Simply put, these rods play a role in the car’s suspension. They are essential in managing the car’s interaction with the bumps on the track. Furthermore, they help in maximizing tire contact with the tracks to ensure maximum power output from the car.

The 2024 #F1 suspension configurations #TechF1 pic.twitter.com/3tSwj5o0wY

— nicolas carpentiers (@NicolasF1i) February 20, 2024

Geometry and Center of Gravity play crucial roles in choosing between the two. A pull rod results in a flex in droop, which leads to the wheels going down. Meanwhile, a push rod leads to a flex with the wheel in bump, meaning the wheels go up.

However, before diving deeper into the mechanics of both rods, it is important to understand the suspension of an F1 car.

What is suspension and why is it important in F1?

Much like real-world roads, F1 tracks have a lot of bumps and kerbs on them. Tires run over it, and force is applied to the wheels. Suspensions are important to manage the feedback and ensure smooth sailing for the drivers. Without suspensions, the tires would effectively be attached directly to the car’s chassis.

As such, any impact would directly send feedback to the car’s body. Not only will this make for an extremely unpleasant ride, but will also result in uncontrollable bouncing of the car. The bouncing, in turn, will lead to a lack of tire grip on the track, potentially resulting in crashes.

Formula 1 Car Suspension #engineering #engineer #F1 #suspension #student #graduate #STEM pic.twitter.com/YIPA9J0AiU

— The Graduate Engineer (@TheGradEngineer) March 16, 2021

On an F1 car, several points connect the wheels to the chassis. ‘Wishbones’ feature on the top and bottom, sloping diagonally when stationary. Between these wishbones, there is a suspension rod, which runs from the top of the wheel uprights to the springs. The entire setup makes up for an F1 car’s suspension.

Suspensions allow the kinetic energy to be stored by a spring known as a ‘torsion spring.’ The force from bumps compresses springs and allows tires to continue gripping the track. However, should a driver take too much kerb, it leads to their cars momentarily taking off.

What is the difference between push rod and pull rod?

Pull rods first entered the F1 grid back in the 1970s. Brabham’s Gordon Murray introduced the concept, seeing the need for the cars of the day. Formula-1 Dictionary explains these rods have a strut from the outer end of the upper wishbones running diagonally to the lower end of the chassis. It ‘pulls’ a rocker to operate the spring.

The advantage of pull rods lies in the possibility of making a car’s ride height lower. A lower height results in a lower center of gravity, allowing a car to hug the tracks close.

Push rods, meanwhile, do the exact opposite. The strut runs from the lower wishbone to the upper edge of the chassis. Impacts ‘push’ the rocker that operates the spring in this scenario. With push rods, the cars run relatively higher off the ground, allowing them to not take as much plank wear as the cars of old.

Most modern F1 cars are now switching to push rods. Given the high nose of the latest cars, it is almost impossible for teams to locate a rocker low enough in the chassis to use pull rods and have the correct geometry. Hence, a push rod is the way forward.

Which is better?

A multitude of factors play a role in a team deciding upon which type of rod to use in their suspension setup. Access to the technology, complexity of the task, and cost are all contributing factors. However, none of them are as important as a car’s aerodynamic setup. The use of a specific rod depends on the team’s aerodynamic vision for their car.

One major reason for this new casing is to allow the team to switch from a pull rod rear end to a push rod.#F1 #TechTalk pic.twitter.com/Ny4NefExm0

— Muneer Sthalekar (@StallasF1) February 15, 2024

While the nose makes it difficult to implement a pull rod, a push rod ends up restricting access to some other components of the car. As is the case with any other component on the car, changing or altering the setup of the rods results in a knock-on effect and alters the behavior of the car. As such, the better choice once again boils down to the team’s vision for their car.

The post What Is the Difference Between Pull Rod and Push Rod Suspension in F1? appeared first on The SportsRush.

Schumacher (2021)

Netflix produced a documentary film named ‘Schumacher’ in 2021. This is a film that has been made on the great Michael Schumacher, using archival footage and exclusive interviews. This documentary focuses on the German champion’s personal life as well as his monumental achievements in F1.

