran away from the rest of the field, which was otherwise made up of a mixture of ageing Maserati’s, ERAs, Talbots and Altas.

Read the full article here

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Question 42

Do F1 drivers pee in their race suits

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

If we think this through, F1 drivers are adults who have dietitians who plan special diets and manage their hydration meticulously, so most of the time they should be able to go for a couple of hours between toilet stops.

But, like anyone, they could get caught out and there is no way that they will stop the car for the time required to exit, go to the bathroom and get back underway. 

So, in the case of extreme emergencies, drivers are instructed to pee inside their suits. As is common with other high-performance sports, where a bit of wee isn't going to get in the way of the prize.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6014" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/RedBull-spilt.jpeg" alt="" width="900" height="600">

Question 43

Why don't F1 drivers do doughnuts when they win?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The teams are racing to secure maximum points, for the Constructor Title and the Driver Title, over the course of the season and they have a lot of restrictions, including the cost cap and limitations on components.

So with a Power Unit costing in excess of $10.0m, they simply cannot afford to overstress it and compromise the rest of the season. 

On occasion, you will see the driver's given permission to let rip at the end of the season. Like at Abu Dhabi in 2019 below... 

[caption id="attachment_5744" align="aligncenter" width="640"]<img class="size-full wp-image-5744" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/f1-doughnuts.gif" alt="" width="640" height="360"> f1-doughnuts : formula1.com[/caption]

Question 44

What does "On his gearbox" mean?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 drivers sit in front of the power unit which has its gearbox attached at the very rear of the car. As such, it is susceptible to damage if hit from behind or if the driver slides backwards into something solid.

When a driver is close behind the car in front it is often said that he is sitting "on his gearbox". 

[caption id="attachment_5739" align="aligncenter" width="640"]<img class="size-full wp-image-5739" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Gearbox-racecar-engineering.com_.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="241"> Gearbox : racecar-engineering.com[/caption]

Question 45

How do Pit Stop Strategies work?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Meticulously planned strategy is key to F1 success, being the focus for the teams that starts well before the cars hit the track for the first event of the season and span the entire season. To win the championship, teams need to maximise points from every race and with regulations limiting parts, they must decide when to push and when not to.

Pit stop strategy is about getting to the finish line in the shortest possible amount of time. The regulations require a minimum of one pit stop and teams must run at least two different tyre compounds. So, a “one-stop strategy” is the minimum.

Pirelli, F1’s tyre supplier, play a significant part in influencing pitstop strategy, by bringing tyre compounds to the track that will be on the limit. This forces teams to decide whether they can push the car on old tyres, with reduced grip, or whether a further pit stop and fresh tyres, will give them an advantage.

The teams have an allocation of tyres being the hard tyre, medium tyre, and soft tyre. The hard will last longer but they are slower, whereas the soft will not last as long, but the additional grip allows them to go faster. There is roughly one second per lap between the three compounds.

And remember, a pit stop costs a team roughly 25 seconds, depending on the track. This is the combined result of leaving the track, travelling through the pits at a reduced speed, the physical stop and re-joining the race.

Ahead of the race, teams calculate their lap times for each of the tire options, factoring in degradation, a mix of tyre compound and pit stop time, to work out the fastest possible way to the finish line. This will determine if they are on a one-stop, two-stop or three-stop strategy. But this is formula 1, so there is always a Plan B or Plan C available should something happen.

Pitstop strategy can be affected by what other teams do. If your competitor pits you may follow him in to cover his move and maintain your position, or you may stay out to try and gain an advantage. Like and undercut.

A safety car or red flag provides teams with the opportunity to make a fast call and switch strategies as the loss of time associated with the pitstop is greatly reduced. And then there is the question over rain… A wet race is one thing but a chance of showers really throws a spanner in the works.

Teams may pit a driver towards the end of the race if the gap to the next driver is more than the pitstop loss to get fresh tires and go for the fastest lap and snatch the bonus point.

[caption id="attachment_5545" align="aligncenter" width="997"]<img class="size-full wp-image-5545" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Pit-stop-strategy-formula1.com_.jpeg" alt="" width="997" height="561"> Pit stop strategy - formula1.com[/caption]

Question 46

What is a "Paid seat"?

