Safety is very crucial and a top priority in motor sports. In its early days, Formula One experienced casualties, injuries and tragedies due to high speeds. Thankfully, in the present, owing to the hard work of engineers who researched the use of latest technology and built safe cars in addition to safety equipment for F1 drivers – the tracks have become safer.
Racing enthusiasts who follow F1 or any other circuit racing competition must have noticed the track limits painted usually in the red and white colours. These coloured painted borders are known as curbs in F1 tracks.
Let’s find out all about the F1 curbs, their basic purpose, what they are made of, F1 curb types and importance of curbs in f1 tracks in detail.
Why are There Curbs in F1 Tracks?
Curbs in F1 tracks are basically an element of safety. They define the limits of the track and enable drivers to clearly see the apex of the corners and the outside. If race car drivers drive at a high speed over the curb, it slows them down, ensuring they are within the race track’s allowed limits.
Moreover, curbs also separate the track from the grass or gravel outside. Simply put, this safety element encourages drivers to stick to the track limits and not take any winning advantage by going over the designated track limit.
When taking on or moving on curbs, drivers can easily go over track limits on two tyres, but trying to do that on four tyres results in a time penalty.
The curbs also prove useful in case of accidents as they slow down the speed of the cars, reducing the impact of a collision against the barriers.
What Are Curbs in F1 Tracks Made Of?
Curbs are composed of metal. Moreover, these heavy curbs are covered with a layer of non-slip paint. This makes up for extra grip.
Normally, curbs are painted in red and white colours. That said, some circuits are also painted with other colours, such as the national flag of the location or another colour combination.
What Types Of Curbs Are There in F1?
As for types of curbs, they come in different shapes, have different orientations and are placed strategically in different places serving different functions.
The F1 race track has five different types of curbs. As for the paint on the asphalt, a non-slip paint is used so that in case of rainfall, drivers don’t lose grip drastically as they would if normal paint is used.
Standard Curbs
These are typically white and red curbs (can be in other colours sometimes) placed on the inside and outside of the corners. Some standard curbs have less inclination while some have an increasing inclination.
Carpets
The artificial grass that can be found outside of some curbs is known as carpets. When driving on them, the car loses a lot of grip and acceleration, moreover, it is risky to drive on them in the rain as water accumulates there.
Scraping Curbs
Painted in the white and green colours, these curbs can be found outside some standard curbs. They are highly aggressive, yet drivers can take on them without difficulty. Case in point: they have a lot of grip. That said, suspension suffers to a great extent.
Sausage Curbs
These are aggressive, tall curbs. Their length and size depend on the circuit and corner. There are three types of sausage curbs: the longitudinal ones that are placed at the exit of the corners; the vertices that are placed inside the corners. These are dangerous as they destabilise the car. Lastly, the transverse ones. These are the most dangerous ones and are placed in corner exits and chicanes.
The sausage curbs have been debated in recent years.
Case in point: Their tall height and aggressiveness resulted in hurling cars into the air instead of limiting the racer to the track limits. Moreover, anyone taking on the sausage car needs to know that their car can be damaged severely.
At Monza, in 2019, F3 driver Alex Peroni went wide at Parabolica, collided with a sausage curb, and his car was catapulted into the walls. Surprisingly yet thankfully, Peroni was unharmed in the accident.
That is all about curbs in F1 tracks. Curbs are an important element in F1 tracks as they create a more visible limit between the track and the outside. Furthermore, curbs offer a safety element of reducing speeds in case of an accident.
The placement, orientation and shape of curbs are thoroughly studied by the FIA to make them as safe as possible. However, sometimes modifications and variations are necessary.
If you are a F1 follower, go through our detailed guide on the 2022 F1 grand prix season. Besides, if there are some F1 terms that confuse you, here is a detailed glossary of F1 terms.
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