Given the seven-time champion has been unconscious for over a decade now, this documentary hits the emotional chords even harder for fans. Schumacher has been in a coma ever since his horrific skiing accident in 2013.

For fans wanting to watch the Schumacher documentary, it is exclusively available on Netflix.

Senna (2010)

Besides Michael Schumacher, if there is any other all-time beloved GOAT driver of F1, it has to be Ayrton Senna. To honor the Brazilian’s legacy, this documentary film titled ‘Senna’ was released in 2010. It covers the three-time champion’s life from 1984 until his untimely and sad death in 1994.

Senna’s tragic Imola accident and the resultant demise shocked the entire motorsport world. Given the talent of the McLaren legend, F1 fans can’t fathom what could he have achieved had he not passed away. This film, thus, again becomes much more special to give fans a glimpse of his glory over his decade-long F1 career.

According to Autosport, Senna is not available on Netflix to watch. But it is available to watch on rent on other platforms like Amazon Prime Video for $4.40 (£3.49), YouTube Movies, and Google Play for $3.14 (£2.49).

Rush (2013)

If anyone wishes to see one of the closest championship battles, Rush is the movie for them. Based on the epic 1976 season when Niki Lauda and James Hunt fought an epic title battle down to the wire, the Ron Howard-directed flick captures the true essence of F1.

Lauda and Hunt are played by Marvel Cinematic Universe actors Daniel Bruhl and Chris Hemsworth respectively. Both actors nail their roles of two strikingly opposite drivers who went toe to toe for the championship. Without spoiling anything, Rush can arguably be the perfect watch for fans to start liking the sport.

Rush is available to watch on Netflix. Besides, it is also available to watch on rent on Amazon Prime Video for $4.40 (£3.49), YouTube Movies, and Google Play for $3.14 (£2.49).

McLaren (2017)

For the history geeks, McLaren is the goldmine of F1 films. Based on the life of McLaren Racing’s founder and former F1 driver Bruce McLaren, the film takes fans on a nostalgia trip back to the 1960s and 1970s.

While McLaren has become a modern and huge brand in the present day, it had humble beginnings under Bruce McLaren. The New Zealander founded the team in the ’60s and this film focuses on his journey of his racing career.

McLaren is not available to watch on Netflix. But, on other platforms, fans can watch it on rent; on Amazon Prime Video for $4.40 (£3.49), YouTube Movies, and Google Play for $3.14 (£2.49).

Williams (2017)

In the present day, Williams Racing may be a team struggling to thrive in F1. Though, before the turn of the millennium, they dominated the sport. Williams often used to be one of the top teams besides McLaren, Ferrari, and others. The Williams documentary focuses on their heydays.

The journey of this family-owned team in F1 produces some of the most prestigious moments of history in the sport. From Frank Williams and Patrick Head pioneering the team with their innovations to its dominance with Nigel Mansell winning races and the championship in the iconic blue and yellow cars, it is a tale of inspiration.

Just like McLaren, the Williams documentary is not available to watch on Netflix. Although, fans can rent it on Amazon Prime Video for $4.40 (£3.49), YouTube Movies, and Google Play for $3.14 (£2.49).

A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story (2020)

Having raced in the inaugural decade of F1 in the 1950s, Juan Manuel Fangio is one of the most prominent drivers in the sport’s history. Being a five-time champion in an era when F1 cars were quite primitive relative to today’s technical intricacies certainly makes Fangio stand out. For now, fans can only watch the documentary exclusively on Netflix.

Ferrari: Race to Immortality (2017)

‘Ferrari: Race to Immortality’, another story from the 1950s, is a movie about the famous Prancing Horse from Maranello. The movie is about Ferrari’s rise to prominence in F1, having been racing in other forms since the 1920s.

Under Enzo Ferrari, who was himself a hardcore racer, this movie goes into the roots of what made the team so prestigious in F1. Ferrari did not dominate the 1950s with championships, as it was a mixed decade of tragedy and success.

Back in the day, drivers were often at risk of losing their lives while racing in F1. There has rarely been a team in those days, who did not witness a major accident with their drivers. Despite that, Ferrari has kept racing in F1, becoming the oldest constructor in the sport.

