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Timelines · Formula 1

Seven cars that changed the formula.

Era-defining machines in order, each with its one defining trick explained live.

  1. 19591959

    Cooper T51

    The little car with the engine in the "wrong" place — and every F1 car since has copied it.

  2. 19671967

    Lotus 49

    The car that discovered aircraft physics works upside down — bolt on wings, corner faster.

  3. 19781978

    Lotus 79

    The whole floor became a wing — downforce with almost no drag, hidden underneath.

  4. 19831983

    Brabham BT52

    A 1.5-litre engine the size of a suitcase making over 1 000 horsepower — until it exploded.

  5. 19921992

    Williams FW14B

    A computer held the car perfectly level so the aerodynamics never stopped working.

  6. 20042004

    Ferrari F2004

    The screaming 19 000-rpm V10 at its absolute peak — lap records that stood for 15 years.

  7. 20142014

    Mercedes W05

    Half the fuel, more power: the racing car became the most efficient engine on Earth.