What is the F1 reconnaissance lap?

Race start Thirty minutes prior to race time, the cars take to the track for any number of warm-up laps (formally known as reconnaissance laps), provided they pass through the pit lane and not the grid, after which they assemble on the starting grid in the order they qualified.

Why do F1 drivers do a formation lap?

The lap is to ensure that track conditions are safe, and that there are no dangerous problems with the cars (including the safety car) or the circuit. The lap also allows the cars to warm up their tyres, which is crucial in order to be competitive during the race.

Why do F1 wheels lock up?

Lock-ups are a relatively common phenomenon in Formula One. They happen when too much force is applied to the brakes, causing the disc to stop or rotate slower than the car’s motion. The tyre then scrubs along the surface of the track, sometimes creating white smoke.

Why do red lights flash on F1 cars?

It is a safety feature. The regulations state that when the driver is conserving fuel, the light at the rear of the car must blink. It is kind of a warning for the other drivers, if the driver is slowing down at the end of the straight. The driver is slowing down, but not really braking down.

Why do F1 Tyres need to be warm?

Formula 1 tires are heated because a warm tire = more grip = a more efficient and faster performance. Warm tires stick to the track better than cold tires, which is why the tires are heated. Better grip means the cars can go around corners faster and face less of a risk of sliding off the track.

What is an F1 undercut?

Understeer. The opposite to oversteer, understeer is when the rear of a car has the grip to turn into a corner but the front does not. This causes it to slide wide, taking the driver off their preferred line. As tyres wear over the duration of a grand prix, cars tend to develop more understeer as grip decreases.

What are the new F1 regulations for this year?

Another regulation change for this year is drivers weight. The drivers weight is now weighed separately to the car. The minimum weight for a driver is now 80kg if a driver is below that weight that team will have to add Ballast. This will help drivers like Hulkenberg.

How are the number of laps in a Formula 1 race decided?

The number of laps are decided by taking a distance of 305 km and dividing it by the length of a lap (rounded up), which varies from racetrack to racetrack. quoting the official regulations (from 2011): 5.3.

How does DRS work in F1?

, F1 Fanatic. Each circuit has a DRS detection point(see image) that the drivers will pass through just before ‘DRS zone’. If the driver is within one second, he will hear a beep on the radio and also see a light on his dash. The light on the dash alone is not ideal due to glare, since certain races take place in the late afternoons.

How can F1 drivers bring themselves up to 80kg threshold?

Lighter drivers can bring themselves up to the 80kg threshold by adding ballast, but crucially this ballast must be positioned in the immediate cockpit area – and cannot be used elsewhere on the car to help improve its balance.” Another regulation change for this year is drivers weight.