Formula 1 - sports advanced technologies, many of which first appear here, are honed and brought to perfection, then to find their application in the mass automotive industry.
One of the very important points any race in Formula 1 are pit stops - compulsory procedure for any rider to change tires during the race. These are the rules - at least once the rider must enter the pits to change tires. This procedure takes additional time, as you need to spend time to get to the pit lane, move along it (the speed is limited to 100, 80, and on some tracks even 60 km/h) and to change the wheels itself.
Naturally, when you're fighting for split seconds on the track, the loss of time during the pit stop can be disastrous in terms of race results, especially when you're fighting for the lead. Therefore, pit stops in Formula 1 have learned to carry out in a matter of seconds in the literal sense of the word.
I don’t know if the technology for changing wheels in three seconds will reach ordinary tire fittings, but I suggest you look at how this is done in Formula 1 below
2. First about the wheels.
Three types of tires are used: slick for dry tracks, mixed ("intermediate rubber") for slightly wet and rain for wet. Rain is more of an exception in Formula 1, so dry tires are the most commonly used.
Rubber in Formula 1 is supplied by a supplier with whom FOM has signed a contract.
The last few years it famous company Pirelli.
A limited number of sets of spirit compound tires are brought to each stage for each rider (there are four slick compounds in total - hard, medium, soft and super soft).
Tires are stored in special covers immediately before being put on cars, where they are heated to the desired temperature.
Due to the very high speeds on the track, fast warm-up tires is crucial, because on cold tires, grip with the track deteriorates significantly, and therefore, the level of danger for the rider increases and the lap time on the track decreases 
3. Each team labels its own tires based on where and how they plan to use each set. 
4. These are formula nutrunners.
It is with this tool that you can remove the wheel in 0.8 seconds and fasten it in the same 0.8 seconds 
5. And this is how the pit stop actually happens.
In order to change four wheels in a race in about three seconds, 20 people are involved. 
6. The car literally flies to the wheel replacement point.
Here the skill of the racer is important in order to stop exactly at the right point, where the mechanics are already at the ready and waiting to nail the wrenches into his wheels, as well as the precise actions of the mechanics with jacks, who must immediately raise the car 
7. Split second - everyone rushes to the wheels.
Four kaykoverts sound in unison. The wheel is removed by a special person, here. the other puts on a new wheel.
Wrench again 
8. It remains to pull out the jacks and send the car to the race.
For everything about everything 2.5-3 seconds
The record is a time of 1.923 seconds set by the Rad Bull team when changing wheels on Mark Webber's car at the 2013 US Grand Prix. 
9. But in order to change the wheels so quickly and smoothly during the race, the teams conduct routine training almost daily 
10. Sometimes for an hour, sometimes for two ..
They just remove and install wheels, remove and install. 
11. During the formula weekend in Sochi, I watched one of the workouts that the Lotus team conducted 
12. The process looks a little different from the side than from the top.
There seems to be a lot of fuss and mechanics getting in the way of each other.
Removing the old wheel 
13. In fact, it is not. Everything is clear
Mechanic removes the removed wheel 
14. We put a new wheel 
15. Everything! 
16. What does it look like on video
And the back view
17. Chief mechanical engineer leads the timing.
He is not very pleased. Will have to repeat the workout 
18. The car is back on the jacks, and again the wrench whine....
And so many more attempts.
And all for the sake of winning a split second in the race ... 
For the opportunity to visit the first Formula round in Russia, many thanks to the sponsor of the Scuderia Ferrari team
How much do you know about the cars that compete in Formula 1? Yes, they are fast and powerful vehicles. But what exactly is under the hood of such a machine? And how much time and money will it take to create at least one truly real car? We invite you to familiarize yourself with the specific details.
Monocoque:
A Formula 1 car is identified by the monocoque number, since all other components and assemblies on it are removable and replaceable. During the season, the rider changes an average of three monocoques worth about $115,000 each. Total for the season, only for monocoques for one pilot, the teams should lay approximately 350 000
$.
Average cabin temperature 50 °C
Engine:
The cost of the motor - $ 163,148
Mileage at least 1000 km. before bulkhead
Motor life - 1600-2000 km
Every minute the motor releases energy in the amount of 1750 kW
2.4 liter V8 engine
Develops over 19,000 rpm. Average power is about 850 hp.
