Feature

4 Nov 2021

Explained: Formula One dictionary

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Listen to any Formula One interview or watch live coverage of a Grand Prix, and it can often sound like motorsport has its own language. 

So, we're helping Formula One newcomers get up to speed with Formula One in our quickfire glossary.

WHAT IS THE 107% RULE?

This is an element of the Formula One regulations that allows the FIA stewards to prevent a driver who is too slow from starting a race. 

While this was often a real factor when Formula One was oversubscribed and needed to trim the field, removing slower cars from contention, it has faded from prominence in the modern era.

Now, a driver who falls foul of the requirement usually has a valid reason to be excused, such as an on-track incident, meaning dispensation is granted. 

WHAT IS AN ACCIDENT DATA RECORDER?

This is a 'black box' designed to record the loads experienced by the car in an accident, first attached to Formula One cars in 1997. 

Data is recovered from all incidents where control of the car has been lost, and the car either impacts another car, or leaves the track and ends up in a run-off area or impacts a barrier.

The data can then be accessed by the FIA for use in safety research.

WHAT IS AERODYNAMIC BALANCE?

A state of equilibrium between the downforce on the front wheels and the downforce on the rear wheels. Too much pressure at the front causes oversteer; too much at the back leads to understeer.

WHAT IS AERODYNAMIC TESTING RESTRICTIONS (ATR)?

To help save costs, this is an element of the Formula One regulations that limits how much aerodynamic research work teams can conduct. 

The restrictions apply both to windtunnel hours and computational fluid dynamics usage (see CFD). Under a sliding scale introduced in 2021, teams further down the Constructors' Championship are allowed more hours to help them catch up. 

WHAT IS AN AIRBOX?

The large opening above and behind a driver's head, which forces air into the engine trumpets. The airbox heavily influences the shape of a car's engine cover and the flow of air into the engine. 

WHAT IS AQUAPLANING?

What a driver experiences when their car completely loses contact with the road surface when driving in extremely heavy rain.

WHAT IS AN APEX?

The point on the inside of a corner which a driver clips with their wheels when running on the ideal line. Hitting the apex is key to setting the fastest possible lap time. 

WHAT IS ARMCO?

The brand name of a crash barrier company which has been adopted as a general term for all crash barriers.

WHAT IS AN AUTOCLAVE?

A giant oven that plays a key part in the manufacture of carbonfibre chassis and components. By 'cooking' the parts, it helps remove air from the material, as well as compress and compact to help create a strong and stiff part.

WHAT IS A BARGEBOARD?

A vertical piece of aerodynamic bodywork mounted on small stalks, just behind the front wheels. Its purpose is to direct the airflow around the cockpit as efficiently as possible.

They became a key part of the Formula One development race in recent seasons but were restricted in 2021 and simplified for the new era of 2022. 

WHAT IS BLISTERING?

A description for when tyres overheat and become so worn that small holes appear in the tread, usually in excessively hot weather. Avoiding this during a stint is key to strategy success.

WHAT IS BOTTOMING?

A term used by drivers to describe the effect of the car hitting the ground over bumps or under braking.

WHAT IS BRAKE BALANCE?

Drivers can use a switch to control the percentage of braking power applied to the front and rear of the car. This is done to affect the handling as conditions and car performance change. 

WHAT IS A BUDGET CAP/COST CAP?

A key element of the FIA Financial Regulations first introduced in 2021. Teams must spend less than the agreed figure on building and operating the cars.

Failure to comply can lead to potential sanctions at the end of the year if they go over the limit. It is set at $145m for 2021, $140m for 2020, and $135m for 2022. 

Items such as driver salaries and marketing costs are not included.

WHAT IS CAD/CAM?

Shorthand for 'computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture', a process used by teams to design and develop their cars, and which superseded the traditional drawing board. 

WHAT IS CARBONFIBRE?

The material used for the construction of chassis, bodywork, suspension and other Formula One car components. The first complete carbonfibre chassis was built in 1981 by McLaren.

WHAT IS CENTRE OF GRAVITY?

The point around which the weight of that car is evenly distributed or balanced. For neutral handling, as well as good road holding, the centre of gravity of a Formula One car should be near the middle and as low as possible.

WHAT IS CENTRE OF PRESSURE?

The point on which all the aerodynamic forces of a Formula One car are concentrated. For neutral handling, the centre of pressure should be near the middle of the car.

WHAT IS A CHICANE?

A combination of tight bends designed to slow the cars at what would otherwise be a fast and dangerous corner. They began to appear on Formula One tracks in the 1970s as part of a push to improve safety. 

