The 101 on Formula One: Basic Terms to Know For Sunday’s Race

Editor’s Note:  Say it.  FORMULA ONE, or F1 for that inside baseball vernacular appeal. Add ‘Grands Prix’ to the mix and you have the chic cocktail taking the global mass market by storm, introducing Motorsports with the cool sophistication that, with origins that began in 1904 at Place de la Concorde in Paris, the Europeans are uniquely qualified, and positioned, to do. For newbie Enthusiasts to the sport, following 101 should bring you up to speed on F1’s basic terminology adding gravitas to your in-the-know viewing experience. 

Aerodynamics

How efficiently an object can move through the air. Aerodynamics are a vital part of design as they play a huge part in the car’s performance. Aerodynamics play a huge role in both speed handling as designers seek to balance high speed with higher downforce that improves traction when maneuvering around tight corners to ensure grip and stability. 

“Hitting the Apex” 

When cornering, one first must position the car so that it can corner the most efficiently at the highest possible speed. By taking this path of least resistance, this leads to better lap times. The apex is the exact middle of the turn between the initial entry and exit and it represents the point a driver must reach in order to make the most efficient turn. This is why cars typically come from the outside of the turn to the inside, before going to the outside again, so drivers can keep the wheel as straight as possible while keeping the peddle to the metal at a constant speed. 

Blistering 

Blistering on a race tire occurs when chunks of the tire fly off, an issue that can lead to huge losses of grip that drastically affect the performance and handling limits of the car. This can arise from a huge set of issues including heat generated by high pressure, improper set up or incorrect tire choice given the conditions.  

Bottoming-out 

When a car’s underbody literally hits the ground, typically causing sparks. This occurs when a suspension contracts so much that it cannot hold the currently-overweight weight of the car up in the moment given the force acting on the suspension. This causes it to reach the absolute bottom of its suspension travel, or the lowest point to which springs fully contract. 

Camber 

On lots of cars, tires are not completely straight. Camber is a measurement In reference to the placement of a tire in relation to the car – the angle at which it turns in or away. Positive camber causes the top of the wheel to be further out than the bottom while negative camber causes the top wheel to be closest while the bottom is furthest out.  

Chassis 

The “skeleton” of the car, where the driver sits and connects the engine and suspension.  

Chicane 

A section of the track where alternating sharp corners follow one another. These are typically slower and more technical parts of a racetrack.   

Clean Air 

When at the front of the track, you’re met with undisturbed air that provides the best performance and aeerodynamic conditions given its lack of movement and turbulence.   

Contact Patch 

Because of camber and because of the way a tire is constructed, only a small part of the tire actually makes contact with the road. The area of this small portion of the tire is the contact patch, and only four of these (given the four wheels on a car) are what keep your car gripped to the road. In many cases, Formula 1 tires are flat or have very little tread and small tire grooves with the hopes of maximizing their contact patch. 

Degradation 

During a race the overall process at which tires lose performance is referred to as degradation. Simply due to the intense conditions and change of speeds, and heat caused by friction, tires degrade and wear faster. 

Delta Time 

A delta time describes the difference of one car’s lap time between two laps, or the difference in the times between two competing cars. When referencing the performance of two different laps, whether by the same driver or different ones, it is the variation between the lap times. This is used to compare driver performance and ranking by checkpoints around the course that constantly measure it. For example, if a second place driver has a delta time of 2.00, then he is two seconds behind the first place. When viewing rankings with delta times, the first place driver does not have a delta time, as their time is what is used as the benchmark to which all delta times are based. 

Downforce 

A generated force to create downward pull as a car reaches high speeds – utilizing aerodynamics to create better performance and most importantly grip while cornering 

Drag 

The resistance generated by physical features that slow down performance as a car moves through the air. This is a key part of aerodynamics as too much drag can slow down a car as a result of poor aerodynamics of a car’s design. 

DRS “Drag Reduction System” 

On specific sections of a track and under certain conditions, a driver can adjust the angle of the rear rear wings to increase speed potential for the purposes of overtaking competitors. The race regulations allow DRS to be activated only in certain “DRS Zones”. 

Flat Spot 

While tire degradation is caused by routine driving on track, flat spots only occur as tire damage due to situations of intense braking or spinning out. The sheer force acting on a tire during a spin or intense braking can cause a tire to wear so heavily in one place that it will result in warping and/or vibration necessitating the neeed to change tires due to poor performance.  

Formation Lap 

Prior to a race start, all cars drive the course to get into the proper placement position on the starting grid. 

G-force 

A measure of gravity showing the resistance drivers encounter as they change the car’s direction or accelerate/decelerate. When a driver, for example, is experiencing 5G’s in a turn, it means that a force five times the force of gravity is acting on them. This is because the car, and any object for that matter, resists change in direction or speed. This resisting force of the object is now felt by the driver, who encounters massive loads of G-force during races that can cause many people to become disoriented without proper G-force training and testing. 

Gravel Trap 

A form of protection on track, there are graveled pits surrounding dangerous corners to help slow drivers should they fall off track. The gravel creates friction as the car slides across it, slowing the car down and reducing the potential of severe damage. 

