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Formula 1 Racing General Information Racing Strategies Chassis Aerodynamics Construction Brakes Wheels and Tires Safety Safety Features of the Car Safety Devices of the Drivers Powertrain Engine Technology Materials Transmission: Technology Cockpit Instruments Switches: Displays and lights: Steering wheel and pedals: Conclusion References Car Specifications and Performance Figures Comparison with a passenger vehicle: APPENDICES A Technical Specification -Williams Renault FW 19 Formula 1 Racing Car B Technical Specifications -Renault V 10 RS 9 Engine Summary Formula 1 racing has become the second most watched sporting event in the world. Many of the spectators do not know realize how much research and testing goes into a Formula 1 racing car. Many people are unaware of how technical and computerized these cars are. These cars are made of new space age materials and test new types of systems on the car. A Formula 1 car is one of the safest cars in the world. The cars are constantly being used to test out new safety features and improving the existing ones.
The engines are used to test new computer systems that control vital functions. There are many aspects of Formula 1 that go not behind scenes. These might just be more interesting that watching the Formula 1 cars race. The Technology Behind Formula 1 Racing INTRODUCTION The sport of Formula 1 racing is one of the most technical and advanced sports in the world. Formula 1 racing cars utilize new technology to constantly improve in the areas of performance and safety. This sport is responsible for the development of safety features that you would find today on a commercial passenger vehicle.
Formula 1 racing is an international sport that is followed by millions throughout the world. Each year about 10 different race teams and 20 racing cars compete for the Formula 1 World Championship and Constructors Championship. The chassis of the current Formula 1 cars is made of aluminum tubing and composite material of carbon-fiber and aluminum honeycomb. It supports four wheels, the brakes, suspension and a rear mounted engine. The chassis contains many safety features. Over the years the safety of Formula 1 cars has increased and as a result, todays cars are superior to previous models in the 1980 s.
Formula 1 cars contain safety features such as a roll bar, puncture proof fuel cell and a five point safety belt. The drivers wear fire proof clothing to protect them in case of a fire. A Formula 1 racing car has many onboard computers to control everything from brakes to the engine. There are also many restrictions on minimum lengths and weights.
Formula 1 racing remains one of the most technical and computerized sports in the world. This is a report which provides information on Formula 1 racing in general as well as the chassis, safety features, engines and electronics in the cockpit of a Formula 1 car. General Information on Formula 1 Racing Formula 1 racing is an international sport with races called Grand Prix's being held throughout the world. These are held in Canada, Japan, Australia and many of the European countries. The drivers are also from many different countries. Formula 1 races are held on race tracks that are called " street courses" because there are both left and right turns.
These tracks have an average length of six kilometers and it takes a Formula 1 car about two minutes to do a lap for an average speed of 300 km / h . Most of these tracks have long straight sections and tight turns. A Formula car must have an open-wheel design (Fig. 1 - 1). This means that the wheels cannot be covered by sheet metal. The engine is mounted behind the driver, and it powers only the rear wheels.
A Formula 1 racing team consists of two race cars with crews and drivers for each car. These teams are responsible for designing the chassis of the car. A separate company makes the engines. For example, Jacques Villeniuves team is Williams and his teammate is Heinz-Harold Frentzen.
The Renault company that supplies the engines for Team Williams. Each year the teams compete for the Drivers World Championship and the Constructors Championship. Usually there are about 17 races per year. In each race the teams have an opportunity to receive points for each of the championships. The first six positions of each race are awarded points; these points are given to each driver and team with the winner of the race receiving the most points. The driver with the most points at the end of the year is declared the world champion and the team with the most points wins the constructors championship. (Wilkinson, 1996) In order to win a race, each team and driver develops a race strategy.
One factor in a race strategy, would determine when the driver would come in for a pit stop. During a race, the cars will require at least two pit stops for tires and fuel. The teams must determine how much fuel they need for the race. More fuel means more weight and therefore will slow the car. A Formula 1 car can be refueled and receive a complete tire change in about 7 seconds. In order to produce the fastest lap times the driver must follow a race line.
A race line is the straightest way around the track; a driver makes a race line by " ageing" turns. Apexing is when the driver comes into the turn on the outside of the track. When the driver enters the turn he steers to the inside of the turn. When the driver reaches the inside of the turn, he accelerates out of the turn and swing, wide to the outside of the track. " Sometimes two- to three-tenths of a second per lap can make all the difference. " (Andretti, 1996) In Formula 1, drivers try to pass each other.