WHAT IS COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (CFD)?

Technology that uses enormous computing power to allow aerodynamicists to model the airflow around a new design, usually before they cross-reference their findings with data gathered from windtunnel models.

WHAT IS A CONSTRUCTOR?

A term often used in place of the word 'team'. The drivers' World Championship began in 1950, and the constructors' equivalent was introduced in 1958. 

WHAT IS CRASH TESTING?

All Formula One cars must pass a series of tests, under the supervision of the FIA before they are finalised and take to the track. 

These crash tests include simulated front, rear, and side impacts, plus a simulated roll. The tests have become stricter over the years as safety has improved. 

Teams that fail the tests must revise their designs.

WHAT IS A CURFEW?

A system introduced to stop mechanics working in the team garages overnight, as was the case in past decades. 

Any team members directly involved in running the cars must be out of the paddock during a block of time overnight between Thursday and Friday, and between Friday and Saturday. 

WHAT IS A DIFFUSER?

A shaped piece of bodywork found underneath the gearbox and between the rear wheels. It plays a crucial part in controlling the airflow below the car, and is a powerful way of generating downforce, improving aerodynamic grip.

WHAT IS DOWNFORCE? 

The downwards pressure created by the cars aerodynamics as it moves through the air. The more downforce a car has, the more grip it will have in the corners. 

Too much downforce can slow a car down on the straights, so set-up is often a trade-off. 

WHAT IS DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM (DRS)?

An aid to overtaking that allows a driver to lower their rear wing flap in a DRS zone, when within a second of the car ahead, gaining a boost of around 4-5km/h (2.5-3mph). 

It can also be used to gain straightline speed when running alone in qualifying.

WHAT IS AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT?

Otherwise known as the ECU, the electronic control unit is the 'brain' of the car. All teams use an identical system mandated by the FIA. A feat of engineering that helps influence the control of areas such as engine, gearbox, clutch and DRS.

WHAT IS AN ENDPLATE?

The vertical panel attached to the side of a front or rear wing. Those at the front are carefully shaped to control the airflow around the front wheels. 

WHAT IS AN ENERGY STORE?

Also known as the battery, the energy store is one of the six elements of the Formula One power unit and part of its energy recovery system. It harvests energy from electric motors and drivers can deploy a boost per lap, at a level mandated by the FIA.

WHAT IS ENGINE MAPPING?

A process used to adjust an engine's performance characteristics electronically. Drivers can select different maps with a control in the cockpit for differing situations, affecting factors such as fuel consumption. 

WHAT IS ERS? 

The Energy Recovery System or ERS is used to recover the energy the car has lost. A Formula One car can lose heat and kinetic energy while running.

WHAT IS THE FIA?

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile is the governing body of motorsport worldwide. In past years, it has also been known as the CSI and FISA. Its main offices are in Paris and Geneva.

WHAT IS A FLATSPOT?

A patch of severe wear created on a tyre when a driver spins or locks up their brakes. It can lead to a vibration because the tyre is no longer perfectly round and can heavily affect a race.

WHAT IS A FORMATION LAP?

The final warming-up lap before the cars form up on the grid for the start of the Grand Prix. Also sometimes known as parade lap.

WHAT IS A FUEL CELL?

An alternative term for fuel tank. Formula One cars use specially developed flexible 'bag tanks' which are virtually impregnable in the case of an accident.

WHAT IS A GRAVEL TRAP?

An area of small stones designed to slow a car when it spins off track. By bogging them down, it lessens the impact of a potential collision with a barrier. 

WHAT IS A GRID PENALTY?

A penalty applied to a driver that drops them down from the grid position in which they originally qualified. Such penalties can be awarded for driving offences, such as causing a collision, or for technical offences, such as using more than the permitted number of power unit elements.

WHAT IS A HALO?

The halo is a strong piece of protective equipment fitted above the driver’s head in the cockpit of every Formula One car. Introduced in 2018, the halo is a three-pronged bar designed to protect against severe head injuries. It is strong enough to withstand the weight of a London double decker bus.

WHAT IS AN ICE?

The internal combustion engine or ICE is one of the six key elements of the Formula One powertrain and is a 1.6-litre V6 configuration. Drivers can use three per season before grid penalties are applied.

WHAT IS AN INSTALLATION LAP?

The first lap during a practice session, during which drivers take it easy to see if everything works properly. After this lap they go back to the pits to have their cars checked over.

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE?

A set of general FIA rules and principles that are applied to all forms of motorsport, including Formula One.

WHAT IS KEVLAR?

