Formula 1 racing is one of the largest sports events conducted in different parts of the world. The event has its own management, rules and regulations required to be followed by all the participants. Similar to the other official sports, F1 also has its own set of terminologies that are used by the officials, teams, drivers and spectators.
Let’s take a look at the commonly used F1 racing terms that will help you in familiarising with the event.
Common F1 Terminologies
Here is the list of common terms used in F1.
A
Aerodynamics
Automotive aerodynamic is a study which explains how vehicles travel from the medium of air. It is considered significant in F1 car design as it can impact a vehicle’s agility.
Airbox
The airbox is an air intake chamber above the driver’s head that provides excessive air to the combustion engine. It also serves as a car roll hoop in case of accidents.
Apex
Apex or clipping point is a middle point of the inside line around the corner at which a driver aims while turning.
Autoclave
A device used to repair carbon fibre with the help of heat and pressure.
B
Backmarker
Backmarker is used for the drivers that are at the rear end of the race track. It is generally used when these racers are encountered by the race leaders.
Ballast
Weight in the surrounding of the car to increase its overall weight and balance.
Bargeboard
Bargeboards are the part of an F1 car’s external body. They are used to redirect airflow and increase the aerodynamics of a car.
Blistering
Blistering is a condition in which chunks of rubber break away from the tyre due to excessive heat. It is one of the disadvantages of overinflating a car tyre.
Bodywork
Bodywork includes carbon fibre parts used to cover different areas of the F1 car like the nose cone, engine cover and cockpit.
Bottoming
Bottoming occurs when the lowest part of the chassis of the F1 hits the racetrack.
Brake balance
Brake balance is a switch in the cockpit that distributes the braking power between the rear and front tyres as per the requirement.
C
CAD
CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design, a design process used to design F1 cars.
Camber
An angle at which a tyre leans from the car relative to the vertical axis.
CFD
CFD stands for Computational Fluid Dynamics. It is a tool used to perform complex calculations related to the aerodynamics of a car.
Chassis
The central part of the car to which the suspension system and engine are connected.
Chicane
A part of the racetrack that consists of a series of corners in different directions to slow down the speed of an F1 car.
Clean air
Clean air refers to non-turbulent airflow and is ideal for aerodynamics.
Coanda effect
Coanda effect is the ability of a fluid jet to get attracted toward a surface. In F1 cars, it is used to direct airflow towards a specific part of the car such as air intake or exhausts.
Cockpit
It is a space in the centre of the car where the driver sits.
D
Debrief
A meeting between a team’s drivers and engineers in which the performance of a vehicle and strategies of race are discussed.
Degradation
Degradation refers to a process due to which a tyre loses its grip.
Delta time
A time difference between two cars or laps.
Diffuser
It is the rear section of the car’s undertray that is used as an exit point for the air flowing in the car.
Downforce
A vertical aerodynamic force applied on F1 cars while moving forward. Downforce is one of the major elements that contribute to increasing a vehicle’s handling and traction.
Drag
The air resistance experienced when a car moves in a forward direction.
Drive-through penalty
Penalties that are handed to drivers due to breaches of technical regulations or sporting codes while still on the racetrack.
Drivers’ briefing
Drivers’ briefing is a meeting between FIA directors and racers. The agenda of this meeting is to discuss Grand Prix and Circuit related issues including safety and driving standards.
DRS
DRS stands for Drag Reduction System – an electronic setting that is used to adjust the rear wings of the car.
E
ECU
ECU stands for Electronic Control Unit, a central unit responsible for controlling all the electrical systems present in a car.
Endplate
An endplate is attached vertically to the outer body to form front and rear wings.
Energy Store
The Energy Store (ES) is a storage unit located in the fuel cell of an F1 car. The unit stores energy in the lithium-ion batteries and can provide a drivetrain system with 4MJ of energy per lap.
ERS
ERS stands for Energy Recovery System, a motor generated unit in an F1 car responsible for collecting waste kinetic energy from the braking system and heat energy from the turbocharger. The collected waste energy is later used to propel the car. The ERS system can provide a maximum of 160 bhp for 33s/lap.
