What Are Some Things Few People Know About Formula 1?
Formula 1 racing is the highest level of open-wheeled racing in the world. It has been one of the most famous racing competitions in the world since it first began in 1950. While many racing fans may know some famous drivers or races, there are other interesting facts that fans may not be aware of. The remainder of this piece will discuss five things you may not know about F1.
Crew Member Size
When you think of the crew members of a Formula 1 race team, some of them are rather obvious. The crew chief, the pit crew, and the driver get the most attention, but the reality is there are many more members that are important to the team’s success. There are engineers responsible for making sure the car is running behind the scenes, PR people responsible for organizing the racer’s schedule, and reserved drivers in case something happens to the number one driver. In all, there can be upwards of 600 members on a Formula 1 team.
Cost of a Car
While Formula 1 cars may look expensive, the average fan may not know just how expensive they are. Multi-billion dollar companies back these racers and provide them with the money to be a part of the competition. This is because a car typically costs around $12 million, and that is just the base cost. If the car is involved in a crash or parts get old and need to be replaced, the cost increases even more. Clearly, Formula 1 racing is not for the average person with an average income.
Pit Crew Tire Change Time
When it comes to pit crews, fans may know that pit crews need to be able to change their car’s tires fast in order to get the car back in the race as quickly as possible. Just how fast they can do this may be surprising to some, however. On average, pit crews can change F1 tires in three seconds. The fastest recorded time ever was in 2016, when Felipe Massa’s team changed his car’s tires in 1.92 seconds.
Car Weight Restrictions
One aspect that most F1 fans certainly do not think about is the weight of the car. In fact, there is a weight minimum that Formula 1 cars must meet. With the driver in the car, but no fuel, the car must weigh at least 798 kg (1,759 lbs). This restriction is a cost-saving measure to prevent teams from devoting expensive resources to weight-saving techniques. Formula 1 cars are made mostly of carbon fiber, which allows them to be this light.
Driver Weight Loss
The final fun fact about Formula 1 has to do with the drivers themselves. While the average person driving isn’t the most physically exerting activity, professional racing is a different form of driving. During the course of one race, drivers can lose three kilograms (around 10 pounds) of body weight. This is mainly due to the fact that the temperatures in the cockpit are extraordinarily hot. Temperatures can exceed 110° Fahrenheit, and when you factor in that drivers have to wear an additional fireproof suit over their regular racing suit, the weight loss is understandable.