A

ACCIDENT DATA RECORDER
A 'black box' designed to record the loads experienced by an F1 car in an accident. Data can be accessed by the FIA for use in safety research.


ACTIVE SUSPENSION
A computer controlled system used to maintain the car's ride height at the ideal level at all times. Such systems were banned at the end of the 1993 season, along with other electronic driver aids in use at the time.


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 understeer.


AERODYNAMIC EFFICIENCY
A term used to describe the relationship between the downforce a car generates, and the cost in terms of drag and hence straightline speed.


AIRBOX
The large opening above and behind a driver's head, which forces air into the engine trumpets.


AQUAPLANING
A description of what a driver experiences when his car completely loses contact with the road surface when running in extremely heavy rain.


APEX
The point on the inside of a corner which a driver clips with his wheels when running on the ideal line.


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


AUTOCLAVE
A giant oven used by teams in the manufacture of carbonfibre chassis and components.


B  Top 

BARGE BOARD
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 in as efficiently as possible.


BLISTERING
A description used when tyres become so worn that small holes appear in the tread, usually in excessively hot weather. This is less common since grooved tyres were been introduced.


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


BRAKE BALANCE
A control a driver can use to switch the percentage of braking power applied to the front and rear of the car.


C  Top 

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design/computer-aided manufacture', a process used by teams to design and develop their cars, and which has superceded the traditional drawing board.


CARBON FIBRE
Material used for the construction of chassis, bodywork, suspension and other F1 car components. The first such chassis was built in 1981, by McLaren.


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 an F1 car should be near the middle and as low as possible.


CENTRE OF PRESSURE
The point on which all the aerodynamic forces of an F1 car are concentrated. For neutral handling, the centre of pressure should be near the middle of the car.


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 F1 tracks in the 1970s.


COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (CFD)
Computer systems that allow designers to predict the airflow around a new design before they cross-reference their findings with data gathered from testing wind tunnel models.


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.


CRASH TESTING
A process which all new F1 designs have to undergo before the start of the season, under the supervision of the FIA. These crash tests include simulated front, rear and side impacts, plus a simulated roll.


D  Top 

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 thus has a direct effect on handling.


DOWNFORCE
The downwards pressure created by the car's aerodynamics as it moves through the air. The more downforce a car has, the more grip it will have in the corners. The term became common in the late seventies.


DRIVE THROUGH PENALTY
A penalty applied to a driver during a race, often for an offence such as passing under yellow flags. The driver has to pass through the pit lane within the prescribed speed limit, but does not have to stop. See also STOP AND GO PENALTY.


E  Top 

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


ENGINE MAPPING
A process used to adjust an engine's performance characteristics electronically. Drivers can select different maps with a control in the cockpit.


F  Top 

FIA
The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile is the governing body of motor sport worldwide. In past years it has also been known as the CSI and FISA. Its main offices in Paris and Monaco, and it is currently run by its elected President, Max Mosley.


FLAT SPOT
A patch of severe wear created on a tyre when a driver spins or locks up his brakes. It can lead to a vibration because the tyre is no longer perfectly round.


FOM
Formula One Management is the organisation overseen by Bernie Ecclestone and which works in conjunction with the FIA to run the commercial side of the sport, notably controlling the worldwide TV rights.


FOOTPRINT
The contact patch between the tyre and the track surface. This has been reduced since the introduction of grooves in 1998, but will be increased again by a return to slick tyres in 2009.


FORMATION LAP
The final warming-up lap before the start of the race. Also known as parade lap.


FUEL CELL
An alternative term for fuel tank. F1 cars use specially developed flexible 'bag tanks' which are virtually impregnable in the case of an accident.


G  Top 

GRAVEL TRAP
An area of small stones designed to slow a car when it spins off.


GROOVED TYRES
Introduced for the 1998 season, grooved tyres were an easy way of keeping a check on grip levels by reducing the amount of rubber applied to the road. See also CONTACT PATCH.


GROUND CLEARANCE
The distance from the track surface to the lowest part of the chassis. Also known as ride height.


H  Top 

HANS
Also known as a head and neck device, the HANS system is a piece of carbon material worn on the driver’s shoulders and to which his helmet is attached by straps. Its role is to protect the driver’s neck in a heavy accident.


I  Top 

INSTALLATION LAP
The first lap during a practice session, during which drivers take it relatively easy to to ensure everything works properly. After this lap they go back to the pits to have their cars checked by their crew.


K  Top 

KEVLAR
A synthetic material used in the manufacture of chassis and bodywork parts.


L  Top 

LEFT FOOT BRAKING
A technique first used in rallying which allows a driver to keep his right foot poised on the throttle while using the left for slowing the car. It has become common in F1 as the clutch pedal has been phased out.


LOLLIPOP
A sign on a pole used by a chief mechanic to show a driver where to stop in the pitlane. When it is lifted the driver is free to leave the pits.


M  Top 

MARBLES
A nickname for the debris which builds up just off the 'clean' racing line of a circuit. Usually it consists mostly of small pieces of rubber that have been thrown off by the tyres.


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


MEDICAL CENTRE
The on-site hospital which every Grand Prix circuit has to have. They are regularly inspected by the FIA’s medical staff to ensure that they are up to standard.


MONOCOQUE
An alternative name for chassis.


N  Top 

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


NOSE
A general description of the front bodywork of an F1 car.


O  Top 

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


P  Top 

PADDLE
A hand control located behind the steering wheel. Paddles can be used to operate the clutch and to change gears up or down.