F
Flat spot
A flat spot is a specific area of a tyre that is worn out after extreme braking.
Formation lap
The formation lap is a pre-race lap that starts and ends at a grid. At the end of the lap, cars are properly formed up at the grid to start the race.
G
G-force
A physical force experienced by drivers during acceleration, braking or cornering the vehicle. G-force is equal to the one unit of gravity that is multiplied in case of frequent change in direction or velocity of a car.
Graining
Graining is a phenomenon in which smaller rubber particles worn out from the tyre are stuck in the tyre tread. This creates a ball-bearing effect on the tyre by separating it from the road.
Grand Prix
Any world championship motor-racing event held annually in different countries under international rules is termed Grad Prix. The word Grand Prix is derived from the French word ‘Grand Prix de Paris’ which means Great Prize of Paris. Since Formula 1 is one of the largest racing championships it is also referred to as Grand Prix.
Gravel trap
It is the outermost corner of the road that is used as a geofence to bring back vehicles that fall off the circuit.
Grip
Grip is defined as the amount of traction an F1 car has with the road surface.
H
Handling
Handling refers to the responsiveness of the car to the driver’s input. F1 cars with higher handling can easily avoid understeer and oversteer during the race.
HANS Device
Head and Neck Support (HANS) Device is a piece of F1 safety equipment responsible for supporting the neck and head of a driver. It is a carbon fibre collar secured between the driver’s shoulder with the help of a seatbelt.
Headrest
It is an energy-absorbing foam lined in the surroundings of an F1 racing helmet. The core purpose of a headrest is to absorb energy and avoid whiplash in case of an accident.
Heat cycle
Heat cycle refers to the process of tyre heating and cooling due to excessive usage.
I
Installation lap
The installation lap is a medium-speed lap done by the drivers prior to crossing the finish line and heading towards the pits. The core purpose of this lap is to test the car’s functions such as brakes, steering and throttle.
J
Jump start
Jump start is a penalty subjected to drivers who start the race before the official start signal.
K
Kevlar
Kevlar is a highly resistant fibre that is prepared from a combination of epoxy resin and synthetic fibre. It is used to line the rear end of the car in front of the driver’s leg and also in different areas of F1. This energy absorbing fibre secures drivers from severe injuries in case of an accident.
L
Left-foot braking
A style of braking that got popularised after the arrival of hand clutches in the F1 cars. Due to the hand clutch system, drivers can use their right foot for the throttle and left for braking.
Lock-up
Lock-up describes a driving condition in which drivers lock one or more tyres after braking sharply while others continue rotating.
Lollipop
A lollipop is a stick used during the process of tyre changing at the pit stop. The stick indicates the driver to stop till the tyres are being replaced.
M
Marbles
Marbles are the smaller pieces of rubber tyres that accumulate on the side of a racetrack.
Marshal
Marshals are the individuals responsible for race safety. They also have other responsibilities including fire wardens, ensuring spectators’ safety and removing rivers/cars from the race track.
Monocoque
A single-frame construction of the F1 cars chassis.
N
Nomex®
Nomex is an artificial fire-resistant fibre used to prepare driver’s uniforms.
O
Option tyre
Option tyres are the softer tyre compounds suggested by the official tyre manufacturer of the racing team. These tyres are often suggested in accordance with the circuit’s characteristics.
Out brake
Out brake refers to a driver braking either too softly or too late which often leads to overrunning a corner.
Oversteer
Oversteer is a F1 racing term that explains the car’s rear end turning more than the driver’s command.
P
Paddles
Paddles are the levers located behind the steering wheel that are used to change the gears.
Paddock
A team’s restricted area behind the pits that is used as a motor and transporters’ home.
Parc ferme
A restricted area where cars are parked after qualifying for the race. The area is under strict observation of stewards and team members are required permission to access their cars.
Pit board
It is a board mounted on the pit wall that informs drivers regarding their position, number of remaining laps and interval of the cars (ahead or behind).
