For a variety of reasons, F1 cars are becoming heavier. One reason is that new safety regulations require cars to have additional structural reinforcements to protect the driver in the event of a crash. Furthermore, the vehicles are now outfitted with more complex technologies, such as hybrid power units, which add weight to the vehicle. Moreover, automotive aerodynamics have become more sophisticated, which contributes to greater weight. While these upgrades make the automobiles safer and more advanced, they also make them heavier, which might affect performance. The minimum weight of a F1 car in 2022 is 798 kg, but the original maximum was 795kg, however it was raised by 3kg as teams struggled to fulfill it.
F1 vehicles are tough to overtake for a number of reasons. The vehicles produce a lot of downforce, which allows them to stay on the track and maintain high speeds through corners. However, this downforce causes a lot of aerodynamic drag, making it impossible for a car to follow another car closely without losing speed. Furthermore, the cars' aerodynamics are optimized for straight-line speed rather than overtaking tactics.
The engine and gearbox are two especially hefty components, but the other safety systems, from the crash structure to the halo, all contribute to the car's overall weight. Another reason is that the width of the car and the front wing are limited to a specific dimension, making it difficult for a car to get close enough to the car ahead to move forward as the front wing of the car behind creates turbulent air, known as "dirty air," that disrupts the airflow over the car behind, making it more difficult for that car to maintain the same level of downforce and thus grip.
Furthermore, the teams have been working on the aerodynamics of the car and the tires to improve performance and downforce, but this has increased tire deterioration, making it more difficult to follow another car closely. Overall, the aerodynamics, tire deterioration, and car width make it difficult for drivers to conduct effective overtakes.
F1 cars are currently powered by hybrid power units that include a V6 turbocharged internal combustion engine (ICE) and an Energy Recovery System (ERS). The ICE is powered by a 1.6-liter direct-injected V6 turbocharged engine that can produce up to 900 horsepower. The ERS consists of two motor-generator units (MGU-H and MGU-K) that recover and store energy from the vehicle's braking system and exhaust gases. This stored energy can then be used to power the hybrid system of the car, which can produce an extra 160 horsepower.
The hybrid system also allows teams to use a set amount of energy per lap, known as the "Fuel flow rate," which is limited to 100 kg/h. Since the sport's introduction of hybrid engines in 2014, these power units have gotten more efficient and powerful, with teams constantly improving and refining them to gain an advantage on the track. While the entire F1 car must weigh no less than 798 kg, the biggest component is the engine, which must weigh at least 150 kg, and the lightest component is the steering wheel, which weighs 1.3kg. Some parts have minimum weight limitations specified in the rulebook, while others are free to be made as light as feasible by teams.
Here’s the list of F1 cars weight through the year:
Written By Zira A.
Reference:
Racers, F. (n.d.). Why Are F1 Cars Getting Heavier? [online] Flow Racers. Available at: Why Are F1 Cars Getting Heavier? – FLOW RACERS
Rimmer, L. (2022). How Much Does an F1 Car Weigh in 2022 and what’s Included in the limit? [online] www.autosport.com. Available at: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/how-much-does-an-f1-car-weigh/10246442/.
www.autosport.com. (2022). 2022 F1 Cars Set for Further 3kg Weight Increase. [online] Available at: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/2022-f1-cars-set-for-further-3kgs-weight-increase/8873994/.
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