How A Formula 1 Team Handles Racing In The Desert
Published on Tue, Apr 2, 2019
By: Andrew Beckford
Formula 1 cars are the pinnacle of technology when it comes to motorsports. Though they can be pretty sensitive. So how do they handle racing in the desert twice a year?
If you are a Formula 1 fan then you probably watched the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend. It was definitely an exciting race, albeit with a heartbreaking ending. Race track drama aside, have you ever wondered how Formula 1 teams deal with racing in extreme heat?
It may or may not be something that occurs to most fans but there is a lot to consider when racing such an advanced car in hot weather. The slightest temperature change can have significant effects on the driving dynamics of a Formula 1 car. So, how does a top-tier F1 team manage it?
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport just released a video explaining just that. Spoiler alert: there is much more to it than you may think. The team’s engineers have to worry about temperature from every aspect and they break it all down in this video.
A particularly interesting bit is how the team manages airflow to both benefit aerodynamic downforce while also aiding in cooling critical areas. Pay extra close attention when the body work is removed from one of their Formula 1 cars to see just how much thought is put into solving this problem.
This is definitely a great watch if you are an engineering nerd or an F1 fan. Check out the video below!
[Photo: Daimler Global]
