In this blog post, learn how advanced engineering is applied to F1 cars. Learn how engines, aerodynamics, downforce, and other technologies maximize F1 speed.
Formula One, a sporting celebration of engineering and technology
What are the three biggest sports festivals in the world? The World Cup, the Olympics, and Formula One. While the World Cup and the Olympics are very familiar to most of us, many people may wonder what the heck F1 is. F1 stands for Formula One, which is a type of auto racing competition and means “Number one” among the many racing competitions around the world. However, the reason why this famous sport is not well known in Korea is that most of the teams and drivers who participate in this competition are European.
The origins and growth of F1
The history of F1 dates back to the early 20th century. In the 1920s, auto racing became popular in Europe, and car manufacturers participated in races to test and promote their technology. In 1950, the first official F1 race was held in Silverstone, England, and the sport began to evolve. Since then, various Grand Prix events have been held in different countries around the world, and it’s now a global sport with more than 20 races a year around the world.
Although F1 has a strong image as a European festival, Brazilian athletes from South America are playing a big role, and Japan, which is close to us, not only hosts F1 Grand Prix, but also has its own racing teams, Honda and Toyota, and has achieved excellent results in the competition. As such, F1 is gradually becoming a festival for people around the world. The news that F1 will be held in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, Korea for the first time this year was a surprise. Hyundai Motor Company has been considering starting an F1 team for a long time, and Hankook Tire is also looking to become an official F1 partner. With the inaugural Korean Grand Prix, the country’s F1 teams and drivers will begin to emerge, and the public’s interest in the sport will grow.
F1 machines and engineering
F1 is a race, and like any race, it’s all about how fast a car can travel a given distance. In order to create the most agile and fastest cars in the world, advanced engineering knowledge is utilized. Mechanical and aeronautical engineering play a huge role. The engine is the heart of the car, and it”s the most important part of the process. The engines used in F1 cars are the epitome of mechanical engineering, capable of performing around 18,000 revolutions per minute. This compares to around 4,000 to 6,000 revolutions for a typical passenger car engine and 8,000 to 9,000 for a sports car like a Ferrari.
This high performance is the result of tireless research and hard work by engineers over a long period of time. Compared to the early engine technology of the 1950s F1 competition, the engines in today’s F1 machines are overwhelmingly powerful with technological advancements. Spectators at an F1 race are often amazed by the roar of the engines more than anything else. Even these revs are limited by regulations for the safety of the drivers, and current technology is capable of producing much faster engines.
Aerodynamics and F1 speed
Another important factor in driving fast is aerodynamics. Which has less drag: a regular car or an F1 machine that is an engineering marvel? Surprisingly, the answer is a regular car. F1 cars are intentionally designed to have more drag to maximize cornering performance. While less drag is an advantage on a straight course, F1 races are full of twisty corners and require the body to stay in contact with the road at high speeds. This is where downforce comes in. It’s a principle that uses the drag of the air to push the F1 car’s body closer to the road, as opposed to the wing structure of an airplane.
F1 cars use this downforce to increase the amount of friction between the tires and the road, allowing them to safely take corners at high speeds. The principle of downforce is simple, but its design and implementation involves cutting-edge aerodynamic technology. Thanks to this technology, F1 cars are unrivaled not only for their speed on the straights, but also for their maneuverability around complex corners. When you see cars in the movies driving up walls, it’s not so hard to imagine an F1 car doing the same.
The future of F1 and the possibilities of engineering
When I was in elementary school, a toy called a mini car was all the rage. They were small cars with a similar design to F1 cars, and at the time, I was intrigued by their cool looks. But as I gained more knowledge about mechanical engineering and science, I realized how amazing the engineering behind them was. The machines of F1 are more than just the pursuit of speed, they are the culmination of engineering marvels and creativity.
As F1 becomes more and more popular in Korea, I hope that many people will not only enjoy the excitement of racing, but also learn about mechanical engineering and science. I hope that in the future, more Korean teams and drivers will enter F1 and achieve world-class results, and I am confident that F1 will play an important role in promoting the growth of engineering technology in Korea.
