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The F1 Car

A part-by-part tour of the fastest racing car on Earth — what each system does, why it is built the way it is, and the physics it obeys. Play with the real simulators as you go; finish with the exam if you dare.

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  1. 01Why it looks like thatThe whole car in one view — and why every surface earns its place.~5 min· up next
  2. 02The power unitA 1.6-litre engine making 1000 bhp — how the V6 turbo does it.~6 min
  3. 03Hybrid powerThe MGU-K, the battery, and the extra 160 horsepower of electricity.~5 min
  4. 04Gearbox & differentialEight gears, shifts faster than a blink, and a differential that corners.~5 min
  5. 05TyresFour contact patches the size of your hand carry everything.~6 min
  6. 06The front wingThe first thing the air meets — and the start of the whole aero story.~5 min
  7. 07Floor & ground effectMost of the downforce comes from the part you cannot see.~6 min
  8. 08Rear wing & DRSThe biggest drag on the car, and the flap that switches it off.~5 min
  9. 09BrakesCarbon discs at 1000 °C, and braking done partly by electricity.~5 min
  10. 10SuspensionNot for comfort — for keeping the aero platform perfectly still.~5 min
  11. 11The chassisA carbon survival cell, the halo, and staying alive at 300 km/h.~5 min
  12. 12The cockpitThe steering wheel is a keyboard — and the driver is part of the machine.~5 min
  13. 13The final examTwenty questions across the whole car. No notes.~10 min