The cost of engines for the season - 2 000 000
$
Transmission:
In Formula 1 cars use automatic boxes forbidden
Uses semi-automatic sequential gearboxes
There are 7 front and 1 reverse gear
The pilot changes gear in 1/100 of a second
The cost of one seven-speed semi-automatic transmission is over $130,000. Designed for a mileage of 6000 km. 10 boxes are enough for a season, including tests. The kit includes several sets of gears.
The cost of boxes for the season - 1 300 000
$
materials:
Cost of materials - 3 260 211
$
The car is made up of 80,000 components
Machine weight - 550 kg
The body is made of carbon fiber and ultra-light materials
Fuel tank
:
Made from rubberized fabric reinforced with Kevlar
12 liter tank fills in 1 second
Fuel consumption - 75 l / 100 km
It has a volume of over 200 liters.
20 000
$
Wheels:
The cost of the wheels 40 010
$
40 sets of rims are required per season
The front discs (without tires) weigh about 4 kg, the rear - 4.5 kg.
wheel nut:
Aluminum, Cost of each $ 110, about 500 pieces are required per season.
55 000
$
Disc brakes:
Each assembly includes: caliper, discs and pads. The cost of such a node is $6000. During the season, 180 such knots are required.
Surface temperature brake discs reaches 1000 °C
At a speed of 100 km / h, it takes 1.4 seconds and 17 meters to completely stop the car
1 050 000
$
Front suspension arms:
Made from titanium and carbon fiber. For the season, 20 sets of $100,000 each are required.
2 000 000
$
Pilot's seat:
Made to the rider's individual measurements in carbon fiber. In case of an accident, it can be removed from the cockpit along with the pilot.
2000
$
Steering wheel
:
Up to 8 pieces are used per season, each costing $40,000. On the steering wheel there are gear shift keys, as well as other control and monitoring systems necessary for the pilot, on-board radio communication buttons and others.
Has 23 buttons
Controls over 120 different functions
Weighs 1.3 kg
Requires 100 hours of assembly per handlebar.
The steering wheel is removed when landing and disembarking the pilot from the car
320 000
$
Built-in video camera:
The camera is mounted in a carbon fiber protective housing. All costs are borne by the administration of Bernie Ecclestone, which owns this equipment.
140 000
$
Exhaust system:
Each car is supplied with two steel exhaust systems at $13,000 per GPU. Replacement exhaust system different configuration is an element of reconfiguring the car. 54 sets are needed for the season.
700 000
$
Rear wing:
Made from carbon fibre. About 15 such knots are consumed per season. The cost of each is $20,000.
300 000
$
nose cone:
Nose fairing assembly with front wing. Cost approximately $19,000 each. Up to 10 sets are usually consumed per season.
190 000
$
Tires:
The cost of one tire is about $ 800, 10 sets per car are needed for each race, in total 760 pieces per season.
Tire life from 90 to 200 km depending on composition
Instead of air, nitrogen is used
Tire change is 3 seconds
608 000
$
Rear view mirrors:
The mirrors are made of a special high-strength reflective material Perspex, mounted in a carbon fiber body, so their cost is relatively low, but thousands of dollars are spent on their aerodynamic fine-tuning.
1200
$
Radiators:
One new set of aluminum radiators is installed per race. The cost of each is 11,000. In total, about 20 sets are required.
220 000
$
Levers rear suspension
:
Made from titanium and carbon fiber, each set costs $120,000. 20 such sets are consumed per season.
2 400 000
$
Electronics and electrical equipment:
Electric cable, 1 km long, connects 100 sensors and transducers
All electronic systems car.
4 000 000
$
Bottom:
Made from carbon fiber technical regulation also requires the installation of a pressed wood sliding board under the bottom. Each GP uses several bottoms with different placement of ballast in them.
30 000
$
Aerodynamics:
Formula 1 car has downforce in 2500 kg
This is 4 times more than the weight of the machine itself.
Acceleration to 100 km / h - Depends on the setting of the car itself, the surface of the track and weather conditions. But most Formula 1 cars are able to accelerate to 100 km/h in 1.9 seconds!!! This is the fastest indicator for cars on mechanical traction. To achieve greater overclocking, you will have to use jet thrust
Max speed is 340 km/h
approximate cost of all costs only for fireballs is: $15 million.....