For fans wanting to witness those early days of the Italian team in F1, they can watch this movie on rent on Amazon Prime Video for $4.40 (£3.49), YouTube Movies, and Google Play for $3.14 (£2.49). However, on Netflix, it is not available.

The post Formula 1 Movies on Netflix and Other Platforms: From Schumacher to Rush, Best F1 Movies and Docuseries to Watch appeared first on The SportsRush.

Much of their confidence stems from recovered junk mail sent from a senior staff member. In one of their recent statements, the FOM detailed how Andretti failed to respond to an invitation from F1 to discuss the application. Andretti had no clue about the mail until this revelation. Upon checking their spam folders, they found out about the same. Citing the communication issue, Andretti now demands a meeting to discuss the application.

Andretti/General Motors in 2023:

Indy 500 Win
Formula E Drivers World Champions
Le Mans Podium
Daytona 500 Win
IMSA GTP Champions
Bathurst 1000 Win
+ More

Their racing pedigree is indisputable

@FocusPackMedia#F1 pic.twitter.com/AaK3SDbzxE

— Ewan Wane (@EwanAWane) January 31, 2024

Michael Andretti firmly believes his partnership with Cadillac has the potential to be competitive. Both names have found incredible success in motorsports before. As such, Andretti sees no reason for them to be unsuccessful in F1. Both parties are firm believers in their application. It details the capabilities of Andretti as a race team and Cadillac as a manufacturing and engineering entity.

The FIA had no reservations about the move and approved the entry without any hesitations. Andretti hopes to be the only “truly American” team on the grid, firing shots at Haas. Given their confidence, the team continues to develop their car. After years of trying to enter the grid by buying a pre-existing team, Michael Andretti thought it was best to sport a new one altogether. However, his hopes and dreams took a plunge in cold water, yet again, owing to FOM’s rejection.

The door still open for Andretti in 2028

With F1 stating they would look at the application “differently” in 2028, General Motors (GM) is up for the long wait. They have plans to build their own F1 engine for 2028. By doing so, GM believes they will bring additional factors for F1 to consider. According to the FOM, new teams need to take on a compulsory power unit supply over a period of time.

Given GM can come up with an engine in 2028, the two seasons before that would see Andretti take engines from a different manufacturer. The sudden shift in providers could prove to be damaging to F1’s image, claims the FOM.

Andretti’s bid to join the F1 Grid for 2025 or 26 (approved by the FIA) has been rejected by the commercial rights holder. Conclusions of F1’s report are below – door remains open for joining in 2028 pic.twitter.com/y9KXlA0lB7

— David Croft (@CroftyF1) January 31, 2024

Furthermore, they feel the inclusion of Andretti will bring them no recognition. Instead of the team getting more exposure to F1, the sport will be adding value to Andretti’s image.

Should GM be able to deliver on its engine plans, F1’s criteria for evaluating future team entries might change altogether. For now, the newer teams rely on a pre-existing supplier for their engines. But the benchmark could soon change with teams having to come up with their own engines or suppliers.

The post Andretti F1 Battle is Far From Over With Recovered Junk Mail Renewing Hope appeared first on The SportsRush.

This year’s F1 pre-season testing will be a three-day affair, beginning on February 21st and continuing on February 22nd and 23rd.

According to F1’s official website, each day will be nine hours of running, but this will not be continuous. There will be a morning session and an evening session after a small gap. Traditionally, each session lasts for four hours, with a one-hour gap squeezed in between.

The schedule for the upcoming pre-season testing is as follows:

Wednesday, February 21st – 10 AM to 7 PM
Thursday, February 22nd – 10 AM to 7 PM
Friday, February 23rd – 10 AM to 7 PM

*The above timings are according to Bahrain’s local time zone.

What time is F1 pre-season testing?  

For fans in the United States, the timings for F1’s 2024 pre-season testing will be 2 AM to 11 AM (Eastern Time)  and 11 PM to 8 AM PT (Pacific Time) for all three days.

Three whole days of running will be extremely crucial for the teams. It is the final chance for them to find out what the strengths and weaknesses of their cars are before they hit the track for Grand Prix races. For the fourth year in a row, this will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Logistically, this makes a lot of sense, because drivers can drive both in daylight and nighttime conditions. Additionally, the first race of the season takes place in Bahrain, so it helps the teams reduce travel costs.