Grip 

Grip is the measurement of the amount of a car’s traction or ability to quite literally “grip” the pavement at a certain point. Grip is necessary to keep the car in control throughout the course.  

Halo 

Recently introduced on F1 cars as a mandatory FIA regulation, Halos are a ring above the cockpit (space where the driver sits) that can help protect the driver’s head and neck during a rollover incident. Although drivers and fans initially resisted the idea, its importance in ensuring driver safety has been realized by drivers and fans alike. 

Jump Start 

Sometimes referred to as a “false start”, when a driver leaves their grid position before the race has begun, or when the five red lights all simultaneously turn off signifying the official start. This results in a time penalty to the driver.   

Lock-up 

When a driver brakes sharply on a car, this results in one of the tires sopping rotation and ends up with “flat pots” on the tire which decreases performance. This is because Formula 1 cars are not fitted with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) like those on passenger cars that prevent this. 

Monocoque 

A monococque is a large tub, typically made out of carbon fibre, that makes up a large amount of a car’s bodywork, including the full cockpit where the driver sits.  

Paddles 

On many new cars, there are paddles on each side of the steering wheel where the driver can change gears by squeezing them. F1 cars are no different, and their long-time use on F1 cars are an example of how F1 technology can make its way into roadgoing vehicles. 

Paddock 

The “backstage” of the Formula 1 concert of speed. This is a space behind the pit lane and garages that are places where drivers and temporary team headquarters (motorhomes) are based. This space is also accessible to racegoers with special credentials.  

Pits (aka Pit Lane) 

This is an area of the track where changes to the cars are performed such as the swapping of tires and refueling. This can only be accessed via an exit lane on the track that a driver must enter at a certain, typically slowere speed. This space is complete with a highly trained pit crew, and garages for each team’s two race cars. The garages for each driver, where all the cars are held along with the pit crew to oversee any modifications, needs, and storage for the cars.  

Pole Position 

First place: This position is given to the driver with the fastest time posted in the qualifying day, which is held the day before race day and the day after practice day.  

Practice 

Three sessions of practice occur prior to qualifying where drivers can test their cars on the track, modifying when needed and able to make any preparation necessary before racing. Practices are essential given that track conditions vary per race, and on-the-spot adjustments are commonly made to accommodate differences in track conditions. 

Qualifying 

Prior to a Sunday race, qualifying occurs where the grid position is determined by the lap times completed over a course of 3 stages of racing, knocking out the lower performing drivers along the way.  

R&D  

Also known as “Research and Development,” it is the process by which a car and its various parts and systems are designed and produced. Formula 1 cars are complex and expensive, and huge amounts of time, effort, and money are put into this process. 

Retirement 

Retirement occurs when a car must leave the race due to any unfixable problem, accident, or failiure typically relating to either the mechanics or cosmetics of the car.  

Ride Height 

The difference in height between the floor of the car and the track. Ride height changes often as the suspension travels up and down. 

Safety Car 

The car called to enter the track from pit lane in the event of any issue necessitating the end of regular racing in order to slow down or stop the cars on the track. This is done because an event on the track has occurred that would put other drivers in harm.    

Sectors 

As a method of monitoring the performance of racers throughout the track, the track is broken out into 3 sectors where their timing is recorded to gauge where they’re headed in placement, and also to more accurately show delta times.  

Slipstreaming 

Drivers closely follow a leading car so that they can utilize the disruption in airflow caused by the car aheadso that they can reduce the drag on their car to reach higher speeds and pass the driver ahead.  

Steward 

At each race, a steward’s job is to make decisions during races when any event has occurred. They oversee races and enforce FIA-generated rules and regulations. This could mean giving penalties when needed.A steward’s job is similar to that of a referee’s job in football games, for example. Similarly, their decisions often aren’t well-recieved by fans. 

Torque 

The engine’s rotational force, measuring and an indicator of the engine’s ability to utilize the power through flexibility. Torque is arguably more important than power, as it determines how well an engine can put the power down. The greater the torque, the better the engine and power delivery. 

Traction 

A traction measures the ability of a car to “put its power down” from the car to the track so that it can move forward. This is why tires and power delivery of engines and powertrains are so important as a better tire and engine/powertrain can improve traction.  

Turbulence 

When an object passes through air, the manner in which the natural airflow is disrupted is called turbulence. This disrupted air is referred to as “dirty air” as its flow is compromised by the object passing through it.

Tire Compound 

Three tire compounds are chosen for each race, with around five total being abailable to choose from when picking the three compounds per race. These compounds are the result of different mixes of rubber, each with distinct characteristics that affect performance. Choosing tire compounds are a very vital part of race strategy as choosing the wrong ones can almost guarantee poor placement. Compounds are chosen for each track based on the need of the driver and team. track conditions, weather, track type, or any other strategic purposes.  

Tire Warmer 

Tires perform the best when they are warmed up, as the rubber becomes more able to grip the pavement. Before heading onto the track, tire warmers, essentially large heating blankets, are placed on the tire to heat them prior to hitting the track so that drivers can save time and fuel by not warming them up with their cars.