Pit wall
Pit wall is a shaded area from where team engineers, owners and managers spectate the race.
Pits
Pits are the area alongside the racetrack separated by a wall where cars are refuelled and maintained for the rest of the race.
Plank
A wooden piece fitted the underside of the car to measure the difference between the car and the road surface.
Pole position
Pole position is the first place on the grid awarded by the driver who completed the qualifying lap in recorded time.
Porpoising
Porpoising is a phenomenon that causes F1 cars to bounce up and down. It occurs due to the immediate change in the downforce.
Powertrain
Powertrain is a term that refers to the whole power system of an F1 car. It includes two ERS, ES and an engine.
Practice
A practice session is arranged on Friday and Saturday morning at the Grand Prix. In this session, drivers drive their vehicle and observe the car’s performance in this practice session prior to the qualifying round.
Prime tyre
One of the two tyre compounds suggested by the official tyre supplier of the team.
Q
Qualifying
A session held prior to the main race in order to determine the grid positions of the driver. Drivers are allocated positions on the grid as per their position in the qualifying session.
R
R&D
R&D stands for Research and Development, a detailed analysis undertaken by the team to improve or develop a system.
Reconnaissance lap
It is a warm-up lap 30 minutes before the race starts. In reconnaissance lap, drivers can pass through the pit lane and then assemble on the grid at the end.
Retirement
Retirement is used for the cars that are required to be dropped off from the race due to major mechanical failure or an accident.
Ride height
Ride height is the difference between the floor of the car and the racetrack’s surface.
Rumblestrip
Rumblestrip is a toothed strip at the exit of a corner that is used to warn drivers regarding the edge of the racetrack.
S
Safety Car
A vehicle that is placed in front of F1 cars to slow their speed when the track is under caution condition.
Scrutineering
The technical inspection of vehicles conducted by the officials in order to ensure that the car caters to all the regulations.
Sectors
The laps are divided into different sectors for timing purposes. Each sector is nearly equal to the third of the lap.
Shakedown
Shakedown is a test run of a new car part prior to going for a 100% to set a fast time.
Sidepod
An external part that runs from the rear wing to the radiator.
Steward
A Grand Prix official responsible for making major decisions related to the race.
Stop-go penalty
Stop-go penalty is sectioned to the drivers stopping at the pit stop for 10 seconds and leaving without servicing (refuelling or tyre change).
T
Tear-off strips
Tear-off strip is a see-through plastic piece used by the driver over their helmet.
Telemetry
Telemetry is a system that provides data related to the car’s chassis and engine on the screen at a pit garage.
Torque
Torque is a twisting force of an engine that is used to measure the engine’s flexibility.
Traction
Traction refers to the ability of a car to transfer its power on the racetrack for moving forward.
Traction control
Traction control system is responsible for monitoring the traction of wheels.
Tread compound
It is the outermost layer of the tyre that is in contact with the road.
Turbulence
Turbulence is a disruption caused when airflow is interrupted.
Turbocharger
Turbocharger is a turbine operated compressor that increases the airflow that helps an internal combustion engine to generate more power.
Tyre compound
A compound consisting of different rubber mixtures that will be used for manufacturing F1 car racing tyres.
Tyre warmer
A tyre warmer is a blanket wrapped around the tyres before fitting to maintain their optimum temperature.
U
Understeer
A driving dynamic when the car is turned less than commanded by the driver.
Undertray
A floor that is attached to the underside of the monocoque.
V
Visor strip
It is a carbon fibre strip attached to the top of the racer’s helmet for extra protection.
W
Wheelbase
Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear wheels of a car.
Y
Yaw
Yaw is a term that defines an F1 car’s movement around an imaginary vertical axis.
Z
Zylon
Zylon is an anti-penetration synthetic fibre used in driver’s helmets for additional protection.
This was all about the common F1 racing terms. If you are interested in driving a sporty car that’s also street legal, check out our used cars for sale in the UAE. Here you will find a myriad of cars known for their high speed.
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