Who drives cars during testing?

During testing, all 20 drivers get turns at driving the brand-new challengers, that get unveiled to the world just weeks before the season starts. So far, all 10 teams have unveiled their cars, and drivers have gotten a few laps in thanks to the shakedowns. But nothing certain can be concluded until there has been rigorous testing.

Our 2024 grid is set and READY!

Which new car is your favourite? #F1 pic.twitter.com/AxkK9p8SGF

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 15, 2024

This rigorous testing is done only during testing. In some ways, it is a dress rehearsal and all the drivers need to get time behind the wheel. The 20 drivers who will be in action during pre-season testing are:

Red Bull – Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell
Ferrari – Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
McLaren – Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Alpine – Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon
Williams – Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant
RB – Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda
Sauber – Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu
Haas – Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg

There are also chances that teams run their reserve and test drivers instead of the main ones. Last year, Aston Martin had Felipe Drugovich driving in Bahrain testing due to a wrist injury for Lance Stroll. So, in case of any sickness or unavailability of any of these main 20 drivers, the test and reserve drivers may step in.

Weather for Bahrain’s pre-season test

Weather is expected to be sunny and dry for all three days in Bahrain. Since the track is located in Sakhir, the middle of the desert, the chances of rain are minimal. This is another plus point of having the testing in Bahrain, in addition to the circuit having a great layout for testing different aspects of the car.

When the day starts, the temperatures are hot. But once the evening session gets underway, there is a drop in temperature. On February 21st and 22nd, the weather can be a bit cloudy, but on the last day, it is expected to be sweltering.

Is pre-season testing the final word?

Many times, the entire season for a team is predicted based on how they perform in pre-season testing but that couldn’t be far away from the truth. Teams have a lot to work on throughout the season, and how they start, will most certainly not guarantee where they finish.

Also, usually, teams opt for different setups and run plans to experiment during testing. So, the cliched argument during pre-season testing is never read too much into the lap times. Those can be deceptive of any team’s real potential and the picture changes as the season gets underway.

Side-on comparison shots

Let’s take a look at how @redbullracing‘s RB20 sidepod design compares to the others #F1 pic.twitter.com/Duh5HNIon8

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 15, 2024

For example, in 2023, Aston Martin started as the second-best team on the grid but ended the season in P5. Ferrari was considerably slower but developed their car very well to finish a respectable P3. The biggest surprise of all, however, was McLaren.

The Woking-based team looked as though they would struggle to even finish in the points. But in the end, they managed to end the season giving Red Bull and Max Verstappen a run for its money. Nonetheless, it could provide a certain idea about who looks stronger and is likely to have a strong season ahead.

This year, Red Bull once again look like the favorite with a changed RB20 concept. However, teams like McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and even Aston Martin are looking to make a step forward towards the champions. It is possible that one of these teams could spring a surprise being closer to Red Bull than expected Either way, Bahrain pre-season testing will give us some idea of the pecking order for 2024.

The post 2024 F1 Pre-Season Schedule: When Is the Testing at Bahrain International Circuit? appeared first on The SportsRush.

However, this campus pass comes without any designated seats, according to Miami GP’s official website. With the 3-day pass, fans can have access to multiple areas around the Miami International Autodrome. This includes the MIA Marina, the Promenade, the F1 Fan Zone at The Fountains, Race Street, and also the 300 level of the Hard Rock stadium.

The 300 level around the stadium gives fans a chance to see the F1 Team Village and be inside the Hard Rock stadium. Besides this, fans can enjoy cuisines and food from 100 different types of food vendors.

Some of the popular restaurants in the Miami circuit campus include Havana 1957, Elle’s Oyster Bar, Oro Pizza, etc. In 2024, Cerveceria La Tropical and Piper Heidseck are two new additions to the food vendors.

The pertinent question is how can fans watch the race and on-track action. There are general admission areas that give a view of the on-track action. However, at the F1 Fan Zone at The Fountains, there is a 16 ft x 9 ft video screen that shows the live action. So, fans can enjoy all the races’ action on the screen too besides having food at the MIA Marina section.