Andrew Burden · Accepted Answer

Top-end F1 teams have access to the best of everything, including proven drivers, who often come at a hefty cost. Teams at the other end of the field need to manage their budgets to extract the best from the team over a season and one option is to have a driver pay for the opportunity to drive the car as opposed to being paid. Paid drivers are common in the feeder series, F3 and F2, but not completely seen in F1. Some may argue that a paid driver has not necessarily earnt his seat, but these drivers need to have a super license that has a list of requirements including a minimum points haul from feeder categories over a set period. A number of very successful drivers started on the F1 grid as paid drivers, none less so than Michael Schumacker who, in 1991, was funded into a seat with Jordan for the Belgian GP. The fee was $150,000.00 for a one-race deal. It could be said that Lance Stroll is the ultimate example with his seat at Aston Martin where his dad owns the team... [caption id="attachment_5297" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]

Michael Schumacher, Jordan 1991 auto123.com/[/caption]

Question 47

What is party mode?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1 cars have a limited amount of componentry to use over the course of a season so racing is about speed and strategy over the course of the weekend and the season. To manage the life of the Power Unit, the teams can select a predetermined engine mode to extract maximum power with minimum stress for a particular session or sector of the track. Qualifying is a short session where maximum power is required and in 2018 Lewis Hamilton to it as Party Mode, and the name stuck.

"Our quali mode is the most fun mode - it should be the 'party' mode," he said at the time. "It is the most power and has the most juice, and it's when we hit the highest speeds."

Today there are restrictions on the use of an engine map in qualifying.

Question 48

What is a virtual safety car?

AB · Accepted Answer

In the event of a racing incident, the stewards will send out the safety car to neutralise the race, providing a safer environment for the marshals who need access to the track to clear it. 

For a minor incident, the stewards can deploy the Virtual Safety Car which is communicated to the driver by a series of lights on the side of the track. The driver must reduce speed to the required delta, usually around 30% slower than under race conditions. 

Once the incident is cleared the VSC light is extinguished and racing resumes. The VSC has the benefit of being able to switch on and off without the field having to complete the lap as it would under a full safety car. 

[caption id="attachment_5259" align="aligncenter" width="640"]<img class="wp-image-5259 size-full" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/VSC-motorpasion.com_.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="349"> motorpasion.com[/caption]

Question 49

Who is F1's GOAT?

Andrew Burden · Accepted Answer

A subjective question and depends very much on what parameters are being measured. However, if we look at world titles then the following applies as of 2022

Ferrari has the most Constructors Titles at 16
Ferarri has the most Drivers Titles at 15
Lewis Hamilton is tied with Michael Schumacker for the Drivers Title at 7 each.

Question 50

Are there points for the fastest lap?

Andrew Burden · Accepted Answer

Yes, the driver who records the fastest lap in the race may receive the DHL Fastest Lap award as well as a bonus point, however, to qualify for the point they must also finish in the top 10.

Question 51

Power unit usage rules

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Formula 1 has strict rules about everything, including how many power unit components can be used over the course of a season. Long gone are the days of spare cars and as many parts as a team could afford. The FIA is continuously reviewing and amending the regulations in order to level the playing field and ensure the wealthy team's unlimited funds advantage is minimised. So over and above the cost cap, there are allowances for the number of each component allowed over the course of a year:

Internal Combustion Engine - 3
MGU-H - 3
Turbocharger - 3
MGU-K - 3
Energy Store - 2
Control Electronics - 2

Teams can mix and match components throughout the season, but should they need to use any new component from outside this allowance, they do so with the knowledge that they will serve a grid penalty. 10 places for the first primary part, and five places for each part after that.

Question 52

Who owns Formula 1?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The Formula 1 brand and commercial rights are owned by Formula One Group, a full owned subsidiary of Liberty Media and represented by Stefano Domenicali. 

Profits generated by running the event are divided between the shareholders of Formula One Group and the teams. The latter being a points weighted prize system. 

Of course the exact structure of the companies and their various shareholdings is more complicated than this, but for the average armchair fan, this is the basic structure.

Question 53

What do the colours mean on the timing sheets?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The sports broadcaster uses colours to show the driver's performance, measured against his previous time and the best time for the session. The circuit is divided into three sectors and each sector will display its own split time. The colours and their meaning are as follows

White - the current official recorded time.
Yellow - signifies the driver has completed the sector, but with no improvement.
Green - signifies the driver has completed the sector and bettered his previous time for that sector.
Purple - signifies the driver has completed the sector and has done the best time of the session.