In theory, Formula 1 tires are not so plump - translated into the language familiar to sellers and buyers of tires, the dimension of the front slicks will be 270/55 R13, and the rear - 325/45 R13. For comparison - in the price list for road Pirelli tires P Zero (extremely popular among supercar owners) you can find quite a few options with a 40-45 profile. But there is one caveat: we measure the profile as a percentage of the “thickness” of the tire to its width, and we see millimeters separating the tire surface from the edge of the rim. And in this regard, the difference is palpable. For example, the “thickness” of the same Pirelli P Zero with a dimension of 225/45 R17 will be about 100 mm, and the rear tires for Formula 1 will be 165 mm. That is the diameter racing tire will be the most by 4%, and its "thickness" - immediately by 65%.
13-inch wheels also don't rhyme too well with the status of the most prestigious and most expensive races in the world - after all, automakers are now wearing such shoes and budget model they won’t let them out on the road (unless some Ravon R2, formerly known as Daewoo Matiz). Moreover, in the field of rubber, Formula 1 has long ceased to be a decree for other tournaments and racing categories: that sports prototypes in endurance racing, that electric cars in the Formula E tournament, that formidable carbon Audi and Mercedes in the DTM championship - everyone drives 18" rims with thin tires. Why are the royal races still grabbing for tiny wheels and "chubby" tires?
Last summer, Pirelli, now Formula 1's monopoly tire supplier, experimentally developed a "thin" tire for an 18-inch rim. On tests, she was nine seconds from a circle slower than the usual "chubby" tire.
There are many possible answers to this question. Some say it's all about greed: the "thicker" the tire, the bigger size the logo can be placed on the sidewall - therefore, against switching to low profile tires are tire manufacturers. Others argue that the International Automobile Federation thus indirectly restrains the growth of speeds: they say, the less rim- the more compact the brakes should be, the less effective they are and the less motivation the creators of cars have to make them exceptionally fast. Both of these versions are typically folk. It is not necessary for motorsport officials to go such tricky routes - if they want to limit the effectiveness of the brakes, they can simply set limits on their dimensions or prohibit the use of certain solutions and materials. As for the size of the logo, Paul Hambry, Pirelli's head of racing programs, mentioned this aspect of the problem rather in jest - and he did it during the presentation of ... experimental low-profile tires for Formula 1.
More insightful people are reminded that even in a championship where pit stops last less than two seconds, you can't just go and screw wheels that are radically different in size from today's Formula 1 cars. For starters, if you increase the diameter of the rims to 18 inches, the set of wheels will weigh almost 35 kg more than now (such calculations were published some time ago by one of the tire companies). which will increase not only unsprung masses- what the creators fast cars generally try to avoid - but also the load on the gearbox. Plus, we must not forget that tires in a sense are an element of the car's suspension. Especially "chubby" tires, which are much more active than low profile tires with a rigid sidewall, are involved in the absorption of momentum when hitting a bump and distribution centrifugal force in a turn (in both cases, playing the role of a spring). “If you just change one wheel for another, the cars will simply wind up with their tails like drift cars,” suggested Hirode Hamashima, who led the Bridgestone brand formula program at the time, “The difference in grip level will be more than significant.”
From time to time, Formula 1 teams create virtual race cars - a kind of fantasy about how racing cars will look like in twenty years (pictured is the MP4-X project of the McLaren team). It is noteworthy that all these racing cars of the future are shod in big wheel disks with low profile tires...
On the one hand, it is stupid to scare Formula 1 designers with engineering challenges: let them enough money and resources - and in six months, even on square wheels, the car will go faster than last Friday. But the fact of the matter is that money and resources in the modern Formula 1 are trying to save as much as possible. And there is still somewhere to spend them: the transition to hybrid power plants they announce, then the height of the nose cone will be limited - just have time to turn around. Under these conditions, few of the designers will like to make major changes to the suspension design, which will necessarily entail the need to "finish" the aerodynamics, upgrade the brakes, and so on and so forth. In a word, there are no fateful reasons that completely exclude the rejection of "chubby" tires in the foreseeable future. And this question is not seriously raised, because even without it, both the Formula 1 teams and the tire supplier company as a whole have something to do and where to spend the available money.
P.S. AutoVesti has not yet answered a simple question that interests you personally? Then leave this question in the comments. But do not forget to check the materials of this section before that.