As the pass grants access on all three days of the Miami Grand Prix weekend, fans can watch all support races happening at the track. This includes the F1 Academy and Porsche Carrera Super Cup races happening during the weekend besides F1. The Miami GP weekend will take place from May 3rd to May 5th.

How is the 3-day campus pass better than a daily general admission ticket at the Miami Grand Prix?

Usually, at other tracks, General Admission tickets only give audiences entry to the track and watch the race from the general admission area. The Grandstand tickets are pricier with designated seats usually above $500 or $1000 per person.

At the Miami GP, this campus pass gives a premium of offerings besides just general admission entry. Certainly, for a ticket holder of any of the Grandstands, the Hospitality Village and Clubs, or the F1 Paddock Club, all these offerings are included. They don’t need to buy a campus pass separately.

The Grandstand tickets and other premium area tickets for the Miami GP have prices above $1200 to north of $5,000. Thus, this 3-day campus pass is a good bargain for general admission audiences at $435.

As this is the first American race on the calendar, there is a huge demand for tickets, with all the celebrity appearances bound to happen. Ever since the inaugural race in Miami happened in 2022, the craze for this event has increased. So, the Miami GP organizers are probably looking to serve the general audiences in the best way possible with this Campus Pass.

Available Miami GP Ticket options

The Miami Grand Prix is one of the most expensive F1 races to attend. As mentioned above, the lowest available Grandstand tickets are for the Marina Central Grandstand at $1,215.67 (€1,128.03).

According to the official Formula website, the North Beach Grandstand and the Start/Finish straight Grandstand are sold out. The Turn 1 North Grandstand has tickets available at $1,657.74 (€1,538.22). Meanwhile, tickets for the Turn 18 Grandstand (the final corners section) are also at a similar price at $1,687.87 (€1,566.18).

From here on, the ticket prices see a huge climb. The Turn 18 MIA Hospitality Village & Club has a pricing of $4,420.62 (€4,101.9). Meanwhile, the most expensive ticket price is for the Boathouse which is located near the inside of Turns 6 and 7 (near the fake marina). Tickets for the Boathouse have prices of $5,023.43 (€4,661.25).

All these tickets have more premium and luxurious viewing experiences, directly proportional to the increasing prices. Besides having designated seats, these ticket holders will have access to all of the aforementioned areas around the Miami International Autodrome, included in the campus pass.

The post Formula 1 Miami 2024: Miami Grand Prix Announces $435 3-Day Campus Pass appeared first on The SportsRush.

American audiences are a big deal for every sport and digital business due to the high ad revenue. F1 also has been focused on increasing the sport’s popularity in the US since Liberty Media’s takeover in 2017.

Thus, the joint production of Drive to Survive along with Netflix was also one of their strategies to popularize F1 in America. Since 2019, when Netflix first released the show, F1 has seen a huge rise in American audiences.

Kym Illman cited that according to a survey of 1,900 adult US-based respondents in March 2022, 53% of the audience credited Drive to Survive for boosting their fandom for F1. According to a Nielsen report, the American fanbase of F1 was about 49.2 million in 2022.

This indicates that as of 2022, Netflix and DTS have influenced about 26 million US-based fans to become dedicated enthusiasts of the sport. Such a boost is evident in the track audience and viewership figures of the American F1 races and other races too.

Liberty Media is quite happy to see its objectives of popularizing F1 in the US being successful. They are also planning to cash in on this increasing popularity of the sport among American fans.

F1’s plans to capitalize on the growing American popularity due to Drive to Survive

As Liberty Media saw the growing numbers of the American fanbase in 2020-21, they planned for a second race in the US. This was the Miami GP that they planned to host on a hybrid street circuit in Miami around the Dolphins’ NFL stadium in 2022.

It was a move to capitalize and serve on the growing hunger of American audiences for F1. Post the Miami GP, F1 went big with the Las Vegas GP.

A huge spectacle in one of the most entertaining and happening cities of the world – it was bound to get Formula 1 a lot of eyeballs. Liberty Media invested its own money of about $240 million to acquire land and get the preparations going for the third US F1 race for 2023.

