F1 technology
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motor racing, and so the technology and jargon used in F1 can be rather advanced. We’ve explained three things you need to know before taking your place trackside at the 2011 Indian GP.
DRS: This stands for Drag Reduction System. When an F1 car is hurtling forward at speeds of around 300 kph, the air itself acts like a barrier that needs to be forced through. The opposing air, also called drag, is a force that the car needs to overcome in order to travel faster. Aerodynamics focusses on just this. Another handy technology that can be applied is the Drag Reduction System or adjustable rear wings. In order to create less drag, the driver can open up a gap between the two blades on the rear wing, which allow air to pass through them, instead of hitting against the wing. The two DRS settings can be accessed by the driver via an electronically-controlled knob. Drivers are allowed to use this system any time during practice or qualifying. During the race itself, however, drivers can only use this if they are within a second of the driver they are following. Thus DRS is used to aid overtaking.
KERS: Or Kinetic Energy Recovery System. This technology takes energy that is lost during braking and converts it into additional power for the engine, using either an electrical system or a flywheel. The additional energy is made available to a driver using a boost button. Activating KERS means a driver has access to 80 bhp worth of extra power for up to 6.67 seconds per lap, resulting in a time advantage of 0.1 to 0.4 seconds. The power can be accessed either in one go or at different points during a lap. A leading driver can use KERS to maintain his lead and a following driver can use it to try and overtake. KERS, like DRS, is not compulsory.
Tyre compounds: There are two types of slick tyre compounds that are made available to teams for each race weekend, the prime compound and the option compound. Deciding exactly what the prime and option compounds are for the race weekend are up to Pirelli, the official tyre supplier for F1. In addition to the prime and option compound, wet weather and intermediate tyres are also available in case of changing weather conditions. Each type of tyre has a colour coded Pirelli logo. On wet weather tyres the logo is orange, intermediates have light blue logos, super soft tyres have red, soft have yellow, medium have white and hard tyres have a silver logo.
