Brakes - The brakes are capable of stopping the 600kg car from speeds of 100mph in under 4 seconds, and are capable of creating 5Gs of load on the driver at high speed circuits (the average performance road car is around 1 to 1.3g). The brake disk reaches massive temperatures of over 1000 degrees Celsius and are made from carbon-carbon (the same materials the heat shield on the space shuttle is made from)
Construction - The cars are made from very complicated and specialized weaves of carbon fibre and other composite materials. The cars are designed to be very light, weighing between 450kg and 550kg including engine and driver. The teams then use a ballast material to bring the combined weight to the 605kg minimum weight. This is so the center of gravity and pivot point of the car can be moved around at each individual circuit. The cars have to be tested by the governing body for structural integrity before the season, and the drivers 'crash cell' must be able to maintain integrity even when subjected to massive forces
Steering Wheel - This is one of those areas that most people will not think of when discussing an F1 car. However it is after all the most important one, as the driver uses it for control of the car. Each wheel is created specifically for a driver (much like his seat), and each will cost over 40,000 dollars to produce. The steering wheel contains all of the cars control systems, and driver display. From the wheel, a driver can not only steer the car, but change gears, change fuel mixtures, brake balance, traction control and all other system settings for the car.
Summary
With a little luck that should give you an idea of why F1 is considered, the "fastest sport on earth". In the next part we will take a look at the teams, and the tracks they race on.
Article comments
1 - ludo
A bit more on the tyres rule!
So one manufacturer has four different tyre hardnesses for F1 but is only allowed to use two in any one race, to 'give an exciting finish"., and ensure that team tactics play a part. It was better when there were two manufacturers, more combinations. It's all a bit artificial isn't it? What resemblance does this have to the real world, where you can pick from hundreds of different tyres, not knowing how "hard" they are. You can only rely on tyre surveys from real people, and acquire a bit of knowledge on how the tyre people achieve these different compounds.
2 - Ashleigh
I sort of agree, I think the series was better with two manufacturers, in fact bring back Dunlop and have three.
That said the rules are to decrease the cost's and impede the speed's. With one manufacturer the FIA can dictate the performance level of the tyres, this years are very reminicent of the 2004 tyres, not the 2007 ones for instance.
2008's slick tyres will be different again, and Michelin are challenging the FIA over what they perseve to be unfair.
At least with all the cars running the same two compounds over the weekend, we can garantee that the performance advantage difference between the two tyre manufacturers at different tracks is now negated, even if last years Michelin runners are struggling in the new Bridgestone rubber more than Ferrari.
3 - ERIC BLUMER
AS A REAL NEWCOMER TO THIS SPORT AND UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE MORE ABOUT NASCAR I HAVE FOUND THAT AFTER WATCHING THESE F1 AND INDY RACES NASCAR IS JUST TOO BORING AND SLOW FOR ME.
PLEASE HELP ME FIND A SITE WHERE I CAN GET A DOWNLOADED REAL DUMMIES,BEGINNERS GUIDE TO RACING F1 AND INDY THAT EXPLAINS EVERY DETAIL LIKE YOU WERE SPEAKING TO A CHILD THAT KNOWS ABSOLUTELY ZIP ABOUT RACING.
UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT ON MY OWN AND IT IS VERY HARD TO UNDESTAND CERTAIN ASPECTS OF RACING.
4 - bookvalue
F1 is insane. They need to stop worrying so much about the rules and money and just race the damn cars! I want them to be able to do whatever they can, may the fastest car win! Now that would be exciting!