One way they do this is by out braking the other driver. As they approach the turn they try to brake as late as possible. The driver who brakes last will usually pass his competitor. However, he is risking entering the turn at too high a speed and crashing.
Another method that Formula 1 drivers use to pass is called drafting or slip screening. This occurs when a driver follows another driver closely and is able to build speed to pass him. This occurs because the driver in front clears all the air out of the way for the driver behind him. This, in turn, allows the car following to build speed because there is reduced drag. (Newman, 1994) Figure 1 - 1: Jaques Villeneuve in his Williams Renault FW 19 Formula 1 Racing Car The Chassis Components of a Formula 1 Racing Car Aerodynamics The aerodynamics of a Formula 1 car is very important to its performance and handling. Due to it extreme high speeds, the car must be very streamlined. All the corners are rounded to get the least amount of drag.
These cars are wind tunnel tested to determine the best shape. In Formula 1 racing, the cars have to make many turns at high speeds. In order to make a Formula 1 car corner well, it must have down force. Down force helps to keep the car glued to the track and it will help prevent the car from skidding off.
A Formula 1 car produces down force by its front and rear wings. These are similar to airplane wings that are turned upside down so they will produce lift in the negative direction. This keeps the car pressed on the ground. The race teams can adjust the angles of the wings to increase or decrease down force. The more down force the car has, the better the corning ability, but acceleration will decrease.
In order to do well in a Grand Prix, a race team must adjust the wings to fit the characteristics of the track. In wet weather, the teams will run with greater down force. The greater down force is necessary because the cars need more traction. (Newman, 1994) Figure 2 - 1: Model of Aerodynamics Chassis Construction The chassis of a Formula 1 car is made of many new materials. The frame is made of aluminum tubing while the side panels are made of a composite of aluminum honeycomb and carbon-fiber. Aluminum honeycomb is aluminum with holes in it.
Carbon-fiber is twice as light and strong as aluminum. The front nose of the car is made of Nomex honeycomb. It is twice as light as aluminum but not as strong. These materials are now being used in cars and mountain bicycles to save weight. (Ferrari Racing, 1997) Figure: 2 - 2: Carbon-Fiber Strip Brakes Formula 1 racing requires a great deal of braking power. Typically, a Formula 1 car will have to use its brakes 12 times per lap or 900 times a race. On average, Formula 1 cars have to slow down from 280 Km / h to make a turn at 160 km / h , which puts tremendous stress on the braking system.
If Formula 1 cars had brakes like a commercial passenger vehicle, they would wear out in a lap. A Formula 1 racing car use a four wheel disc brake system which means that each wheel has a disc brake to help it stop. A disc brake consists of a rotor (Fig. 2 - 4), caliper and brake pads. When the driver hits the brake pedal, the caliper which contains the brake pads squeezes the rotor from either side and slows the car.
The car is slowed down because there is friction between the pads and the rotor. This friction causes the brakes to become very hot. When disc brakes get hot, they do not function very well. To help reduce this problem, Formula 1 teams now use carbon brake pads. The new carbon pads wear less and work better at higher temperatures. These carbon brakes work most effectively at temperatures of 350 - 500 degrees Celsius. (Fig. 2 - 3) To keep these brakes cool, Formula 1 cars have brake cooling ducts that channel air over the pads and rotors.
These cooling ducts are made of carbon fiber to save weight. Formula 1 cars employ dual circuit brakes. Dual circuit brakes allow the front and rear brakes to work independently of each other. This system allows the driver to adjust how much braking force goes to the front and back.
The driver can adjust the brake balance in the cockpit of the car while moving. Formula 1 racing is responsible for improving the effectiveness and durability of the brakes that you would find on the commercial passenger vehicle. (Williams Racing, 1997) Figure 2 - 3: Glowing Hot Rotor Figure 2 - 4: Brake Rotor and Caliper (Ferrari Racing, 1997) Wheels and Tires One of the most important parts of a Formula 1 car are the tires. The tires are the only contact with the track. They are responsible for the handling of the car. Formula 1 cars use two types of tires depending on the weather. In dry weather, the cars use a dry weather slick (Fig. 2 - 6).