And this huge investment paid off too, as the Las Vegas GP had an economic impact on the city’s business of about $1.3 billion. Even in terms of the racing, the Vegas street track proved to be brilliant with some amazing battles. Eventually, even drivers who criticized the track initially (say: Max Verstappen) enjoyed the racing and even the show.

Following the huge success of having three races in the United States, Formula 1 is not willing to slow down on its American front. There have been reports that the stakeholders are planning a 4th F1 race in the US in Chicago.

This could turn off some fans who are critical of so many US-based races. Although, given the financial opportunity to cash in on the growing fanbase, it makes sense on why F1 may go ahead if a 4th race is feasible.

The post Netflix’s Drive to Survive Credited for Injecting 26 Million US-Based Fans in Formula 1’s Ecosystem appeared first on The SportsRush.

Per insider reports, the organizers want the Chicago GP to be “European-esque” and will combine the elements of European tracks with a street circuit. The event’s organizers want to prioritize racing and speed to balance out the show of the Miami and Vegas races.

Eventually, the Vegas GP turned out to be a great race with multiple battles and overtakes. Still, the show and flashy allure of the event was much more in focus, as F1 wanted it to be. Meanwhile, the Miami GP has failed to serve good racing and it is the celebrities and marketing hype that have made it thrive in its two occurences.

Originally, there were plans to have a New York Grand Prix after the debuts of the Miami GP and the Las Vegas GP. However, they have altered plans to prioritize a race in Chicago after filing for trademarks for the race.

Formula One Licensing has applied for trademarks for:

– Chicago Grand Prix
– Formula 1 Chicago Grand Prix
– Grand Prix of Chicago
– Formula 1 Grand Prix of Chicago

Reminder anybody can apply for a trademark. Ironic that NASCAR is running a race in Chicago.

h/t @formula1god pic.twitter.com/3CobUUSOLK

— Vincenzo Landino (@vincenzolandino) January 27, 2024

Furthermore, rumors suggest the Chicago race might replace the Austin GP. The contract for the Circuit of the Americas runs out at the end of 2026. With no extensions signed, speculations suggest the Chicago race might be on the calendar as soon as 2027.

However, there has been no official comment. Besides, some reports also claim that Chicago may be the 4th race in the US, which again won’t go down well with fans.

Further details emerge about the Chicago F1 GP

According to sources, one of two names would win the race for the official title. The names filed for trademark might face rejection, and as such, a new name is in the works. The frontrunners for the same are the ‘North American Grand Prix,’ and the ‘Chicago Festival Grand Prix.’ But it is still subject to the approval of the race.

EXCLUSIVE: Sources reveal there are extensive plans to hold an F1 race in Chicago

The event may be named either the “North American Grand Prix” or the “Chicago Festival Grand Prix”, as the trademark application for the “Chicago Grand Prix” name will likely be rejected.

… pic.twitter.com/ziaIMvU8gn

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 8, 2024

Should the Chicago GP add to F1’s growing calendar, it will be the fourth American GP. As such, F1 could further strengthen its hold on the American market and earn an even larger profit. However, the addition of yet another street circuit or a hybrid street circuit might not make fans too happy, and even the drivers on the grid might stand against the idea.

The post Unlike Las Vegas Grand Prix, Chicago F1 Organizers Want to Prioritize Racing Over ‘Show’ appeared first on The SportsRush.

Usually, an F1 car for a Grand Prix has several parts for its complete setup. It involved both the front and rear wings, the steering wheel (which is unique for a race car), the power unit (including the internal combustion engine), and other elements such as the battery and turbocharger.

The cost of an F1 engine can be around $10.6 million. The engine and PU alone reportedly cost the most among all parts of an F1 car. Meanwhile, a set of wings cost around $200,000, and the steering at $50,000. According to Red Bull, this can boost the cost of an F1 car to about $15.9 million.

Can you buy an F1 car?

One cannot buy a modern-day real F1 car that has raced on track. However, there are show cars that usually are available on platforms such as F1 Authentics. These show cars come at a price of around $119,300 and can go up to $150,000 approximately.

Naturally, this car won’t have any engine or transmission like a real car, given it is only for exhibition. But from the looks of the show car, it more or less matches the original. The livery and the outer build of the chassis will be the main points of attraction in such a show car.