The timing sheets will then flash up the driver's lap time in the overall colour achieved.

Question 54

How many people watch F1?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

F1's popularity has never been so strong and audiences are growing, thanks in part to Netflix, social media and the introduction of new circuits (Miami and Las Vagas). In 2021 F1's total audience exceeded 1.55Bn viewers. The series finale in Abu Dhabi registered 108.7Mn and an average over the season sitting at 70.3Mn. Race attendance, pre covid, was at 4.19Mn with three events exceeding 300,000 people through the gate over the weekend.

Read more about it on formula1.com - here

Question 55

Why is it bad if the cars wheel-spin at the start.

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

In short, if you are wheel spinning you are not moving forward and you will likely lose position to those around you.

Wheelspin = loss of traction = loss of sequence in gear selection = poor start = a loss of position or, worse, positions.

Question 56

How do you tell the drivers apart in the same team?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

With ten teams each fielding two, nearly, identical cars it can be tricky to tell one driver from the other. There are three key ways to identify which driver is in which car,

The driver's number
The colour of the camera on top of the car
The driver's helmet

You should also watch the data on the screen as the provider will, more often than not, put the name of the driver being followed on the coverage. [gallery type="rectangular" columns="2" size="medium" ids="5222,5227"] Drivers number Each driver has a unique number assigned to them by the FIA. Numbers are displayed on the front of the monocoque and on the side of the car. But not always that easy to spot. Camera colour The cars have cameras mounted on top of the air intake and each team must use one black and one yellow, and drivers are allocated to a colour for the duration of the season. In the days of old, they were allocated with the primary driver taking the black and the secondary driver taking the yellow. Drivers helmet Drivers are free to design their own helmets. In the example above, Sebastian Vettel has his trademark white helmet with three stripes (often the colours of the German flag) and Lance Stroll is wearing dark green. Be aware, that drivers often change the design of their helmets so it pays to keep an eye out at the start of the weekend.

Question 57

What does "Box now" or "Box, box, box" mean?

Andrew Burden · Accepted Answer

The term Box comes from the German Boxenstopp, meaning pit stop and is used as a reference to the service area outside the driver’s garage.

'Box' is an instruction for the driver to come into the pits to receive new tyres, a repair or an adjustment. 

The driver might receive a message such as “OK, box this lap” or a slightly more desperate “Box, box, box” if the driver is close to the pit entrance

There is a huge amount of data and noise distraction assaulting a driver as he pushes the car to its limits so short, clear and concise terms are favoured.

[caption id="attachment_5192" align="aligncenter" width="640"]<img class="size-full wp-image-5192" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Pit-box-medium.com_.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="360"> medium.com[/caption]

Question 58

Can anyone enter an F1 team?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

In theory, yes, anyone can enter an F1 team, although it is not going to be easy. You will need to demonstrate your ability to deliver a competitive team for the full season and gain approval from the event owner (Liberty Media), the FIA and the other teams. You will need to fund the team at $140,000,000.00, plus power units at $10,000,000.00 - $18,000,000.00 each (minimum of six required). Driver fees and senior management fees are on top of this. Then you will need to stump up $200,000,000.00 which is distributed amongst the existing teams in compensation for a reduction in prize payout through adding a new share. You will also need to accept that you will not qualify for prize money for the first year.

At the time of writing, Andretti Motorsports are making a serious bid to enter a team. Read about it on motorsport.com - here

And watch a youtube clip explaining the barriers Andretti is facing - here

[caption id="attachment_5157" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] enter an F1 team

danielholihan.com[/caption]

Question 59

What is the most overtakes in an F1 race?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The record for the most overtakes in a single race belongs to China in 2016 with a tally of 161. In contrast, a number of races didn't record a single overtake - 2003 Monaco Grand Prix, 2005 US Grand Prix, 2009 European Grand Prix, 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.

Read a great article about overtake records by Joe Holding on autosport.com - here

Question 60

Why do some cars get to pass the safety car before it finishes?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

The safety car is deployed to control the field while marshals deal with an incident on track. Cars must follow in single file and may not overtake, meaning that lapped cars are out of order.

Just before the safety car ends, the race director may allow the lapped cars to un-lap themselves by passing the safety car and rejoining the back of the field.