The slick has no treads on it and it has a smooth surface. When this tire gets hot due to the friction of the track, it becomes sticky and that helps to grip the track. This gives Formula 1 cars superior corning ability. The rubber of these slick tires are rated from " A" (hard) to " D" (very soft). The harder the tires, the less it wears but it is not as sticky. A very soft tire would be used for qualifying because the tire only has to last for one or two laps.
A dry weather slick can be damaged by braking too hard. If the tire locks when braking, the rubber will instantly overheat and stick to the track, causing a " flat spot" on the tire. Such a tire will not be round, causing it to slow the car down. For optimum performance, the tire temperature should be around 100 degree Celsius.
In wet weather the cars will use a wet weather tire. This tire has grooves that force water out from beneath the tire so it can grip the track better. This wet weather tire can clear up to 26 liters of water a second. These tires do not have the performance of a dry weather slick.
The lap times of the cars will be slower and they will not be able to corner or accelerate as fast in wet conditions. The tire sizes on a Formula 1 car are provided in the following figures: Figure 2 - 5: Tire Sizes Figure 2 - 6: Dry Weather Slick (Renault Racing, 1997) Safety In Formula 1 Racing Safety Features Found in a Formula 1 Racing Car In the past few years, the cars of Formula 1 have been going faster and crashing harder than ever before. The safety features on a Formula 1 car are very complex and are constantly being improved. Many safety features on a commercial passenger vehicle have been tested and first used in Formula 1. The new Formula 1 cars are now safer than they have ever been. Like most race cars, a Formula 1 car has a roll bar.
This will prevent the driver from being crushed in an event of a roll over. The roll bar on a Formula 1 car is located behind the driver, where the air intake for the engine is placed. Another safety feature of Formula 1 is the puncture-proof fuel cell. This fuel cell is designed to withstand a crash by deforming; this will reduce the chance of fire in a crash. The fuel cell is covered in Kevlar which is the same material used in bullet proof vests. This makes the fuel cell very strong.
To absorb energy in a crash, the chassis is made of impact-absorbing body panels. These panels will crumple in a crash and absorb most of the energy. This same technology is now used on commercial passenger vehicles and is called a " crumple zone. " In the event of a crash, the wheels of the car are designed to break off. This will make the car slide along the ground, making it slow down more quickly.
This also helps to prevent the car from tumbling or rolling. One of the most important safety features of a Formula 1 car is the five point seat belt. It is called a five point belt because it connects to five points on the car. This belts restrains a drivers shoulders and lap in the seat. The first application of seat belts was in Formula 1 racing; now they are a standard safety item in commercial vehicles. If there should be a fire in the car, the onboard fire extinguishers will automatically activate to extinguish any fire.
The driver can also manually turn on the fire extinguishers with a switch in the cockpit of the car. When racing in wet weather, the cars throw up a large spray of water from the tires. Each Formula 1 car has a bright red light mounted on the rear which makes it visible to drivers following behind. Another safety feature on Formula 1 cars are the rear view mirrors. These mirrors allow drivers to see cars behind them that might try to pass. This will help prevent drivers from cutting off other drivers and causing a crash.
Young, J. (1995). Figure 3 - 1: Formula 1 Car Crashes. Driver is able to Walk Away. (Ferrari Racing, 1997) Safety Equipment Drivers Use The most important safety device for the driver is his driving suit. A driver suit consists of a one piece outer layer, shirt, pants, socks, racing boots and gloves all made of Nomex. Nomex is a flame-resistant cloth that will protect the driver for up to 12 seconds in a 700 degree Celsius fire. The driver wears a full face helmet.
The helmet protects the drivers head in the event of a crash. The visor of the helmet is very strong and is capable of absorbing a rock traveling at 500 km / h . This is important because these cars travel at very high speeds, and the open wheel design will throw debris at other cars. If the car does start on fire, the driver can breathe using an oxygen bottle.