The picture is clickable
The Formula 1 racing car got its name from the special recipe of the fuel it uses. This car has a much more powerful engine than a regular car. The increase in power is achieved by increasing the volume of the engine, that is, the total volume of the combustion chambers in its cylinders.
Medium power motor for passenger car has a volume of not more than 61 cubic inches. "Formula 1" can have three times the size of the engine and develop a power of 500 Horse power(hp), which is four times and even five times the power of a conventional car.
In order to make full use of the enormous power of the engine, the hulls racing cars have a special aerodynamic shape designed to provide minimal air resistance. The tires of their wheels are made extra wide - for better grip with the road and therefore safer driving. A special suspension provides stability and prevents the car from skidding even when it makes sharp turns at high speed.
Racing car "Formula 1"
A racing driver only needs one look at dashboard in the cockpit to know what fuel supply is in the car, water temperature, oil pressure and other parameters.
heavy duty disc brakes carbon fiber (below) must withstand the enormous heat load when running at racing speeds.
Body for fast driving
The low, wide racing car bodies are molded from lightweight yet durable carbon fiber. The shape of their body is such that it helps the car to use the air flow that is generated during high speeds. The sloping front edge (below, left) and rear spoiler fairings force the air to push down on the car and keep it off the ground.
Racing car tires
Tires must be suitable for road conditions. Race car tires are wider than normal tires and can be almost slick for dry tracks. Or have a special protector in case of rain.
racing car engine
To ensure that the engine is both powerful and economical, race cars installed on it (picture below) computer system fuel injection and electronic controls for engine speed, water and oil temperature and other important parameters.
Ten cylinders power this special engine designed for racing cars.
A Formula 1 racing car (pictured above) runs much faster than a car and generates much more heat. To remove excess heat, the car's radiator is cooled air flow(picture below) when racing car roars down the track at close to 180 miles per hour.
Special racing car suspension
The suspension of racing cars must provide reliable grip wheels with the roadway when cornering at high speed.
During one of the interviews, Vitaly Petrov, Renault Formula 1 team driver admitted that any person will not be able to drive a car right away. Only to understand what's what, it can take 3-4 hours, he said. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin got into his first car without any problems, complaining that it was tighter than his old Zaporozhets, and accelerated to a speed of 240 km per hour. Leaving aside the superpowers of the Russian prime minister, let us recall that recently the company Nikolai Fomenko Marussia Motors acquired the Virgin Racing racing team. According to plans, cooperation with riders who are already assigned to the "stable" will continue, but due to the fact that this team will be positioned as Russian, it is worth waiting for Russian pilots to appear in it. So that you are ready, and not spend hours understanding all the specifics of driving a car, we tried to tell you what and how is arranged in a car using a simple diagram as an example.
fireball
The Formula 1 car itself is a carbon-fiber monocoque with four wheels located outside the body, of which the rear two are driving. The pilot sits in a cramped cockpit at the front of the car and steers it with the steering wheel, brake and gas pedals. The width of the vehicle as a whole cannot exceed 180 cm.
wheels
Discs in Formula 1 are usually made from magnesium alloy. This material was chosen due to its low weight and high strength. by all possible ways manufacturers are seeking rims the highest strength. On the surface of the disc is a mount-lock, which helps to quickly and easily change tires on the pit stops. It opens when a tire change is required and the mechanic closes it when the change is complete.
Wheel mounting
In 1998, an attempt was made to prevent serious injuries caused by wheels coming off the cars at the time of the accident. In 2001, the FIA introduced special mounts to prevent such occurrences. The connection had to be attached to the chassis at one end, and to the wheel disk at the other. The polymer from which the mount is made has the chemical name "polybenzoxide" (PBO), but is commonly referred to as Zylon. This material has tremendous strength and can withstand very great pressure like carbon. The main disadvantage of Zylon is the need to protect it from light. Teams change binding once every 3 races.
Motor
The volume and parameters of the engines used in Formula 1 have changed several times. Since 2006, Formula 1 has been using four-stroke eight-cylinder naturally aspirated engines with a volume of no more than 2.4 liters. Engine power 750-770 hp Air pre-cooling systems are prohibited. It is also forbidden to supply anything other than air and fuel to the engine. In 2010 due to the cancellation of refueling special meaning acquires the efficiency of the engine, since at the start, cars with more economical engines may have less fuel.
The Toyota team said that in 2004 its engines produce up to 900 hp. With. For comparison, back in 1997, engines boasted "only" 700 hp.
