| Modern Formula One cars are mid-engined open | | | | provokes the greatest reaction from drivers new |
| cockpit, open wheel single-seaters. The chassis is | | | | to the formula. |
| made largely of carbon fibre composites, | | | | Engines are mandated as 2.4 litre normally |
| rendering it light but extremely stiff and strong. | | | | aspirated V8s, with many other constraints on |
| The whole car, including engine, fluids and driver | | | | their design and the materials that may be used. |
| weighs only 605 kg. In fact this is the minimum | | | | The 2006 generation of engines rev close to |
| weight set by the regulations the cars are so light | | | | 20,000 rpm and produce up to 740 bhp (552 |
| that they often have to be ballasted up to this | | | | kW).[10] The previous generation of 3-litre V10 |
| minimum weight. | | | | engines are also allowed, albeit with their revs |
| The cornering speed of Formula One cars is | | | | limited and with an air restrictor to limit |
| largely determined by the aerodynamic | | | | performance. |
| downforce that they generate, which pushes the | | | | Engines run on unleaded fuel closely resembling |
| car down onto the track. This is provided by | | | | publicly available petrol. The oil which lubricates and |
| 'wings' mounted at the front and rear of the | | | | protects the engine from overheating is very |
| vehicle, and by ground effect created by the | | | | similar in viscosity to water. For 2007 the V8 |
| movement of air under the flat bottom of the | | | | engines will be restricted to 19,000 rpm with |
| car. | | | | limited development areas allowed, following the |
| A significant difference in the design of the latest | | | | engine specification freeze from the end of 2006. |
| breeds of F1 cars is that they make far greater | | | | As outright speed and power are effectively |
| use of vortex "lift," or in this case, downforce. | | | | being capped it is widely believed that teams will |
| Since a vortex is a rotating fluid that creates a | | | | work on improving reliability, and the torque range |
| low pressure zone at its center, creating vortices | | | | of the engine to improve driveability. |
| lowers the overall local pressure of the air. | | | | A wide variety of technologies including active |
| Since low pressure is what is desired under the | | | | suspension, ground effect aerodynamics and |
| car, allowing normal atmospheric pressure to | | | | turbochargers are banned under the current |
| press the car down from the top, by creating | | | | regulations. Despite this the 2006 generation of |
| vortices, downforce can be augmented while still | | | | cars can reach speeds of up to 350 km/h |
| staying within the rules. | | | | (around 220 mph) at some circuits (Monza).A |
| The aerodynamic design of the cars is very | | | | Honda Formula One car, running with minimum |
| heavily constrained to limit performance and the | | | | downforce on a runway in the Mojave desert |
| current generation of cars sport a large number | | | | achieved a top speed of 415 km/h (258 mph) in |
| of small winglets, "barge boards" and turning | | | | 2006. According to Honda, the car fully met the |
| vanes designed to closely control the flow of the | | | | FIA Formula One regulations. |
| air over, under and around the car. The "barge | | | | Even with the limitations on aerodynamics, at 160 |
| boards" in particular are designed, shaped, | | | | km/h, aerodynamically generated downforce is |
| configured, adjusted and positioned not to create | | | | equal to the weight of the car and the often |
| downforce directly, as with a conventional wing or | | | | repeated claim that Formula One cars are capable |
| underbody venturi. They are designed so that air | | | | of 'driving on the ceiling' remains true in principle, |
| spillage from their edges will create these vortices. | | | | although it has never been put to the test. At full |
| The other major factor controlling the cornering | | | | speed downforce of 2.5 times the car's weight |
| speed of the cars is the design of the tyres. | | | | can be achieved. |
| Tyres in Formula One are not 'slicks' (tyres with | | | | The downforce means that the cars can achieve |
| no tread pattern) as in most other circuit racing | | | | a lateral force of around four and a half times the |
| series. Each tyre has four large circumferential | | | | force of gravity (4.5 g) in cornering - a |
| grooves on its surface designed to further limit | | | | high-performance road car might achieve around 1 |
| the cornering speed of the cars. Suspension is | | | | g. Consequently in corners the driver's head is |
| double wishbone or multilink all round with pushrod | | | | pulled sideways with a force equivalent to 25 |
| operated springs and dampers on the chassis. | | | | kilograms. Such high lateral forces are enough to |
| Carbon-Carbon disc brakes are used for reduced | | | | make breathing difficult and the drivers need |
| weight and increased frictional performance. | | | | supreme concentration to maintain their focus for |
| These provide a very high level of braking | | | | the 1 to 2 hours that it takes to cover 305 |
| performance and are usually the element which | | | | kilometres. |