This bottle is attached to the helmet by an air hose. The oxygen bottle is located behind the driver. Under the helmet the driver wears earplugs and a balaclava. Earplugs are used to protect the drivers hearing because Formula 1 engines are very loud and can damage hearing. The earplugs are also used as a speaker so that the driver can hear his pit crew talking to him. The balaclava is made of Nomex which will protect the drivers face in a fire. (Young, 1995) Figure 3 - 2 Five Point Seat belt; Figure 3 - 3: Driving Gloves; 3 - 4: Helmet and Driving Suit (Ferrari Racing, 1997) Powertrain of a Formula 1 Racing Car Engine Technology One of the most important parts in a Formula 1 racing car is the engine and transmission.
Formula 1 teams must try to find the right mix between power and reliability from their engines. A Formula 1 engine can have between 8 and 12 cylinders. The maximum displacement of a Formula 1 engine is 3 liters. Displacement is calculated by measuring the total volume in each cylinder and then multiplying it by the number of cylinders. A commercial passenger vehicle can have a displacement between 1. 0 and 5. 7 liters. A Formula 1 engine produces about 700 horsepower.
A normal passenger vehicle with a displacement of 3 liters produces about 140 horsepower. A Formula 1 car is able to produce so much more power because it uses many new technologies. These engines have four valves per cylinder, two valves are for the intake and two valves for the exhaust. The four valves allow more efficient flow of fuel and exhaust gases. The camshafts are gear driven instead of belt driven to eliminate slippage. The computerized fuel injection system allows the fuel to enter the combustion chamber efficiently to produce the most power.
The fuel injection system is controlled by the Engine Control Unit or ECU. This computer controls all the vital functions of the engine. The ECU will adjust the engine to ever changing conditions in atmospheric pressure and humidity. The camshaft opens and closes valves using a new system called air timing. Air timing uses compressed air to open and close the valves; this eliminates the need for valve springs which can break. In order to keep the engine running cool, a Formula 1 engine uses dry-sump lubrication.
This system pumps the oil under pressure all over the engine and transmission. Formula 1 teams also wind-tunnel test their combustion chambers to identify the best design for maximum efficiency. (Renault Racing, 1997) Materials Used In the Construction of the Engine (Renault Racing, 1997) Aluminum- Cylinder heads, sump pump, pistons Magnesium-Oil pump housing Carbon Fiber- Air box, coil shield Steel- Camshafts, crankshaft, timing gears Titanium- Connecting rods, fasteners (Renault Racing, 1997) Transmission Specifications and Technology The transmission on a Formula 1 car is very complex. The transmission or gear box is semi-automatic, which means the driver does not have to push in the clutch for shifting gears. The only time the driver has to use a clutch is to start the car from a stop.
The clutch is located on the left side of the steering wheel and is operated by fingers on the left hand. On the right side, there is the paddle which is used to switch gears using the fingers of the right hand. The driver will pull the paddle towards him to switch up a gear and move it away to downshift. The engine will automatically disengage the clutch when the gears are being changed. This type of shifting is called sequential and is similar to a motorcycle. This means that you have to switch through all the gears when downshifting.
All Formula 1 cars must also have one reverse gear. The race teams try to find the right gearing to suit each track. The racing teams must find the right match between top speed and acceleration. They do this by changing gear ratios.
An example for these ratios is 3: 14: 1. This means that the wheels will turn once when the driver shaft rotates 3. 14 times. A 4: 10: 1 ratio would mean it would have better acceleration than 3: 14: 1, but a lower top speed at the same engine speed. (Renault Racing, 1997) Cockpit Instruments Buttons The cockpit of a Formula 1 car is very complex with many switches and buttons. There are four buttons on the steering wheel of a Formula 1 car.
The first button is the engine kill switch which turns off the engine; the second is the neutral button that puts the car in neutral from any gear; the third button is the pit lane speed limiter. The fourth button is used for the radio. The driver pushes this button when he wants to talk to his crew. (Young, J 1995) Switches and Adjustments On the dash of a Formula 1 car there are many switches. The switch marked " Fire" is used to activate the onboard fire extinguishers in case of a fire. Another switch is the oil pump switch.
The driver would use this switch if there was an oil pump failure and this would activate the backup system. On the right side of the dash there is the brake balance adjustment. The driver would adjust this to give more braking power to the rear or front wheels. The switch marked " Light" on the dash is used to turn on the rear safety light on the car.
