Questions tagged [formula-1]
For questions relating to the class of open-wheeled auto racing known as Formula 1.
71
questions
2
votes
1answer
52 views
Five red lights in F1 - When were they introduced and do they bring any advantage?
I'm wondering. The 5 red lights, that light up 1 by 1 for the start of the race, and then the race starts when they all shut down. When were they introduced? And are there any advantages to the five ...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
What would happen in Formula 1 if a stateless person wins a Grand Prix? [closed]
There are about 12 million stateless people on Earth. What would happen if one of them wins a Formula 1 Grand Prix? What anthem gets played?
6
votes
2answers
1k views
In F1 classification, what is ON?
I saw that on reddit. On thye official clasisfication for the Grand Prix, the second to last column is 'ON'. Seems to be something relating to laps, but I can't figure out what.
So what is ON in ...
6
votes
2answers
182 views
What are scrubbed tyres?
I'm reading Mark Webber's book and in it he says that during the the 2005 Belgian grand prix he was amazed that his team put him on new intermediate tyres instead of scrubbed tyres on a drying track.
...
3
votes
1answer
96 views
How does a Formula 1 team determine the first car/driver?
The following regulation talks about the first car of a team. Since the cars carry driver names and numbers, I didn't think that the teams have to officially determine their first cars.
To help ...
9
votes
2answers
958 views
Lowest championship finishing position for a defending champion
Which F1 World Drivers Champion has the lowest finishing position in the season following a championship winning year?
Examples:
1981, 1983 and 1987 WDC Nelson Piquet finished 11th in 1982, 5th in ...
9
votes
1answer
149 views
Driver with the longest time between F1 race starts
Robert Kubica, who last drove for Renault in the 2010 season, is now confirmed to be back on the grid for Williams next year, over 8 years since his last Grand Prix start.
Assuming he goes on to ...
6
votes
2answers
656 views
Were the super-hard tyres ever actually used?
For the 2018 F1 season, Pirelli introduced two new tyre compounds - the hypersoft, and the super-hard. For 2019, the compound system will be simplified so that at each race they'll simply be known as "...
7
votes
1answer
117 views
Has anyone ever taken pole position without setting any fastest sector times?
During qualifying for the 2018 Mexican Grand Prix, Max Verstappen very nearly took pole position despite not setting the fastest time in any of the three sectors. (Other drivers had gone faster than ...
2
votes
1answer
121 views
Why are artificial chicanes placed at the run off for long straights?
Why do tracks like Monza, Le Mans and Daytona Road Course feature run off areas that have several foam barriers that drivers need to drive around?
I understand that these were placed so that drivers ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
How does the FIA keep track of the teams' power unit allocations?
In 2018, F1 teams are allowed only 3 units of the Internal Combustion Engine, MGU-K and MGU-H, and 2 units of Energy Store, Turbocharger and Control Electronics. Gearboxes must also be used for 6 ...
5
votes
2answers
575 views
Why did/do F1 racing teams wear face masks?
I've seen this clip on Youtube here, were the box crew of Ferrari are shown all wearing protective face masks. The clip is from 1998 and I don't know if this is still the case.
I'm wondering why they ...
7
votes
1answer
266 views
Why did Force India get docked all constructors points?
Prior to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Sahara Force India entered administration and was bought out by the consortium Racing Point UK, renaming themselves Racing Point Force India in the Belgian Grand ...
1
vote
2answers
91 views
Highest Formula One WDC ranking without a podium finish?
Last year, with only drivers from Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull finishing on the podium, Force India drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon finished 7th and 8th in the championship with no podium ...
4
votes
1answer
156 views
Why are the practice sessions called “free” in Formula 1?
Free practice is a widely used term in motorsports, but I specifically wonder what "free" means in Formula 1. I've some choices without any reference.
Is it related to drivers, car parts, number of ...
3
votes
1answer
176 views
Parc Ferme Rules
Parc ferme rules in Formula One dictate that no major changes can no longer be performed on the car until the end of the race after it has gone out of the pits during qualifying (except for major ...
