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Complete Glossary of F1 Terms - Part I

There is an old adage in Formula One racing that goes: "Behind every great F1 driver, there's a great race engineer". The role of the engineer is one of the most important roles in this sport, but this role is not that easy to understand. The intricacies of F1 racing have captured the imagination of all speed lovers. As this lies above the understanding of an average Formula One fan, Carazoo.com brings you a glossary of the terms used in Formula One racing in the hope that understanding of this much-loved sport will become easier. Since the list of glossary itself is pretty stretched-out in size we are giving the same in parts.

We here present you the first list of the F1 glossary.

Aerodynamics: The study of airflow over and around an object and an intrinsic part of Formula One car design.

Apex: The middle point of the inside line around a corner at which drivers aim their cars.

Appeal: An action that a team takes on its drivers' behalf if it feels that they have been unfairly penalised by the race officials.

Ballast: Weights fixed around the car to maximise its balance and bring it up to the minimum weight limit.

Bargeboard: The piece of bodywork mounted vertically between the front wheels and the start of the sidepods to help smooth the airflow around the sides of the car.

Blistering: The consequence of a tyre, or part of a tyre, overheating. Excess heat can cause rubber to soften and break away in chunks from the body of the tyre. Blistering can be caused by the selection of an inappropriate tyre compound (for example, one that is too soft for circuit conditions), too high tyre pressure, or an improperly set up car.

Bodywork: The carbon fibre sections fitted onto the monocoque before the cars leave the pits, such as the engine cover, the cockpit top and the nosecone.

Bottoming: When a car's chassis hits the track surface as it runs through a sharp compression and reaches the bottom of its suspension travel.

Brake balance: A switch in the cockpit to alter the split of the car's braking power between the front and the rear wheels according to a driver's wishes.

Chassis: The main part of a racing car to which the engine and suspension are attached is called the chassis.

Chicane: A tight sequence of corners in alternate directions. Usually inserted into a circuit to slow the cars, often just before what had been a high-speed corner.

Clean air: Air that isn't turbulent, and thus offers optimum aerodynamic conditions, as experienced by a car at the head of the field.

cockpit: The section of the chassis in which the driver sits.

Compound: Tread compound is the part of any tyre in contact with the road and therefore one of the major factors in deciding tyre performance. The ideal compound is one with maximum grip but which still maintains durability and heat resistance. A typical Formula One race compound will have more than ten ingredients such as rubbers, polymers, sulphur, carbon black, oil and other curatives. Each of these includes a vast number of derivatives any of which can be used to a greater or lesser degree. Very small changes to the mix can change compound performance.

Diffuser: The rear section of the car's floor or undertray where the air flowing under the car exits. The design of the diffuser is crucial as it controls the speed at which the air exits. The faster its exit, the lower the air pressure beneath the car, and hence the more downforce the F1 car generates.

Downforce: The aerodynamic force that is applied in a downwards direction as a car travels forwards. This is harnessed to improve a car's traction and its handling through corners.

Drag: The aerodynamic resistance experienced as a car travels forwards.

Drive-through penalty: One of two penalties that can be handed out at the discretion of the Stewards whilst the race is still running. Drivers must enter the pit lane, drive through it complying with the speed limit, and re-join the race without stopping.

Flat spot: The term given to the area of a tyre that is worn heavily on one spot after a moment of extreme braking or in the course of a spin. This ruins its handling, often causing severe vibration and may force a driver to pit for a replacement set of tyres.

Formation lap: The lap before the start of the race when the cars are driven round from the grid to form up on the grid again for the start of the race. This sometimes is referred to as the warm-up lap or parade lap.

G-force: A physical force equivalent to one unit of gravity that is multiplied during rapid changes of direction or velocity. Drivers experience severe G-forces as they corner, accelerate and brake.

Graining: When a car slides, it can cause little bits or rubber ('grains') to break away from the tyre's grooves. These then stick to the tread of the tyre, effectively separating the tyre from the track surface very slightly. For the driver, the effect is like driving on ball bearings. Careful driving can clear the graining within a few laps, but will obviously have an effect on the driver's pace. Driving style, track conditions, car set-up, fuel load and the tyre itself all play a role in graining. In essence, the more the tyre moves about on the track surface (i.e. slides), the more likely graining is.

Gravel trap: A bed of gravel on the outside of corners designed with the aim of bringing cars that fall off the circuit to a halt.

Grip: The amount of traction a car has at any given point, affecting how easy it is for the driver to keep control through corners.

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