Reflections

Throughout the course of my research, it has been evident how the use of physics has aided the transition of racing cars to FORMULA ONE cars that are able to travel at much higher speeds. Had it not been for the addition of wings, and the sudden epiphany of how important traction of tires and downward forces were, formula one cars would have never advanced to such a stage. It has only been through the understanding of drag, air resistance and upward forces that scientists were able to develop sufficient counter-measures to raise the bar to a whole new level. Though speed has been their priority, safety was never once compromised. In fact, it has been continually improved. With the new safety regulations that have regulated standard helmets and suits, racers can be ensured that F1 is no longer as dangerous as before.

Racing Suits

Suits: Since 1975 the FIA has required that driver clothing be flame retardant so as to offer protection in the event of a fire. That used to mean heavy, five layer, NASA-spec race suits. Nowadays the key is Nomex®, a fire-resistant, lightweight artificial fibre which undergoes thermal testing in the laboratory. It is subjected to an open flame with a temperature of 300 to 400 degrees Celsius that acts on the material from a distance of three centimetres - only if it fails to ignite within 10 seconds can it be used in a driver’s overalls.

Food for thought (3)

Drivers in an overall made of Nomex® fibre can survive for 11 seconds in temperatures of 840 degrees Celsius. In comparison, the maximum temperature in a sauna is 100 degrees. In a house fire it would be up to 800 degrees, while the lava in a volcanic eruption reaches between 750 and 1000 degrees.

Helmets

“As late as 1985 a typical Formula One helmet weighed around 2kg. That amount increased dramatically under high-G cornering or deceleration, adding to the risk of 'whiplash' type injuries in big accidents. As head and neck trauma has been identified as the greatest single risk of injury to race drivers, helmet manufacturers place the greatest importance on reducing the mass of helmets, while increasing their strength and resistance to impacts.”- Formula1.com

Thankfully, the weight of helmets has been decreased to only 1.25kg, reducing the risk of a potentially lethal ‘whiplash’. As well as safety tests, F1 helmets also undergo wind-tunnel testing to help achieve a design that minimises the drag produced when the driver is travelling at speed.

Food for thought (2)

Though cutting-edge technology is used in the production of the helmets, helmets are still painted by hand! It adds to the human element of the sport and how each helmet is treasured by the user. ;)

Wheels

F1 wheels are usually made from forged magnesium alloy due to its low density and high strength. The thicker the tires, the better the grip due to the larger surface area of the tires.

Wings

Ever wondered why formula one cars have wings at the back? Yes, they are used as a stage for advertisements. Logically, it adds weight and it would not make sense to have it. However, there is a larger downward force with the wing at a 60 degree angle to the front. Going at speeds past 300km/h, the wind resistance is great, as it breezes past the car, it hits the wing and moves upward, pushing the car downwards, giving it an even larger aerodynamic force. We can thus see how Newton’s Third Law is actually in effect. The reason why the car is able to stay down to the ground is because there is an equal and opposite force acting downwards on the car when the air is brushed upwards.

Physics was actually able to make use of that to bring racing to a whole new level in the 1960s.

History Behind Formula 1 Racing

A Physics Ace Submission by Matthew Peter Chin :)

Formula One was previously referred to as Formula A in the early years dating back to 1946. Prior to that date, there were numerous non-official races that were not recorded by any organization. Hence, the Commission Sportive International (CSI) was established as the organization that would spearhead any progress in the racing industry. In just four years, Formula One became the sole term used to define these premier single seater racing categories.