Sports
Only Real Formula 1 Fans Will Know These 11 Facts (Part 2)
Oct
There are some little-known facts that only a true Formula 1 fanatic would have at their fingertips. These facts are fascinating, even for a person who doesn’t follow the sport
These cool and surprising Formula 1 facts will surprise everyone but the most die-hard fans.
Updated Dec 2022: With the 2022 season of Formula 1 races already in full swing, we’ve updated this list to include even more unique facts about the world’s most popular motorsport competition every fan should know.
No.11 The Weight Of A Formula 1 Car Mustn’t Be Under 728 KG Without Fuel
The 728 KG permissible weight includes the driver but not when the car has fuel. A significant majority of Formula 1 cars are made from composite carbon fiber, making them very light.
The 728 KG threshold is also when the F1 cars are already fitted with dry-weather tires. Before 2014, most cars couldn’t meet this requirement and had to add ballast to make up the difference. Ballast was the ideal choice to be used because it could easily be fitted into any part of the racecar, which is integral in linear weight distribution. This weight, in turn, lowers the center of gravity of the car for better stability on the track.
No.10 The Average Driver Loses 3kg In One Race
This fact could be seen as the perfect way to lose weight for someone who loves cars. The unfortunate reality is not everyone can drive a Formula 1 race car, even if you can afford to take it for a ride. The main reason why Formula 1 drivers lose up to 10 lbs is the unbearable temperatures in the cockpit.
Temperatures can reach up to 110 degrees in the cockpit. A Formula 1 driver has to wear two different sets of clothing. The first one is a fireproof suit, just in case, the race car catches fire, while the other is a regular racing suit. The physical impact of the G-Force also affects weight loss.
No.9 A Driver Loses 3 Liters During A Race
This water loss is also because of the temperature levels in the cockpit. According to Telegraph, the average F1 is equipped with 1.5 liters of water in the car, which is hooked to the helmet. This, in most cases, isn’t enough to keep the drivers hydrated for long enough. One can’t help but wonder how the drivers manage to race for 2 hours straight without taking breaks.
F1 drivers don’t like racing in hot temperatures. The Singapore circuit is one of the toughest globally because temperatures can reach up to 100 degrees with 70% humidity. You can just imagine the temperature in the cockpit! It takes a lot of endurance and physical fitness to be a Formula racecar driver.
No.8 Tires Lose 0.5 KGs During A Race
It’s not only the drivers affected when it comes to weight loss. According to Mydriftfun, Formula 1 car tires lose 1.5 lbs during the race. This loss is because of the wear and tear from the high speed and the abrupt breaking. The G-Force doesn’t spare the tires.
A good Formula 1 car with bad tires doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to competition. The leading supplier of Formula 1 tires is Pirelli, famous for its dry-weather components. A typical road tire could last over 10k miles, but an F1 tire can manage only 74 miles, which also depends on the elements used.
No.7 A Driver Can Survive The Impact of 100 MPH To Standstill In 2 Seconds
Formula 1 cars aren’t all about speed and performance. They’re one of the safest cars in the world. There have been a lot of F1 crashes over the years, and a good number of them haven’t been anywhere near-fatal. The vehicles are also horribly uncomfortable, and it takes a lot of endurance to race for hours without being fatigued.
According to Wired, an F1 driver can survive an impact that involves the car going from 100 mph to a standstill in 2 seconds. There are hundreds of safety regulations that a vehicle has to pass for it to be eligible for Formula 1 racing. The driver’s cockpit should be protected as much as possible.
No.6 Helmet Among The Toughest In The World
According to Formula1, the most prominent injury threat involves head and neck trauma. Formula 1 has tried to mitigate this kind of injury by setting very high standards with the drivers’ helmets. The first condition is that a Formula 1 Helmet must be extremely light.
This development presents the challenge of coming up with a product that can also be as tough as it needs to be. To ensure that the helmets meet the strict requirements, they have to undergo a couple of fragmentation and deformation tests. Carbon fiber is the primary material used to make Formula 1 helmets because of its robustness. The outer shell consists of two layers, with carbon fiber making most of the material.
No.5 Three People Named “Hill” Have Won The World Championship
The “Hill” name is synonymous with success in Formula 1. The world championship is a coveted prize, and that’s why teams spend millions of dollars trying to capture it.
There have been three different people named “Hill” who have won the Formula 1 World Championship. The most famous of them all has to be Graham Hill, who changed the narrative of the sport. He’s among one of the oldest people to win a World Championship, as he did so at the age of 36. He’s won the title twice and was even featured in the movie Grand Prix, which I would highly recommend if you love Formula 1. He embodies the sport in his lifestyle and everything he does.
No.4 52 Drivers Have Lost Their Lives Racing
As much as Formula 1 cars are among the safest in the world, there are some calamities drivers can’t avoid. There have been a total of 52 recorded deaths as a result of Formula 1 car accidents. The oldest driver to have died was 50-year-old Chet Miller, while the youngest was Ricardo Rodriguez, who was 20.
The accidents have led to stricter safety measures. There were no accidents between 1994 and 2015, and the latest one involved Jules Bianchi after he was in a coma for more than nine months. The 2000s is the only decade in the history of Formula 1 where there were no deaths. We hope there will be no more tragic fatalities in the sport as safety continues to improve.
No.3 Only 1 Female Driver Has Managed To Score A Point
Formula 1 is predominantly a male-dominated sport, and there haven’t been a lot of women involved. There have been a few Formula 1 female driver in the past, but many of them didn’t have the necessary talent to compete at the highest level. The most successful driver was named Lella Lombardi.
She had a 3-year career in which she drove for Williams, March, and RAM F2 teams. She managed to qualify for a total of 12 out of the 17 races she participated in. She scored half a point in the 1975 Spanish GP, a feat that no other female has been able to achieve up to today.
No.2 McLaren’s Title Drought
McLaren hasn’t won a lot in the last decade or so. The company spends millions every year in the hopes of clinching the World Championship. The last time McLaren won the world championship was in 2008, and Lewis Hamilton was behind the wheel.
The company also last won the constructor’s title in 1998. We hope that it’ll happen for them soon because of their history with the sport. Finally, in 2021 the McLaren team finally broke the 170-race drought.
No.1 A Formula 1 Car Can Drive Upside Down
