VOLUME 32 • ISSUE NO. 8
A FLIP THROUGH
FORMULA ONE
ES €2.50 IT €3.00 FR €6.00 GB €3.00 USA $6.99
CONTENTS 04
14-15
05
16-19
06
20
07-08
21-22
THE BIG QUESTION WELCOME... LET'S GET YOU UP TO SPEED WHERE IT ALL 'OFFICIALLY' BEGAN...
ON THE RIGHT TRACK... STAYING SAFE...
SMOOTH SAILING... ANOTHER ONE LOST...
09-10
23-26
WE HAVE LIFT OFF...
LOOK HOW FAR WE'VE COME...
11-13
27-29
THE DECADE OF TECHNICAL INNOVATION...
GLOSSARY All diagrams throughout this digital magazine have been created and illustrated by Mhari Dougal
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THE
BIG QUESTION...
HOW HAS THE EVOLUTION OF FORMULA ONE IMPROVED SAFETY & PERFORMANCE?
Sky Sports F1 2021
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WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF FORMULA 1. IT'S FAST, FEROCIOUS AND NAIL BITINGLY EXCITING. Formula 1 is a worldwide sporting event loved by many for over 70 years. Since the sport’s establishment, F1 cars have dramatically evolved, both physically and technically. Dreaming of Championship wins, drivers push themselves and their machines to the absolute limits. Performance in Formula 1 is multifaceted. Acceleration, braking, engine performance, cornering, reliability, and overall handling all contribute to a successful car. These elements are continuously developed by team and drivers to ensure the car is performing to its full potential. However, better performance increases risks, meaning safety systems must be fully optimised. Since Formula 1’s roaring beginnings, technology has come such a long way. There are now endless opportunities to introduce innovation in safety. The basic safety components, such as the humble seat belt, remain crucial to driver safety. It's not only the physical design attributes of the car, but the restrictions put in place, levelling the playing field and improving safety, that has shaped the Formula 1 cars we see today.
Jamey Price 2015
Regulations implemented by the Federation International de L’automobile (FIA), such as engine size and limiting speed, are constantly evolving to ensure the safety of the drivers whilst maintaining fast-paced and exciting racing for the fans.
LETS GET YOU UP TO SPEED...
After a break in racing for World War II, cars reappeared in the 1940’s looking much different, being smaller and more refined [Donut Media, 2018]. Various art movements, like Futurism, led to smoother cars that almost took the shape of a bullet [World of Speed, 2018]. The FIA was founded in 1947. It “is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation of the world’s leading motoring organisations” [FIA 2021]. With this newly founded organisation the sports name changed to Formula 1, as ‘it was felt that the expression ‘formula’ best summarised the racing division’. [David Tremayne, 2020], This brings us to the first decade of Formula 1, the 50’s.
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ALFA ROMEO TIPO 158
WHERE IT ALL ‘OFFICIALLY’ BEGAN… The official Formula 1 race premiered at Silverstone on the 13th of May, 1950 [F1, 2020]. It was “lights out and away we go”. Giuseppe Farina took first place, averaging a speed of 146.378 km/h [F1, 2020]. All three podium positions were won in Alfa Romeo’s. The only regulation at this point was the engine size couldn’t be any larger than 2.5L and had to be naturally aspirated. [Donut Media, 2018] Five years into this newly developed sport, the Le Mans disaster shook motorsport. Killing 83 spectators and injuring more than 180, it gave people a real sense of the dangers of racing. [Donut Media, 2018]
GIUSEPPE 'NINO' FARINA - 1950 [F1]
ORIGINAL SILVERSTONE RACE TRACK - 1950
COOPER T43 - DRIVEN BY JACK BRABHAM - 1957
In 1957, the Coopers racing team made a revolutionary discovery. By moving the engine from the front of the car to the rear, it ‘created a better-balanced car, less prone to the enormous understeer’ [McLaren, 2016]. One of the earliest cars to demonstrate this was the Cooper T43, making its first appearance in 1957 at the Monaco Grand Prix, driven by Jack Brabham [Talk Motorsport, 2020]. This simple, yet genius, innovation completely changed how cars raced. Along with the engine position being changed, over the course of the 50’s the cars got lower, improving aerodynamics with a reduced centre of gravity. Wheels became smaller and wider, providing more stability and grip. Radiators and air intake became larger, increasing the engine power and efficiency [Unmukt Bhatnagar, 2014].
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The dangers of Formula 1 were unknown. Creating the fastest car possible was the single focus of racing teams.
