The front wing is one of the most important parts of an F1 car. It’s logical to start the front wing, since it’s the very first part of the car to come in contact with airflow (and occasionally other cars and barriers). Aerodynamics and downforce (front wing, rear wing, diffuser).In this article, we’ll be covering the essential speed and agility factors of: When it comes to the key factors of what makes a Formula 1 car work, (and work well) we can nut over those points easily enough in an article…or two. To get your head around the finer points of Formula 1 engineering, you’d need a few years worth of specialised qualifications up your sleeve. How Does A Formula 1 Car Work? (image courtesy Scuderia Ferrari press office) How does a Formula 1 car work? The factory team will need to keep momentum year-round to rework, re-engineer and test to exhaustion every part and part combination, from the wing at the front to the buttons on the steering wheel, Formula 1 teams are pushing the limits, hoping to find a set-up of power and agility never seen before. Teams must constantly keep ahead of their competitor’s tweaks to maintain that 100th of a second advantage, stay on their toes to make sudden adjustments for track and weather conditions, as well as adhere to FIA requirements for part sizes, weight minimums and budgets.Īs well as the pressure of developing and enhancing the current track car (at the track), design teams and engineers are frantically building and perfecting the team car for the following season too.Įven in the offseason, there simply isn’t time to stand still. Finding that perfect synchronisation and balance for a car is never enough. Only when the entire machine connects perfectly can you have any hope of being competitive on the track. That is why a Formula 1 team will pour hundreds of millions of dollars into designing, building and enhancing each of its cars. There is simply no room for spare parts, dead weight or unnecessary motion. For an F1 car to perform well, every single inch of it needs to be created with an absolute intention and purpose. With so much speed and power, how does a Formula 1 car work exactly? Formula 1 is a sport of finesse and agility so straight-line speed is only part of the equation for success. How does a Formula 1 car work? – The Conclusion.Can teams make adjustments to a Formula 1 cars suspension?.What are the FIA regulations around sidepods?.What are the FIA regulations around diffusers?.What does the diffuser do on a Formula 1 car?.Why do F1 cars have DRS on the rear wing?.