4
votes
1answer
118 views
Can a car that retired join back the race?
Just saw this on the F1 facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Formula1/videos/1075139512643030/
It talks about an old austrian grand prix, where it took 3 starts to get under way. The 3rd one being ...
4
votes
1answer
138 views
Why isn't a Formula One track dusted off before a Grand Prix?
A Formula One track has a racing line, the most optimal part of the track, which is clean & has the best grip due to tyre rubber being laid as a result of Practice & Qualifying sessions. The ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
With the blue flag rules, how are you meant to unlap yourself?
In F1 (and probably other motorsports) there is the blue flag rule. When a car is about to be lapped, they are shown a blue flag, and must give the lapping car an occasion to pass them at the earliest ...
4
votes
1answer
100 views
When was the last 'Clean' race?
I wonder, when was the last 'Clean' F1 race?
A race where all cars that made a time in qualifications ended the full race (Did not retire or DNF or DNS)
4
votes
1answer
96 views
What is the use of the panels in F1?
You still always see those panels in F1 that some guy is holding out close to the finish line.
Since they have constant radio communication around the track, I really wonder... what is their use?
...
4
votes
1answer
83 views
F1 teams to win their first grand prix
I saw a social media post which claimed
Brawn GP is one of just four teams to have won their very first race.
I presume one of the other three teams is Alfa Romeo, who won the first ever official ...
7
votes
1answer
172 views
How are numbers defined in F1?
In F1, Drivers have an assigned number. But how are these numbers decided?
Is it
Drivers Choice?
Constructors Choice?
Randomly assigned?
Also, if the number is chosen, who has first pick?
3
votes
1answer
244 views
What is calculated when they show the pit stops times in F1?
In F1 they often show Pit Stop times like these
What is actually calculated? When does the timer start, and when does the timer stop?
5
votes
1answer
145 views
What is the record for winning a Formula 1 race by leading least number of laps?
What is the record for winning a Formula 1 race by a driver who has lead the least number of laps in that race?
For example: if one driver has been in position 1 for the entire race but on the last ...
3
votes
1answer
467 views
Formula 1 season with highest number of DNF's?
I'm interested in knowing, which Formula 1 season had the most number of DNF's (Did Not Finish)?
4
votes
1answer
142 views
Will the Halo protection system improve safety in F1?
The FIA announced in July 2017 that the Halo device will become mandatory for the 2018 season.
My question is will this help safety or hinder it? The concern being that it could affect the driver's ...
2
votes
2answers
159 views
What is the allowed tolerance for a jump start or is it a hidden rule?
FIA said that Valtteri Bottas' start movement in 2017 Austrian Grand Prix was within the tolerances allowed, however we were not enlightened on the tolerances.
I saw the following sentence in an ...
3
votes
2answers
3k views
Why are cars allowed to unlap themselves during safety car period?
As FIA indicates in Article 39.12 (sporting regulations 2017), lapped cars may unlap themselves once cars were lined up behind the safety car.
39.12 If the clerk of the course considers it safe to ...
8
votes
2answers
230 views
When has a driver ever been penalised for deliberately driving into another?
In the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 25th June, Sebastien Vettel appeared to deliberately drive into Lewis Hamilton while they were behind the safety car.
Vettel was subsequently given a 10 second ...
5
votes
1answer
911 views
Why do F1 drivers move the wheel so much?
When driving other types of car, drivers usually turn the steering wheel smoothly. Sudden jerking movements are generally only needed to recover from mistakes.
In F1 the drivers constantly turn the ...
6
votes
2answers
584 views
F1: Mandatory tyre compounds
My question is pretty straightforward. FIA tyres and wheels regulation states:
Pirelli nominate two mandatory sets for each car for the race (which can be of different compounds) and one further ...
3
votes
2answers
195 views
F1: economic damage because of crashes?
When car crashes occur in Formula 1, cars suffer obvious damage.
Are there any economic "fines" to pilots who are recognized to be the cause of accidents?
