Aerodynamic design is used to incorporate both speed and fuel efficiency in Formula One racecars.
The engineers who design the car use aerodynamic design to make the car be able to reach maximum speed and still be able to handle well around the turns in the track. Aerodynamics is a term usually used when referring to airplanes or jets.
Although Formula One race cars, unlike airplanes, must have a down force. This is necessary to be able to keep the tires on the track, especially as the car is speeding around dangerous curves all of the time. The Formula One cars that are designed today have such a down force that they are said to literally be able to be driven upside down.
Formula One racing requires the driver to drive at extremely high speeds and to be able to slow down quickly in the case of a stalled car.
In addition to being able to travel at high speeds around dangerous turns, the cars need to be able to stop suddenly if required.
Brakes used in Formula One cars use carbon fiber discs that work very well under extreme temperatures. They are far different from ordinary road brakes used in average cars on the street.
The monocoque is used for to hold both the cockpit and engine of the car. This is the primary center of the car as this is where the driver sits as well as close to where the engine and front suspension is located.
The cockpit is where the driver actually sits and is part of the monococque. Another term for the cockpit is the survival cell as cockpits today are built so that driver can sustain an accident.
Years ago, the cockpit was more like a deathtrap than a survival cell. Recent technological advances as well as rules within the Formula One racing circuit have made this part of the car safer.
Formula One cars need a powerful but lightweight engine. They need the power so that they can be able to accelerate at high speeds, but they need to be light as to make the car travel faster and be easier to handle.
New regulations in Formula One is that engines last for more than one race weekend which requires better and more durable engines. The reason for this new rule is that engine failures were one of the main causes for early terminations of the races.
Another important part of the Formula One car is the transmission. Formula One cars do not have an automatic transmission, but the manual transmissions used today are easy for the driver to use and much easier than those used when the sport began in the 1950s.
The suspension system is also very important in Formula One racing. Most regular cars have a suspension system installed for comfort, so that drivers and passengers do not feel every bump on the road.
Racecar suspension systems are very important as they enable the down force of the car to grip the road. They are used more as a matter of life or death than comfort.
Only one tire supplier is used for Formula One racecars. The tires are regulated and must have a special air mixture in order to qualify for the race.
The speed of the cars make it necessary for longer lasting tire pressure. Engineers of Formula One racing cars must make sure that close attention to detail is paid to the design of the Formula One racecars.