This would be used when the visibility is bad or it is raining. On the floor of the cockpit are three dials. The throttle sensitivity adjuster allows the driver to control the sensitivity of the throttle pedal. The second dial, the transmission strategy adjuster, allows the driver to adjust the revolutions per minute for the engine and the shift points. The third dial, the air / fuel mixture, adjusts the mixture of fuel and air entering the engine. (Young, J. 1995) Displays The cockpit of a Formula 1 car has many displays; the largest is the liquid-crystal display.
This display shows the current gear the car is in, last complete lap time and the current lap time. On the left side of the dash is the RPM indicator for the engines speed. The right side of the dash contains warning lights for the high temperature, low oil pressure and fuel pump. (Young, J 1995) Controls As in a commercial passenger vehicle, a Formula 1 car has a steering wheel and foot pedals. The stressing wheel is flat on the top so the driver can see over it.
As described earlier, the clutch is located behind the wheel on the left side. The driver would only use the clutch to start the car from a stop. The two pedals are the accelerator and brake pedals which are located on the floor and operated by the drivers feet. The accelerator is used to make the car go faster and the brake pedal is used to slow the car. (Young, J 1995) Comparison Specifications Between a Formula 1 car and a 1995 Dodge Caravan (Ferrari Racing, 1997; Dodge, 1995) Conclusion Formula 1 racing is one of the most technical and computerized sports in the world. Formula 1 racing is constantly changing and improving in the areas of chassis construction, brakes, tires, aerodynamics, safety, engine reliability and power.
Formula 1 racing is in the forefront of development of safety features and technology found on a commercial passenger vehicle. Formula 1 racing cars are the safest cars in the world. They can crash at 300 km / h and the driver can still walk away. Over time, these cars have become faster and safer. This is due to extensive research done by each race team. All the parts of the car go through many tests and modification to find the best possible design.
Formula 1 also uses many computers to control many functions on the car. In the past few years, normal passenger vehicles are using the computer to operate the engine and electronics in the vehicle. This allows the engines to run more efficiently, and this in turn is better for the environment. Formula 1 racing will continue to be the most technical and entertaining sport in the world. Automobile racing. (1994). In Microsoft Encarta multimedia encyclopedia [CD- ROM].
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Chicago: World Book. Young, J. (1995). Indy Cars. Minneapolis: Capstone Press. APPENDIX A Technical Specifications: Rothmans Williams Renault FW 19 Formula 1 Racing Car Engine: Renault V 10, RS 9, 3 liter normally-aspirated Management System: Magnetic Marelli Transmission: Six-speed Williams transverse semi-automatic Chassis: Carbon Aramid epoxy composite, manufactured by Williams Suspension: Williams. Torsion bar front, Helical coil rear with Williams-Penske dampers Cooling System: Two Second water radiators, two IMI oil radiators Brakes: Carbone Industrie discs and pads operated by AP calipers Lubricants: Castrol Fuel: Elf Wheels: Oz; 13 x 11. 5 front, 13 x 13. 7 rear Tires: Goodyear Eagle radials Spark Plugs: Champion Cockpit Instrumentation: Williams digital data display Seat Belts: Five point Williams Steering Wheel: Personal Drivers seat: Anatomically formed in carbon / epoxy composite material Extinguisher Systems: Williams, with Method actuators and FW 100 extingishants Paint System: DuPont Front Track: 1670 millimetres Rear Track: 1600 millimetres Wheelbase: 2890 millimetres Weight: 605 kg Overall car length: 4150 millimetres Figure A- 1: Rothmans Williams Renault FW 19 Formula 1 Car (Williams Racing, 1997) APPENDIX B Technical specifications Renault V 10 RS 9 Engine Engine Type: piston driven, normally-aspirated Horsepower: 700 Number of cylinders: 10 cylinders V-shape (71 degree angle) Displacement: 3 liters 2998. 1 cc Cam Shafts: 4 gear driven Fuel Injection: Magnetic Marelli digital injection Timing: Air Timing Number of Valves: 40 Electronic ignition: Magnetic Marelli solid state Engine Length: 623 mm Engine Height: 542 mm Engine Weight: 121 Kg Engine Height to Cylinders Heads: 395 mm RPM Redline: 18, 000 rpm Transmission/Gearbox: Six-speed Williams transverse semi-automatic Limited slip Figure B- 1: Renault V 10 RS 9 Engine Figure B- 2: Wire Outline (Renault F 1, 1997)
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