Formula One (F1) is one of the world’s top three sporting festivals, and although it has a strong image as a European-centric competition, it is gradually expanding globally. The advanced technology and aerodynamic design of F1 cars are the pinnacle of mechanical engineering, and we hope to see the sport become more popular in Korea, and dream of a Korean F1 team in the future.
Formula One, a sports festival of engineering and technology
What are the three biggest sporting events in the world? The World Cup, the Olympics, and Formula One. The World Cup and the Olympics are very familiar to most of us, but many people may wonder what F1 is. F1 stands for Formula One, which is a type of car racing competition and means ‘Number one’ among the many racing competitions around the world. However, the reason why this famous sport is not well known in Korea is because most of the teams and drivers that participate in this competition are European.
The origins and growth of F1
The history of F1 dates back to the early 20th century. In the 1920s, car racing became popular in Europe, and car manufacturers participated in races to test and promote their technology. In 1950, the first official F1 race was held in Silverstone, England, and the sport began to evolve. Since then, various Grand Prix events have been organised in different countries around the world, and today it’s a global sport with more than 20 races a year around the world.
Although F1 has a strong image as a European festival, Brazilian drivers from South America are playing a big role, and Japan, which is close to us, not only hosts an F1 Grand Prix, but also has its own racing teams, Honda and Toyota, and has achieved excellent results in the competition. As such, F1 is gradually becoming a festival for people around the world. The news that F1 will be held in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, Korea for the first time this year was a surprise. Hyundai Motor Company has long been considering the creation of an F1 team, and Hankook Tyres is also looking to become an official F1 partner. With the inaugural Korean Grand Prix, Korea’s F1 teams and drivers will begin to emerge, and the public’s interest in the sport will grow.
F1 machines and engineering
F1 is a regular racing competition, and it’s all about how fast a car can travel a given distance. In order to create the most agile and fastest cars in the world, advanced engineering knowledge is used. Mechanical and aeronautical engineering play a huge role. The engine is the heart of the car, and it”s the first thing that makes it go fast. The engines used in F1 cars are the epitome of mechanical engineering, capable of performing around 18,000 revolutions per minute. This compares to around 4,000 to 6,000 revolutions for a typical passenger car engine and 8,000 to 9,000 for a sports car like a Ferrari.
This high performance is the result of tireless research and hard work by engineers over a long period of time. Compared to the early engine technology of the 1950s F1 competition, the engines in today’s F1 cars are overwhelmingly powerful with technological advances. Spectators at an F1 race are often amazed by the roar of the engines more than anything else. Even these revs are limited by regulations for the safety of the drivers, and current technology is capable of producing engines much faster than that.
Aerodynamics and F1 speed
Another important factor in driving fast is aerodynamics. Which has less drag, a regular car or an F1 machine that is an engineering marvel? Surprisingly, the answer is a regular car. F1 cars are deliberately designed to have more drag to maximise their cornering performance. On a straight course, less drag is an advantage, but F1 races are full of twisty corners and the body needs to stay in contact with the road at high speeds. This is where downforce comes in. This is the principle of using the drag of the air to push the body of an F1 car closer to the road, as opposed to the wing structure of an aeroplane.
F1 cars use this downforce to increase the friction between the tyres and the road, allowing them to safely negotiate corners at high speeds. The principle of downforce is simple, but its design and implementation involves cutting-edge aerodynamic technology. Thanks to this technology, F1 cars are unrivalled not only for their speed on the straights, but also for their manoeuvrability around complex corners. When you see cars driving up a wall in the movies, it’s not so hard to imagine an F1 car doing the same.
The future of F1 and the possibilities of engineering
When I was in primary school, there was a huge craze for toys called mini cars. They were small cars with a similar design to F1 cars, and at the time, I was intrigued by their cool looks, but as I gained more knowledge about mechanical engineering and science, I realised how amazing the engineering behind them was. The machines of F1 are more than just the pursuit of speed, they are the result of engineering marvels and creativity.
As F1 becomes more and more popular in Korea, I hope that many people will not only enjoy the joy of racing, but also become interested in mechanical engineering and science. I hope that in the future, more Korean teams and drivers will enter F1 and achieve world-class results, and I am confident that F1 will play an important role in promoting the growth of engineering technology in Korea.