A synthetic material used in the manufacture of chassis and bodywork parts, in some areas mandated by the FIA to improve safety, such as the survival cell around the cockpit.

WHAT IS LEFT FOOT BRAKING?

A technique first used in rallying that allows a driver to keep their right foot poised on the throttle while using the left to slow the car. It became common in Formula One in the 1990s as the clutch pedal was phased out and replaced by steering wheel paddles.

WHAT IS A LOLLIPOP?

A sign on a pole used by a mechanic to show a driver where to stop in the pitlane.

WHAT ARE MARBLES?

A nickname for the debris that builds up just off the racing line of a circuit. Usually, it consists of small pieces of rubber thrown off by the tyres. 

WHAT IS A MARSHAL?

Officials who stand at the trackside and either wave flags to warn drivers, or assist if there is an accident or spin.

WHAT IS A MEDICAL CAR?

A specially equipped high-performance car that carries Formula One's doctor and which can travel at high speed to the scene of any accident. It also follows the field on the first lap of every race. In 2021, the Aston Martin DBX became Formula One's newest medical car.

WHAT IS THE MEDICAL CENTRE?

An on-site hospital facility that every Formula One circuit is required to have in the event of incidents.

WHAT IS AN MGU-H/MGU-K?

The motor generator units, split into H (heat) and (K) kinetic, are the heart of the energy recovery system of a Formula One car. Drivers are allowed to use three of each element per season before grid penalties are applied.

WHAT IS A MONOCOQUE?

An alternative name for chassis.

WHAT IS NOMEX?

The brand name of a fire-resistant material used in the manufacture of drivers' overalls, gloves, boots, and underwear.

WHAT IS OVERSTEER?

The situation a driver experiences when the back of the car begins to slide. To counter this, they must turn the steering wheel into the skid, thus applying 'opposite lock.'

WHAT IS A PADDLE?

A hand control located behind the steering wheel. Paddles are mainly used to operate the clutch and change gears.

WHAT IS THE PADDOCK?

The area behind the pits where team trucks and hospitality buildings are located.

WHAT IS PARC FERMÉ?

After the start of qualifying teams are not allowed to make any adjustments to their cars other than to certain parameters, such as the front wing and tyre pressures. Cars are then under Parc fermé conditions until the start of the race, and only parts proven to be damaged can be replaced, like-for-like.

WHAT IS A PIT SIGNALLING BOARD?

A sign system used to signal information to a driver, notably laps to go until the end of the race, lap times and gaps to other cars. Radio communication has yet to make this method obsolete.

WHAT ARE THE PITS?

A row of garages where the teams prepare their cars during the race weekend. The road between the garages and the track is known as the pitlane.

WHAT ARE PITSTOPS?

Drivers come into the pitlane during a race for a number of things, including tyre changes, repairs, mechanical adjustments or to serve penalties. Teams have mastered getting pitstops done in a matter of seconds and constantly work to improve how long it takes them to complete one.

WHAT IS A PLANK?

A rectangular panel, 30cm wide and 1cm deep, fitted underneath the car as means of controlling the car's ride height by encouraging teams not to run too close to the ground. 

If after the race more than 10% is worn off, the car will be disqualified.

WHAT IS POLE POSITION?

The place on the front of the grid awarded to the driver with the best qualifying time, or the winner of the F1 Sprint at select rounds.

WHAT IS QUALIFYING?

A one-hour session on Saturday afternoon that determines the grid for the race. The session is split into three parts, known as Q1, Q2 and Q3. The slowest five cars are eliminated after each of the first two sessions leaving 10 in contention for pole in the final part.

WHAT IS THE RACE DIRECTOR?

The FIA official responsible for running a Grand Prix weekend and who talks directly to the teams when cars are running. The job is currently held by Australian Michael Masi.

WHAT IS A ROLL BAR?

A suspension component that connects the left and right suspension elements and allows them to act in harmony. Also used to describe the hoop above a driver's head designed to protect them in an accident if the car was to roll.

WHAT IS A SAFETY CAR?

A high-performance road car used to slow down the field in the case of a major accident or bad weather. The Aston Martin Vantage is Formula One's newest Safety Car. 

WHAT IS SCRUTINEERING?

A checking process cars go through before and during a Grand Prix weekend to ensure they fully comply with the technical rules.

WHAT ARE SECTOR TIMES?

Each Formula One circuit is divided into three sectors: S1, S2 and S3. Times for each sector are logged in the timing system and available to teams to analyse. 

Circuits are also divided into 20 or so marshalling sectors which become relevant when yellow flags are deployed because drivers can potentially be penalised for not slowing down enough.