After the end of the 2008 season, the leadership of Formula 1 and the FIA proposed a transition to standard engines, which, according to the initiators of the proposal, should have reduced the costs of the teams. On October 17, 2008, the FIA announced a tender for the supply standard motors for all Formula 1 teams. This initiative met with disapproval among a number of teams associated with automakers; in particular, Ferrari announced the possibility of leaving the championship if such an offer is accepted.
Transmission
Automatic transmissions are prohibited by the rules. However, the cars are equipped semi-automatic boxes gears: to change gear, the rider does not need to depress the clutch. He simply presses on small levers with reverse side steering wheel. These levers are located on two sides: one for upshifting, the other for downshifting. Therefore, the pilot does not need to take his hands off the steering wheel, but with the help of hydraulic system, activated by an electrical signal, gear changes occur in one to two hundredths of a second, which is undeniably faster than in the case of standard system. Now the management of the F1 car has become more similar to the process of driving a kart - the right foot regulates the increase in speed, the left - braking.
Each team creates its own gearbox. Most cars have 6 gears, although modern cars already use 7. Seven speeds are designed for engines narrow lane power so that they can use this power optimally.
brakes
All Formula 1 cars are equipped with carbon brakes, which differ in that their resistance high temperatures much higher than that of serial brake discs, while the weight is much less. The effectiveness of such brakes is unusually high: after accelerating to 340 km / h on a straight line, a Formula 1 car needs less than 100 meters to brake before entering a slow corner. Naturally, carbon is very expensive: it takes half a year to produce one disk, which is "baked" at a temperature of 900 to 2000 degrees Celsius.
Safety
In Formula 1, great attention is paid to the safety of pilots. Not a single car will be able to start the race if it does not pass all necessary checks, in particular crash tests. Since 1996, the cockpit sides have been significantly raised and reinforced to protect the rider in side impacts. To protect the pilot during rollovers, safety arcs are located behind the cockpit. It is also regulated that in any situation the pilot must be able to leave the car in no more than 5 seconds, for which he only needs to unfasten his seat belts and remove the steering wheel.
Pilot clothing
Formula 1 racers are dressed in special overalls from Sparco, which can withstand an open flame for 14 seconds. In addition, riders are required to wear underwear, balaclavas, boots and gloves made from non-flammable materials made by certified manufacturers. The neck of the riders, which is subjected to enormous loads during accidents, is protected by the HANS (Head And Neck Support) system for the protection of the neck and head of the pilots, adapted to the needs of Formula 1.
Pilot position
One of the most important features The dynamics of a racing car is the position of its center of gravity. Therefore, the pilot's seat is located as close as possible to the bottom of the car, and the position of the pilot himself is most similar to that as if he were lying in a comfortable chair. While the feet are higher above the ground than the back, due to modern design high nose fairings that improve the aerodynamics of the car.
Tires
Three types of tires are used: "slick" - for a dry track, "mixed" or "intermediate" - for slightly wet and "rain" - for a very wet one. Tires for dry tracks are distinguished by hardness: "supersoft" (the softest), "soft", "medium" and "hard" (the hardest). The size of the front and rear tires has constantly changed during the evolution of Formula racing cars, now the front and rear tires different, front tires 245/55 R13, rear 270/55 R13.
Electronics
A Formula 1 car is filled with electronics to help achieve best results in the race. All electronic stuffing the car is inspected by the FIA before the season and cannot be changed during it. From the Formula 1 car, telemetry is continuously transmitted - information about the state and behavior of the car. Telemetry is monitored by team personnel. Feedback prohibited, that is, it is impossible to control the car from the boxes.
Steering wheel
Literally in the recent 1992, the steering wheel in a Formula 1 car was nothing special. Ordinary round piece, with a metal plate in the middle to attach to the steering column, and no more than three buttons - one of them for selection neutral gear, the second for supplying drinking liquid through a tube in the pilot's helmet, and the third for radio communications.
At present, the steering wheel is a complex electronic device, which allows the pilot to change a huge number of settings. Very often Formula 1 teams appoint a dedicated engineer who is responsible for the electronics and steering comfort.
Most steering wheels carry control over 12 different car parameters, so it should not be surprising that up to 120 different components are used to assemble a car - buttons, switches, etc. And despite the abundance of materials and parts, the steering wheel weighs only 1.3 kg.
16 December 10, 14:35