Still, if one wants to buy a complete F1 car that can be driven and raced, they have to pay the price for it. Such cars are usually pieces of F1 memorabilia and often include old iconic cars driven by legendary champions.

From Michael Schumacher’s championship-winning Ferraris to Ayrton Senna’s all-conquering McLaren MP4/4, the cost for such cars can go up to $7 million or even higher.

What is the most expensive F1 car?

Often auctions happen for the sale of both classic and modern F1 cars. The most expensive F1 car that was sold at an auction was a classic car from the 1950s. It was the championship-winning car of Juan Manuel Fangio from 1954 – the Mercedes Benz W196.

The record price of Fangio’s Mercedes was roughly around $31 million. Even modern F1 cars that have gotten buyers in recent times have not fetched so much money. Lewis Hamilton’s first Mercedes car, the W04, became the most expensive modern-day F1 car in November 2023 in an auction in Las Vegas.

Lewis Hamilton’s 2013 Mercedes F1 Car Breaks Records And Sells For $18.8 Million https://t.co/70QuR2Q2oM #news #Auction pic.twitter.com/71NJK8J9hM

— Bobby Ore Motorsport (@OreBobby) November 20, 2023

Hamilton’s 2013 Mercedes went for a staggering $18.8 million. This sale broke the record that Michael Schumacher’s 2003 championship-winning Ferrari held. Schumacher’s Ferrari was sold for $14.9 million over a year ago.

RM Sotheby, who conducted the auction, had anticipated a price estimate of about $10 to $15 million for Hamilton‘s car. Certainly, the seven-time champion’s allure may have given it the premium to go at $3 million higher than expected.

How quick is an F1 car?

Speed is just one of the reasons why F1 is called the pinnacle of motorsport. However, that is at times enough to lure audiences as watching an F1 car blast past at full speed is quite the spectacle.

It can be blinding to spot the car when a driver is going full throttle, as he reaches speeds of over 220 mph. Valtteri Bottas holds the official fastest speed record in an F1 car when he touched 378 kph (234.8 mph) at the 2016 European GP practice in Baku.

Meanwhile, the fastest speed recorded in a race was at the Temple of Speed in Monza. It was the 2005 Italian GP, where Juan Pablo Montoya touched 372.6 kph (231.5 mph) in his McLaren MP4-20.

How much can teams spend on their cars currently? Was there a cap previously?

F1 teams now follow a budget cap to limit their expenses on building and operating their cars over a season. The FIA introduced this budget cap of $145 million for the 2021 season for the first time. Since then, this cap has been reduced to $140 million in 2022 and $135 million in 2023, and will stay at this amount till 2025.

The FIA implemented this to bridge the gap between the bottom half and the top teams, who could spend a lot of money to gain performance, given their financial ability. The top sides mainly involved teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. At times, these teams reportedly even spent over $300 to $400 million in a season.

Meanwhile, smaller teams like Williams, Haas, and Sauber did not have that much investment and financial backing to splurge on development and catch up with the top outfits. Thus, to level the playing field, the budget cap came into play.

Naturally, this cap only involves expenses and costs for the development of the car and all operations of the team. However, there are certain exemptions to the cap that involve some high-paying expenses such as drivers’ salaries.

Even salaries of the top three highest-earning members of the team are exempt from the cost cap. Similarly, travel costs, marketing expenses, entry and license fees, employee bonuses, etc. are exempt for teams under the budget cap. However, all manufacturing of parts, testing, simulation, and car development costs come under the scrutiny of the FIA.

The post How Much Does a Formula 1 Car Cost and Other FAQs appeared first on The SportsRush.

There have been reports from various sources of Liberty Media and F1 registering new trademarks for a Chicago Grand Prix or Grand Prix of Chicago. As the applications for these registrations got leaked on social media, recent reports suggest they may get rejected.

Thus, if F1 is looking to have a race in Chicago, it may be called the North American Grand Prix or the Chicago Festival Grand Prix.

EXCLUSIVE: Sources reveal there are extensive plans to hold an F1 race in Chicago

The event may be named either the “North American Grand Prix” or the “Chicago Festival Grand Prix”, as the trademark application for the “Chicago Grand Prix” name will likely be rejected.