WHAT IS A SIDEPOD?

The section of bodywork either side of the driver's cockpit. Sidepods contain the radiators and act as a cushioning device in the event of a heavy accident.

WHAT IS SLICK?

A completely smooth dry weather racing tyre, first used in Formula One in 1970.

WHAT IS SPRINT QUALIFYING?

First tried at the 2021 British Grand Prix, the sprint qualifying format sees a normal qualifying session run on Friday followed by a short sprint race on Saturday. The result of the latter determines the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix. Also known as F1 Sprint.

WHAT IS A STARTER?

An FIA official who oversees the start of a Grand Prix and the countdown procedure that precedes it.

WHAT IS A STEWARD?

A senior FIA official who makes judgements on rule infractions. There are four stewards at each Grand Prix, including one former driver and one official from the host nation.

WHAT IS A STOP-AND-GO PENALTY?

A punishment given to a driver during a race for an offence such as jumping the start or speeding in the pitlane. The driver must return to his pit, wait for a specified time, usually 10 seconds, before leaving. The team is not allowed to touch the car during such a stop.

WHAT IS A T-CAR?

An alternative name for the spare chassis each team brings to a race. In the past the T-car would be fully built and used by drivers over a weekend. However, these days it is transported as a chassis without engine and gearbox fitted and is only fully built-up if needed after a major practice or qualifying accident.

WHAT IS A TEAM PRINCIPAL?

Most Formula One teams employ a Team Principal to take charge of a team's operations, particularly at Grands Prix where they are responsible for tasks such as team orders. 

They usually take on the responsibility of communicating on the team's behalf to the media, making them highly visible members of the team. 

WHAT IS A TEAR-OFF STRIP?

A thin film of plastic which a driver can rip off a helmet visor during a race, revealing another clean layer below. Drivers will normally start a race with three or four tear-offs on their visor, to ensure a clear view for as long as possible.

WHAT IS A TECHNICAL DIRECTOR?

The name usually given to the team member with overall responsibility for the design and development of the cars.

WHAT IS A TELEMETRY?

The process of sending data from a moving car to banks of monitors in the pit garages, where engineers can see how the chassis and engine are behaving in real time.

WHAT IS A TIMED PRACTICE?

A term used to differentiate practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning of a Grand Prix from the single one-hour qualifying session held on Saturday afternoon. Times do not count towards grid positions.

WHAT IS A TRANSPONDER?

An electronic device which sends timing data from the car to the pits.

WHAT IS A TURBOCHARGER?

One of the key elements of the power unit package, turbochargers returned to Formula One as part of the hybrid rules in 2014 having last been used in 1988. 

The basic principle is that instead of wasting thermal energy through the exhaust, such energy is used to increase engine power by directing exhaust gas to rotate a turbine.

It then drives another turbine to pump fresh air into the cylinders, resulting in a greater mass of oxygen entering the cylinders on each intake stroke, significantly improving power output. 

Formula One's small-capacity engine can then deliver power comparable with larger engine sizes.

WHAT IS A TYRE COMPOUND?

A term used to describe the 'ingredients' used to manufacture tyres. In general a 'hard' compound is more durable, and a 'soft' compound gives more grip and is faster. The ideal racing tyre combines both characteristics. 

Current tyre supplier Pirelli makes five compounds: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, ranging from the hardest to the softest. Three are used each race weekend.

WHAT IS A TYRE WARMER?

An electric blanket used to bring tyres up to operating temperature before they are fitted to a car. Temperature has a critical effect on the behaviour of tyres, and hence the car's handling.

WHAT IS UNDERSTEER?

A term used to describe the handling of a car whose front wheels tend to 'push' straight on rather than follow the direction of the steering wheel. 

Some drivers prefer their cars to have a strong understeer characteristic in faster corners, but it loses a lot of time in slow corners and chicanes.

WHAT IS AN UNDERTRAY?

An alternative name for the floor of a racing car. The aerodynamically shaped section at the rear is known as the diffuser.

WHAT IS A WHEELBASE?

The distance between the front and rear 'axle' lines. Teams can make a huge difference to handling by adjusting this figure, either by redesigning the suspension or by adding a 'spacer' to increase the gap between the engine and gearbox.

WHAT IS A WINGLET?

A nickname for supplementary small wings, often found at the rear of the sidepods. 

WHAT IS A WISHBONE?

A key part of the suspension system so-called because, originally, they were simple triangular shapes. They are deployed in a double wishbone shape to be lightweight, strong, and conducive to good handling, so each corner of a car has a pair of upper and lower wishbones.