0
votes
1answer
108 views
What is the valuation between different starting positions in auto racing?
I see this question broadly discusses the worth of Pole position in NASCAR, but I wondered if any more of a full mathematical analysis had been performed to determine the "marginal gain" of each ...
6
votes
1answer
838 views
What are the widest tires to be used in F1?
Along with several aerodynamics and chassis weight regulation changes, the 2017 F1 season introduces wider tires.
2016 Front/Rear tire width: 245mm / 325mm
2017 Front/Rear tire width: 305mm / 405mm (+...
-8
votes
2answers
3k views
What is the role of the person escorting and recording the driver during the interview? [closed]
In the formula 1 after the race finish and they interviewing the driver, they are escorted by a person recording the interview.
What is that role position? And why they need it?
Are they afraid of ...
8
votes
6answers
225 views
When has the driver who won most races in a season not been champion?
This season could be interesting if Hamilton wins the final race of the season and Rosberg finishes 2nd or 3rd as you would have the unusual situation where the driver with most wins during the season ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Safety Car vs Virtual Safety Car
In modern F1, race neutralization via Safety Car is done in two variations, the traditional SC Period, where the Safety Car actually goes out on track and collects the entire field to form a slow-...
3
votes
1answer
203 views
Formula 1: the lowest-ranked driver to win the Drivers' Championship in the final race?
At the start of the 2007 season final at Brazil, Kimi Raikkonen was third in the Drivers' Championship table behind Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
He went on to win the Championship by one point....
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Fastest Lap: Qualifying vs Race
Fastest laps are classified as the fastest time set around a particular race track during a Grand Prix, however, due to the new fuel rules in F1 that banned mid-race refueling, some of the fastest ...
7
votes
2answers
699 views
How are race stewards selected in F1?
Aside from Charlie Whiting, the FIA Race Director, the race stewards who look at and deliberate on on-track incidents are apparently not the same every weekend.
There have been races where I hear the ...
1
vote
1answer
491 views
Spoken languages in team radio
I can recall moments from a few years ago when Fernando Alonso would be communicating with his race engineer Andrea Stella in either Italian or English, or sometimes even a mix of both, and they'd ...
2
votes
1answer
812 views
F1 Penalty for “Causing a collision”
In the recent Austrian Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg was adjudged to have caused a collision with Lewis Hamilton.
He was penalised 10 seconds (added to his race time) which in effect meant he lost nothing,...
1
vote
1answer
108 views
F1 Tyre Regulations for 2016?
Is my understanding of the new tyre regulations for 2016 correct?
This season sees teams/drivers given three tyre choices for each grand prix: one prime and two option tyres, with the second option ...
6
votes
2answers
376 views
How is the relegation of pole position driver managed in F1?
If the driver who received the best time in qualifying is relegated to a "lower" grid position (for example for the change of the transmission or of the engine, etc.) what changes about the statistics ...
3
votes
1answer
67 views
Is the Concorde Agreement still in effect?
In Formula 1 the Concorde Agreement set forth a division of money from TV rights all the way to how much power individual teams had along with a special component for Ferrari where they could veto ...
7
votes
3answers
7k views
Why are curbs used in motorsport?
In many motor sports, there are often curbs placed along the parts of the track where the driving line runs close to the edge of the track. This allows the driver to drift off the track slightly when ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
How can F1 teams be competitive if they produce engines for each other?
There are several aspects I don't understand about teams who build engines for their competitors. Take for example Mercedes AMG who build engines for other teams like Sahara Force India, Williams ...
4
votes
2answers
494 views
Does KERS in F1 cars cause sparks?
I'm watching the Abu Dhabi GP and I keep seeing sparks coming out from behind the cars. Maybe it's more clear because it's in the evening and it's dark, but the commentator doesn't say anything ...
4
votes
2answers
370 views
Why is there no American team in Formula One?
As far as I remember, even since the 90s, mostly European teams were racing in F1.
Is there any specific reason? Or is it just that Americans do not care about F1 because they have IndyCar, drag ...