… pic.twitter.com/ziaIMvU8gn

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 8, 2024

However, local authorities have expressed some reservations about an F1 race in Chicago. This includes two of the Aldermen of the city. These reservations come after the city hosted its first NASCAR race on a street track in Grant Park.

Chicago officials feel F1 is more expensive and complicated than NASCAR

Alderman Brian Hopkins and Brendan Reilly gave their insights on the challenges they may face to host F1 in Chicago. Hopkins cited that he believes F1 requires a “10-year minimum deal”. This “non-negotiable” aspect of hosting a Grand Prix may be difficult to agree upon.

Besides this, Brendan Reilly stated that they could either host F1 or NASCAR. He feels F1 circuits need to be longer and more organized with barriers, bumps, potholes, and manhole covers. This would be a steep ask for Chicago to fulfill properly

Reilly also commented on the expensive nature of F1 besides the track, “What we did with NASCAR, welding manhole covers and smoothing over potholes and calling it a track — that doesn’t work with F1. More complicated, thus higher price tag.”

The NASCAR track in Grant Park was a 3.5 km (2.2 mile) circuit with 90-degree corners and long straights. While 90-degree corners and long straights have become a normal theme in F1 street circuits now, the length of the track may be a concern. 3.5 km is the minimum length for a new modern F1 circuit to be eligible to host a race (Monaco is the only exception at 3.337 km).

Most of the current tracks on the F1 calendar are 4 to 5 kilometers (three to four miles long) on average. The three new tracks that announced long-term 10-year deals with F1 – Miami, Qatar, and Las Vegas are all above 5 km in length. So, besides the name trademark, circuit length and infrastructure may be a crucial parameter for F1 to overcome about Chicago.

The post F1 Turns a Deaf Ear to Public Outcry With Plans Laid Out For 4th American Race – The Chicago Festival Grand Prix appeared first on The SportsRush.

F1 is all about performance and being fast on the tracks. If a car weighs more than the rest, it will inevitably be slow on the tracks in the long run. As such, shedding as much weight as possible while not hampering a car’s performance is key. This is where exposed carbon fiber comes into play for the F1 teams.

According to Mark Hughes from The Race, each full-color scheme to a car adds at least 1 kilogram (2.3 pounds) of weight, which affects performance. To put the same into numbers, a kilo of extra weight adds around 0.03 seconds to a lap time.

In a race of around 60 laps, this would translate into 1.8 seconds. This means that a car would be 1.8 seconds slower in a race only because of added weight (via paint in this scenario).

Stake Kick Sauber release their 2024 car livery!

Black & VIBRANT Green. pic.twitter.com/uoSwKlmJKK

— Will Strachan (@willstrachan23) February 5, 2024

To put things into further perspective, a full paint job on a car adds around 6 kilograms (13.227 pounds). Certain teams (such as McLaren) are turning to vinyl to add color to their cars instead of paint. The material is lighter and saves crucial weight while allowing their cars to stand out from the crowd.

Drivers’ weight included, a car’s minimum weight should be 798 kgs (1759 lbs). While this has about 70 to 80 kgs of the driver (which drivers too look to optimize), under the latest regulations, teams are doing everything they can to ensure they only add weight that aids in performance. The rest only acts as a barrier for them.

What is the Carbon Fiber material that F1 teams use?

For decades, the teams in F1 have built their cars almost entirely of a material called carbon fiber. It is the exposed black part of a car that teams are now in favor of showing off rather than covering it with paint.

The primary reason behind the use of this material is its strength-to-weight ratio. While most other materials that provide good strength to cars are very heavy, carbon fiber is amongst the lightest and strongest materials for the job.

We’re proud to present our new livery!

Here’s all you need to know. #WhateverItTakes

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 16, 2024

Furthermore, it acts as an excellent safety material for the drivers, owing to its tensile strength. Teams require multiple layers of CF on each part to ensure maximum durability.

They vacuum layers together before putting the parts into a pressure cooker to complete the manufacturing process. McLaren introduced the material in F1 when they first started using carbon fiber back in the 1980s.

The post Why Are All the 2024 F1 Challengers Predominantly Dull and Black? appeared first on The SportsRush.