PADDOCK
The area behind the pits where team trucks and motorhomes are parked. Personnel gain access to the F1 paddock via an electronic turnstyle which automatically checks passes.


PARADE LAP
See: FORMATION LAP.


PIT BOARD
A sign system used to signal information to a driver as he passes the pits. Radio communication has yet to make this method obsolete.


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


PLANK
See: SKID BLOCK.


POLE POSITION
The place on the front of the grid awarded to the driver with the best qualifying time.


POP-OFF VALVE
A pressure relief valve used to limit the power of turbocharged engines in 1986-'88.


Q  Top 

QUALIFYING
A session on Saturday afternoon which determines the grid positions for Sunday’s race. The session is divided into three 15 minute sessions, with the slowest teams eliminated at the end of each session.


R  Top 

RIDE HEIGHT
See: GROUND CLEARANCE.


ROLL BAR
A suspension component which connects the left and right suspension and allows them to act in harmony. Also sometimes used to describe the hoop above a driver' head designed to protect him in an accident.


S  Top 

SAFETY CAR
A high performance road car which is used to slow down the field in the case of a major accident or bad weather.


SAFETY CAR START
In extreme weather conditions the race can be started with the cars running behind the safety car until the track is deemed safe. Races are also re-started behind a safety car after suspensions.


SCRUTINEERING
A checking process cars go through before and after a Grand Prix in order to ensure that they fully comply with the technical rules.


SHAKEDOWN
A term usually used to describe the first test a brand new car undergoes, in order to make sure its basic functions are working satisfactorily. Also used to describe short test sessions undertaken before newly rebuilt cars are taken to the next race.


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


SKID BLOCK (PLANK)
A rectangular panel (30cm wide and 1cm deep) fitted underneath the car as means of controlling the ride height during the race. If after the race more than 10% is worn off, the car will be disqualified.


SKIRT
A plastic strip used to seal the gap from the bodywork to the road in the area between the wheels. No longer allowed, they were an integral part of 'ground effect' cars from 1977-81.


SLICK
A completely smooth dry weather tyre. Slicks were in use between 1970 and 1997, but were superceded by grooved tyres in an attempt to curt cornering speeds from 1998. However, they are due to return in 2008 and new examples were tested by teams in December 2007.


SPLASH-AND-DASH
A nickname for a quick pitstop for fuel near the end of the race, usually required because of a miscalculation by the team.


SPORTING CODE/REGULATIONS
The official terms for the FIA rules that govern how a race weekend is run.


STARTER
The FIA official who has the job of overseeing the start of a GP and the countdown procedure which precedes it. The job has been carried out by Charlie Whiting for many years.


STEWARD
A senior FIA official who makes judgements on possible rule infractions. There are three stewards at each GP, including one from the host nation and one permanent steward who travels to every race.


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 has to 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. See also drive through penalty.


STREET CIRCUIT
A track based entirely or in large parts on public roads, usually with the barriers running close to the edge of the track. In 2008 Valencia and Singapore join Monaco on the F1 calendar.


T  Top 

T-CAR
An alternative name for the spare car each team brings to a race. Its most usual role is as a substitute if a race car is damaged at the start of a red-flagged event, and cannot be fixed in time for a re-start. However, the use of safety cars has made such scenarios very rare.


TEAM MANAGER
A team member with day-to-day responsibility for organising logistics, specifically during trips to races. In the past the team manager would have controlled race strategy from the pit wall, but this is no longer the case, and it is largely an administrative role.


TEAM PRINCIPAL
The man who acts as a ‘figurehead’ for the team and looks after its interests in its dealings with the FIA and FOM. In the past team principals were very often also the owners of the team, but now most are hired employees.


TEAR-OFF STRIP
A thin film of plastic that can be ripped 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.


TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Usually the team member with overall responsibility for overseeing the team who design and develop the cars, although the role can be different in different teams.


TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
The branch of the FIA rules that focuses on to what specifications the cars are designed and built.


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


TEST TEAM
A group of mechanics and engineers employed by a team to concentrate on preparing cars for testing, and who do not attend Grands Prix as part of the actual race teams. Often test team mechanics graduate to the race team, which is seen as a more prestigious role.


THIRD DRIVER
The third driver is officially nominated as the reserve driver who undertakes testing duties and can step in if one of his colleagues is injured or taken ill. Teams may also employ additional test drivers.


TIMED PRACTICE
A term used to differentiate practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning of a Grand Prix from the qualifying session held on Saturday afternoon. Times are recorded but do not count towards grid positions.


TRACTION CONTROL
An electronic means of reducing wheelspin when a driver pressed the throttle. Such devices were banned at the end of 1993, as it was felt they were an unnecessary aid to driving. It later returned but was banned again at the end of the 2007 season.


TRANSPONDER
An electronic device that sends data from the car to the pits.


TURNING VANE
See: BARGE BOARD.


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.


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.


U  Top 

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.


UNDERTRAY
An alternative name for the floor of a racing car. It is aerodynamically shaped at the rear.


W  Top 

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.


WIND TUNNEL
A facility used by teams for aerodynamic testing of cars and parts, usually with 50-60% scale models.


WINGLET
A nickname for supplementary small wings, usually found at the rear of the sidepods. They are now banned in order to prevent teams from finding extra downforce.


WISHBONE
A triangular shaped suspension component. Each corner of a car has a pair of upper and lower wishbones.