MATRA MS80 - 1969 - DRIVEN BY JACKIE STEWART
WE HAVE LIFT OFF... The 60’s were a time of rapid change in car design, transforming the sport completely and growing its popularity. Drivers in this era left lasting impacts on Formula 1, essentially shaping the sport we enjoy today. “1960 was a season which highlighted the dangerous nature of Grand Prix racing in the early years” [Scuderia Ferrari Club, 2021]. Fans accepted racing ‘came with a real risk of severe injury or death.’ [Autosport, 2020], although it took some time before the ‘culture of striving to protect lives set in.’[Autosport, 2020].
WOLFGANG VON TRIPS - ACCIDENT MONZA 1961
Sadly, this decade recorded the highest fatality rate, with 29 deaths. [Scuderia Ferrari Club, 2021] Previous National Promoter and Club-Historic Racer, Andrew Ford, commented, “Von Trips death by fire at Monza in 1961 was the first major impact to drive attitude change.” [Mhari Dougal, 2021]
The 60’s were highly innovative due to the dangers and deaths. It was the era of intense designing, prototyping, and refining to improve performance. In 1968 Colin Chapman introduced small, wellplaced, wings to his car. This was a revolutionary development, altering attitudes towards how the car should be designed. It was the birth of aerodynamics in Formula 1. Improving aerodynamics became a critical factor in pushing the limits of speed. This quickly became the primary focus of teams who began trialling wings and struts to increase the downforce. [Drivetribe, 2020] Reducing weight, increasing grip, and obviously, better aerodynamics, were all contributing factors to reducing lap times in the 60’s.
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THE DECADE OF TECHNICAL INNOVATION... The 70’s was a decade of technological innovation and a catalyst for improved safety features on cars. In 1977 Lotus created the ground effect aerodynamic kit, which further reduced drag and increased downforce. This allowed the Lotus 79 to rely less on wings as the floor of the car was shaped like an upside-down airfoil [F1, 2018].
RENAULT TURBO MOTOR 1970'S
For the past decade, all the teams used naturally aspirated 3L engines, until Renault introduced Forced Induction in 1978. The regular engines only produced 500HP at its most developed point. [Donut Media, 2018] With the turbo motor that Renault had created, they matched this on its very first test. Further development pushed this motor to produce almost 700HP and the first modern race car to use this was the Renault, RS01. The cars in this decade changed dramatically, becoming flatter and wider, unrecognisable from the bullet shapes of the 60’s. Wedge-shaped noses and wingshaped sidepods were all introduced to improve the aerodynamics of the car. This new format still forms the basis of today’s Formula 1 cars. [Unmukt Bhatnagar, 2014]
Access to new technology drove development. The wind tunnel is a prime example of this as it unlocked the development of ground effect aerodynamics. The 70’s was the beginning of the movement for improving driver safety. Jackie Stewart played a key role, crusading ‘for improved safety measures’ that ‘eventually saved countless lives in what had been the deadliest sport in the world.’ [F1, 2020]
JACKIE STEWART RACING AT SILVERSTONE IN 1973
DURING THIS ERA, ‘THE CHANCES OF A DRIVER WHO RACED FOR FIVE YEARS BEING KILLED WERE TWO OUT OF THREE.’ [F1, 2020]. After a near-death experience, he felt the need to enforce better safety measures immediately, introducing full face helmets and better seatbelts.
JACKIE STEWART - FULL FACE HELMET ON CAR
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ON THE RIGHT TRACK... The 1980’s delivered technological innovations including, active suspension, semi-automatic gearboxes and traction control [Autosport, 2020]. Lap times dramatically improved whilst increasing the safety of the driver – a win-win situation. More regulations were enforced in the 1980’s. Some components were restricted while others were completely removed, all with a view to improve driver safety. These regulations included stabilising engine power, extreme ground effect and underbody tunnels being banned in 1983, the height of the rear wings was limited. [Autosport, 2020] Turbochargers were also banned in 1989 but improvements to engine technology meant the naturally aspirated engine soon became equally as efficient as the turbocharged model. Major improvements were made to the rear wing improving downforce and airflow. By 86’ they consisted of multi-element airfoils [Unmukt Bhatnagar, 2014].
ALAIN PROST - 1984 MONACO GP
Possibly the most important innovation of this decade was the survival cell. Introducing a single carbon-fibre composite monocoque rather than a metal chassis, meant cars were lighter, stiffer, and therefore stronger [Geoffrey Davies , 2012].