[caption id="attachment_4354" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-4354" src="https://f1newbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/safety-Car-1024x489.webp" alt="" width="1024" height="489" /> nytimes.com[/caption]

Question 61

Who has won the most races?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most wins at 103 going into the 2022 season and having passed Michael Schumacher's record of 93 in 2020. The record looks to be safe for some time as the nearest current challenger is Sebastian Vettel on 53, followed by Fernando Alonso on 32. Max Verstappen is next on 23. [caption id="attachment_4351" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]

Lewis Hamilton with a Michael Schumacker helmet, presented by son Mick.[/caption]

Last updated 10 May 2022

Question 62

How does altitude affect F1 cars?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Most of the races over a season are at sea level, however, Mexico and Brazil are at Altitude and have 25% less oxygen.

This causes additional technical challenges for the team's engineers as the Cooling, Aero and Engine Aspiration are affected.

Less air means less cooling, so you will see changes to help improve cooling. These often include larger sidepod intakes and vents added to the bodywork.

As the air is approximately 25% thinner at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, there is less downforce and drag. Teams will typically use a unique rear wing to help compensate for this phenomenon.

The engines require air for asperation and while the current hybrid Power Units require less oxygen than the old V8 and V12 engines, they are still put under additional stress. The turbos work to push through more oxygen but they can not push that hard for a full race.

Fortunately, all teams are facing the same challenge so they are all relying on their technical brainiacs to fine-tune the car to suit the conditions.

Question 63

Do F1 teams get prize money?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Yes, but the exact details are not public. The promotor, Liberty Media, shares profit from the season between its shareholders and the teams, 50/50. The teams share is distributed under a prearranged matrix. Each team receives $35,000,000 base fee and then a share based on the total points earned during the season. Finally, the top three teams receive a bonus and a small number of teams receive legacy payments. Of note, Ferrari receives an extra 2.5% of the teams fund. In 2018, Mercedes won the constrictors title and earned $177,000,000.00 while Ferrari came second and were paid out $205,000,000.00

The information above is indicative only.

Question 64

Do F1 teams pay entry fees?

Kiwi F1 Fan · Accepted Answer

Yes, teams pay a fee to compete in the current season, based on their performance in the previous season. The title winner pays a basic fee of $577,278 plus $6,926 for each point gained, while the rest of the field pay a basic fee of $577,278 plus $5,770 for each point scored. So in 2022 the fees look like this 2022 F1 team entry fees

Team	Points	Point-based fee	Total entry fee
Mercedes	613.5	$4,249,101	$4,826,379
Red Bull	585.5	$3,378,335	$3,955,613
Ferrari	323.5	$1,866,595	$2,443,873
McLaren	275	$1,586,750	$2,164,028
Alpine	155	$894,350	$1,471,628
AlphaTauri	142	$819,340	$1,396,618
Aston Martin	77	$444,290	$1,021,568
Williams	23	$132,710	$709,988
Alfa Romeo	13	$75,010	$652,288
Haas	0	0	$577,280

This fee is a small part of prize money awarded.

Find out how much prize money was paid out in 2021 - here

The Ultimate F1 FAQx

OK, so it is going to take a while before our database is populated sufficiently to justify the title of “ULTIMATE” but that’s the goal…

The F1 Sprint Race – what is it?

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Do F1 drivers lose kilos in a race?

Drivers lose kilos per race in sweat.

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Car starter – how does it work in F1?

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What are the top end of F1 car revs?

An F1 car Revs Up To 15,000 RPM While Normal Vehicles Go Only Up To 6,000 RPM

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What is the average age of an F1 driver?

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F1 reserve driver vs test driver

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What is ERS Management?

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Do F1 Teams get holidays?

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What happens if there is a false start?

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What is the difference between undercut and overcut

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What happens to used and leftover tyres

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How much do F1 Tickets cost?

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The Ultimate F1 FAQx

OK, so it is going to take a while before our database is populated sufficiently to justify the title of “ULTIMATE” but that’s the goal…

The F1 Sprint Race – what is it?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Do F1 drivers lose kilos in a race?

Drivers lose kilos per race in sweat.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Car starter – how does it work in F1?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What are the top end of F1 car revs?

An F1 car Revs Up To 15,000 RPM While Normal Vehicles Go Only Up To 6,000 RPM

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What is the average age of an F1 driver?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

F1 reserve driver vs test driver

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What is ERS Management?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Do F1 Teams get holidays?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What happens if there is a false start?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What is the difference between undercut and overcut

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What happens to used and leftover tyres

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

How much do F1 Tickets cost?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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