Formula 1 Car
A modern Formula One car is a single-seat, open cockpit, open wheel race car with substantial front and rear wings, and engine positioned behind the driver. The regulations governing the cars are unique to the F1 championship. The Formula One regulations specify that cars must be constructed by the racing teams themselves. Some elements can be outsourced, like for example engine, brake assembly, some parts of suspension, inboard computer, parts of transmission and so on.
All cars have the engine located between the driver and the rear axle. The engines are a stressed member in all cars, meaning that the engine is part of the structural support framework; being bolted to the cockpit at the front end, and transmission and rear suspension bolted at the back end of the engine.
The sport is regulated by the FIA.
FIA sets technical regulations for building, maintaining, and racing of cars. The sophisticated vehicles used in Formula One (F1) racing are the most technologically advanced in racing. Their design causes air to flow over and under the car (aided by body features known as wings), creating a downward force that holds the car close to the ground even at high speeds. Designed for road racing, F1 cars can accelerate and brake quickly. For normal people this cars are so hostile, so lacking in any kind of comforts and so brutally fast that there is simply no way a normal guy like you or me would even complete a lap. Driving this cars have nothing even similar with driving high performance street racing cars. This is so special.
In MotoGP you can see the effort the riders are making but because the F1 boys are hidden away in the monocoque we'll never be able to convey the efforts on the body that they endure - shame!
FIA also regulates slower and less advanced single-seat cars competing in such categories as Formula Two (F2), Formula Three (F3), and the GP2 series, which was called Formula 3000 (F3000) prior to 2005.
For many years FIA had sole authority over F1 racing, but beginning in the early 1970s other governing bodies began to emerge. The Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA), based in London, England, led the challenge. FOCA is made up of the companies that manufacture the cars used in F1 racing. According to an agreement first drafted in 1982 between FIA and FOCA, the latter group controls the distribution of funds generated by F1 racing, making sure that each competing team has sufficient money to race in the next competition. Formula One's commercial rights are controled in the Formula One Group.
For much of automobile racing history there were no restrictions on technological development, so F1 cars became the most technologically advanced racing vehicles possible. Beginning in the early 1990s, however, FIA began slowing down the introductions of new materials, systems, and electronics to F1. A principal reason for these restrictions was FIA's desire to limit the car speed and improve safety. Even systems that are standard in many street cars, such as ABS antilock brakes are prohibited in F1 racing. Another factor is the desire to hold down the high costs of innovation that favor large, heavily financed racing teams over smaller, poorer ones.
Despite these regulations, F1 cars are still considered to be the ultimate in single-seat racing car construction, and F1 races are often called the most glamorous automobile racing events in the world. Accomplished F1 drivers have included Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, and Damon Hill of the United Kingdom; Alain Prost of France; Michael Schumacher of Germany; Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikonen of Finland; Ayrton Senna of Brazil; and Dan Gurney and Italian-born Mario Andretti of the United States.
Europe is Formula One's traditional centre, all of the teams are based there and around half the races take place there. However, its scope has expanded significantly in recent years and Grands Prix are now held all over the world. Events in Europe and the Americas have been dropped in favour of new ones in Bahrain, China, Malaysia, Turkey, Singapore and Abu Dhab and India being added to the schedule starting in 2011. Of the eighteen races in 2008, nine are outside Europe.
The term Grand Prix (GP), which means "grand prize" and is commonly associated with F1 racing, was originally incorporated into the names of many auto races. But beginning in 1906 at Le Mans it came to refer to the principal F1 auto race in a given nation, except in the United States, where the term continues to be used less discriminately.
After the end of World War I in 1918, when automobile racing blossomed internationally, a series of GP races in several nations became reserved for F1 competition, and an annual GP calendar was developed consisting of national races, such as the French Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix.
An annual award called the World Championship of Drivers began in 1950, with the winner determined from F1 results each year.
In 1958 an F1 Constructors' Championship competed with the World Manufacturers' Championship, a competition associated with sports-car racing. These championships are based on driver race results but reward the companies that build the race cars, rather than the drivers.
ARTICLE 1: DEFINITIONS
1.1 Formula One Car :
An automobile designed solely for speed races on circuits or closed courses.
1.7 Automobile Make :
In the case of Formula racing cars, an automobile make is a complete car. When the car manufacturer fits an engine which it does not manufacture, the car shall be considered a hybrid and the name of the engine manufacturer shall be associated with that of the car manufacturer. The name of the car manufacturer must always precede that of the engine manufacturer. Should a hybrid car win a Championship Title, Cup or Trophy, this will be awarded to the manufacturer of the car.
21) CAR LIVERY
21.1 The provisions of the Code relating to national colours shall not apply to the Championship.
Both cars entered by a competitor must be presented in substantially the same livery at each Event, any change to this livery during a Championship season may only be made with the agreement of the Formula One Commission.
In order that the cars of each team may be easily distinguished from one another whilst they are on the track, the on board cameras located above the principle roll structure of the first car must be predominantly fluorescent red and the second car fluorescent yellow.
21.2 Each car will carry the race number of its driver (or his replacement) as published by the FIA at the beginning of the season. This number must be clearly visible from the front of the car.
21.3 The name or the emblem of the make of the car must appear on the front of the nose of the car and in either case be at least 25mm in its largest dimension. The name of the driver must appear on the external bodywork and be clearly legible.27) GENERAL CAR REQUIREMENTS
27.1 Electromagnetic radiation between 2.0 and 2.7GHz is forbidden save with the written consent of the FIA.
27.2 Accident data recording :
a) Each car must be fitted with an FIA accident data recorder during each Event and during all tests which are attended by more than one team. Teams must use their best endeavours to ensure that the recorder is in working order at all times. The only purpose of these units is to monitor, record or control one or more of the following :
- data relevant to an accident or incident;
- a deceleration warning light on board the car;
- a lap trigger;
- the driver input signal used to initiate the propulsion of the car at the start of a race.
b) At any time following an accident or incident competitors must make the data recorder available and accessible to the FIA. A representative of the team concerned may be present when data relevant to an accident or incident is being uploaded from the recorder. A copy of the data will be made available to the team.
c) Any conclusions as to the cause of an accident, or any data relevant to an accident, may only be published in the form of a report which has been agreed between the team concerned and the FIA.
27.3 All cars must be fitted with a car positioning system which has been manufactured by the FIA designated supplier to a specification determined by the FIA. No other parts which, in the opinion of the FIA are capable of performing a similar function, may be fitted to any car.
27.4 During the entire Event, no screen, cover or other obstruction which in any way obscures any part of a car will be allowed at any time in the paddock, garages, pit lane or grid, unless it is clear any such covers are needed solely for mechanical reasons, which could, for example, include protecting against fire.
In addition to the above the following are specifically not permitted :
- engine, gearbox or radiator covers whilst engines are being changed or moved around the garage ;
- covers over spare wings when they are on a stand in the pit lane not being used ;
- parts such as (but not limited to) spare floors, fuel rigs or tool trolleys may not be used as an obstruction.
The following are permitted :
- covers which are placed over damaged cars or components ;
- a transparent tool tray, no more than 50mm deep, placed on top of the rear wing;
- warming or heat retaining covers for the engine and gearbox on the grid;
- a rear wing cover designed specifically to protect a mechanic starting the car from fire;
- tyre heating blankets;
- covers over the tyre manufacturer's code numbers (not the FIA bar code numbers);
- a cover over the car in the parc ferme overnight;
- a cover over the car in the pit lane or grid if it is raining.