THIS SURVIVAL CELL HAS BEEN TREATED AS MANDATORY SINCE 1981. [AUTOSPORT, 2020] Further development has led to a layer of Kevlar being added to be more penetration resistant and to help absorb extreme amounts of energy during a crash. [Johannes Fink, 2014]
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STAYING SAFE... The focus of the 1990’s was safety. In 1994, it had almost been a decade without a death. Before the San Marino Grand Prix several controversial electronic-aids had been banned, including traction control, special braking systems and active suspension [Senna Documentary, 2011]. This ban was implemented to reduce the domination of the wealthier teams. Controlling the car became extremely difficult with weight distribution continuously changing. Aerodynamic performance became sensitive causing oversteer, understeer and problematic balance issues. Ayrton Senna tragically died after losing control of his car on Tamburello corner. The exact cause of the accident is still unknown. It could’ve been that the power steering failed, the tyre temperatures, the recent changes to the electronic-aids or the steering column breaking. [Senna Documentary, 2011] Whatever it was, it made the car completely uncontrollable.
“FOLLOWING HIS DEATH, THE SERIES UNDERWENT THE BIGGEST SAFETY EFFORTS IN ITS HISTORY.” [NEW YORK TIMES, 2015].
Multiple rules were changed, and new regulations established including an engine reduction and a wooden plank being added to the floor of the car. [F1 Dictionary, 2020] The introduction of new safety features was rapid. 1996, the headrest was introduced, 1997, the accident data recorder, 1998, wheel tethers. All elements to ensure the drivers safety. [Autosport, 2020]
Performance innovations included a rear diffuser, ‘to increase the pressure of the airflow’ [Unmukt Bhatnagar, 2014] and body modifications to, yet again, improve aerodynamics. PAGE 17
THE CARS ARE IMMEDIATELY LESS STABLE… AS A CONSEQUENCE, THEY ARE HARDER TO DRIVE” AYRTON SENNA, 1994.
“THE SENNA ACCIDENT CAME AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF NO LIVES LOST, AND 2 DIED THAT WEEKEND, WHICH BEING LIVE ON TV HAD A HUGE IMPACT FORCING CHANGE TO BE FAST TRACKED.” ANDREW FORD, 2021.
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SMOOTH SAILING... As a result of the 90’s safety implications, the 2000’s were relatively incident free. Due to a global market recession, cars became evenly matched [Donut Media, 2018]. There were only two deaths, equalling the previous decade, leading to the introduction of the HANS device. [Autosport, 2020]
ANOTHER ONE LOST... In this decade drivers had the option to boost their output at certain points, using the KERs on-board system. The DRS system was also introduced, further improving performance and the engines of this era were consistently producing 600HP. [[Unmukt Bhatnagar, 2014]
Interestingly, at this point in F1’s history, the 2010’s had the least deaths. The only driver to be lost was Jules Bianchi as result of a severe head injury in 2015, the first death at a Grand Prix since Senna in 1994 [BBC, 2015]. This led to the introduction of the Halo in 2018 and was the first time the cars ‘open cockpit formula was changed’ [Mhari Dougal, 2021].
This recent addition was criticised for multiple reasons, including the time for a driver to get out of the car and the added weight (10-14kg) [The Economic Times, 2020].
IT COULD BE ARGUED THE HALO HAS ALREADY SAVED THE LIFE OF ROMAIN GROSJEAN THROUGH HIS HORRIFIC ACCIDENT ON TRACK AT BAHRAIN 2020. MHARI DOUGAL 2021
32 EGAP
LOOK HOW FAR WE'VE COME... Thankfully, there have been no deaths since Jules Bianchi. One of the most important factors in the evolution of safety and performance has been the massive shift in attitude across the Formula 1 community. In earlier years, the focal point was performance, building the fastest car possible and the safety of the drivers was a secondary consideration. However, compare this to racing today and you’ll find that safety is the highest of priorities. The driver’s lives are the first consideration when developing and making modifications to the car. Unlike cars, the driver’s life cannot be replaced. With the technology available now, the sport can make safety the main focus without compromising performance. Many fans have stated Formula 1 is not at its peak and still has opportunities to improve both performance and safety. [Mhari Dougal, 2021]. Recent incidents such as the Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash at Silverstone 2021 or Romain Grosjean’s accident at Bahrain 2020 [F1, 2020] prove there is still major room for improvements. Incredibly these drivers walked away almost completely unharmed, demonstrating driver safety has come a long way. This would not have been possible 40 years ago.
With all the safety measures considered, there is always a balancing act between providing a safe environment for all the drivers whilst maintaining the excitement and allure of the sport for the fans. Performance improvements have been constant and incremental. Advancing technology both in and out of the cars, such as wind tunnels and computerised simulations, has produced astonishingly well-engineered machines. Today’s cars are lighter, cut through the air better and grip the track more than ever before thanks to constant marginal gains in the realm of aerodynamics. History shows major innovations and evolutions have occurred within each decade. Every step taken has been crucial in making the sport what it is today. Materials are the strongest and most reliable they have ever been, the overall shape is one of the most efficient, dramatically improving the performance of the cars but most importantly, death rates have completely dropped.
52 EGAP
IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF? The Formula 1 committee recently announced the car design for 2022 [F1, 2021] It is aimed at making racing closer and more exciting for fans. Is history repeating itself? Maybe, but with the technological advancements and inbuilt safety features of the modern F1 car, the driver’s lives are more protected than ever before allowing teams to push the boundaries of performance.
THERE IS ALWAYS AREAS TO IMPROVE - BUT THE CURRENT VEHICLES ARE THE SAFEST, MOST FEROCIOUS VEHICLES THAT HAVE EVER BEEN DESIGNED. YOU STILL NEED TO BE THE BEST DRIVER IN THE WORLD TO GO THE FASTEST. GREGG DINNING, 2021
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GLOSSARY Accident Data Recorders (ADRs): These ‘black boxes’ can hugely help with safety development by providing specific crash data to safety researchers. The benefit is understanding more about what happens in accidents and how the safety systems and crash structures respond during a crash. It allows teams to understand how efficient the driver’s safety equipment is and if it is performing correctly. Through studying accidents safety researchers can identify areas for development in safety features. By studying those accidents, the safety researchers can identify development areas and deliver safety improvements. [FIA, 2021] Active Suspension: “An active suspension is a type of automotive suspension on a vehicle. It uses an onboard system to control the vertical movement of the vehicle's wheels relative to the chassis or vehicle body rather than the passive suspension provided by large springs where the movement is determined entirely by the road surface.” [Wikipedia, 2021]. With active suspension the car will react and respond to varying road conditions. This helps with overall handling, responsiveness and safety. Aerodynamics: Aerodynamics is the study of the way in which objects move through the air. [Collins Dictionary, 2021]. Within the realms of Formula 1, aerodynamics is the way air flows around the car and how it can be used to enhance performance.
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Airfoil: An airfoil is a flat shape such as a wing that is intended to produce a particular effect from the flow of air. [Collins Dictionary, 2021]. In Formula 1, airfoil’s are turned upside-down to produce downforce to help with handling, cornering and other performance aspects.
Diffuser: ‘The key role of the diffuser on a modern race car is to accelerate the flow of air under the car, creating an area of low pressure, thus increasing downforce.’ [Racecar Engineer, 2021] Forced induction: Forced induction is process of delivering compressed air to the intake of a n internal combustion engine. A forced induction engine uses a gas compressor to increase the pressure, temperature and density of the air. An engine without forced induction is considered a naturally aspirated engine. [Wikipedia, 2021]. It overpowers the limitations of the atmospheres natural pressure by pushing more air into the cylinders. [Know your parts, 2020]
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Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS): A kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) is an automotive system for recovering a moving vehicle's kinetic energy under braking. The recovered energy is stored in a reservoir for later use under acceleration. [Wikipedia, 2021]. Naturally Aspirated Engine: A naturally aspirated engine is an internal combustion engine. This kind of engine relies completely on normal atmospheric pressures. It is not enhanced with a turbocharger or supercharger. Sports car typically use naturally aspirated engines to avoid turbo lag. Semi-automatic Gearbox: “A semi-automatic car is a combination of a manual and automatic gearbox. It also has no clutch pedal, as is the case with the automatic. A semi-automatic gearbox that makes use of a set of actuators and a hydraulic motor in the places of a gear lever and clutch pedal, respectively. There is also a control unit that is in the charge of various actions including engine torque, the speed of the car, accelerator pedal position, and some others.” [Stonacre, 2021] Traction Control: “The basic purpose of traction control is to detect when a tyre loses grip, causing the wheel to spin, and then work to stop or slow down the rate of spin. ... Traction control can be fitted to a front-, rear- or all-wheel drive vehicle and the principle is the same no matter which wheels are driven.” [Carsales, 2021] Turbo Charged Engines: A turbocharger is a turbine-driven, forced induction device which increases the internal combustions engine power output by forcing extra compressed air into the combustion chamber. [Wikipedia, 2021]. It essentially forces more air into the cylinder which helps the engine to produce more power. [Holts Auto, 2017]. It boosts both fuel efficiency and the power in a vehicle. Wind Tunnels: Wind tunnels are large tubes with air blowing through them which are used to replicate the interaction between air and an object moving along the ground. Rather than an object moving against the air, the object is stationary and the air flows over it. This way an observer can be stationary and study it to measure the aerodynamic forces being imposed on it [Wikipedia, 2020]. It allows teams to test different innovation and techniques in order to improve the aerodynamics of a Formula 1 car.