For those who follow it religiously are aware that since past 3 years, there has been a horde of changes in Formula One racing. I still remember how surprised I was when last year I just saw a race after long time and the rare spoilers were drastically very short in length. Also the qualifying process changes a lot every season, no different for tyre rules and refuelling!
Come 2011, the gimick is, there are 5 previous champions battling it out this time, something that has not happened in the previous 20 odd years. The big five being Sabastian Vettel(2010), Jenson Button(2009), Lewis Hamilton(2008), Fernando Alonso(2005,2006), Micheal Schumacher (7 times!). Vettel seemed in sublime form in the first round of 2011 at Australian GP!
Getting back to the technology changes of 2011. The two main addition are the DRS(Drag Reduction System) and KERS(Kinetic Energy Recovery System). The concept of KERS is very simple, as the name suggests, it does the same thing.The way it does it is very very complex.The mechanical KERS system utilises flywheel technology developed by Flybrid Systems to recover and store a moving vehicle’s kinetic energy which is otherwise wasted when the vehicle is decelerated.This is the link where you will find the technical information about it! For the just concluded race at Australia, Red Bull drivers including the winner Sabastian Vettel, did not use the KERS technology!
The second one called DRS was used by everyone. It was even visible on the speedometer of a racing car which is shown during the race on the TV screen. To get into the details, DRS is implemented by using an adjustable rear wing. How it works is as the car approaches the corners, the rear wing is brought down slightly, which helps in increasing traction and for straights it is brought up, which helps in better acceleration, as simple as that! This is a fantastic link explaining DRS with a 9 minute video from Red Bull racing team, demonstrating the same!
I am a F1 fanatic and I would like to state that, although these changes seem basic and miniscule, it involves lots and lots of research and millions of dollars worth of investment. Also getting a F1 license is not that simple, neither is F1 racing. F1 pilots(yes, they are called pilots and not drivers!) are subjected to forces of upto 3Gs and loose upto 5 kgs of weight after every race. F1 racing is very very demanding and requires a lot of talent and hard work!
Fortunately, there is gonna be an Indian GP this year at Delhi, first time F1 race in India. It is gonna be on 28-30th October and is subject to circut approval. If it does happen, it will indeed bring a lot of exposure for the sport in India.
Getting back to the technology changes of 2011. The two main addition are the DRS(Drag Reduction System) and KERS(Kinetic Energy Recovery System). The concept of KERS is very simple, as the name suggests, it does the same thing.The way it does it is very very complex.The mechanical KERS system utilises flywheel technology developed by Flybrid Systems to recover and store a moving vehicle’s kinetic energy which is otherwise wasted when the vehicle is decelerated.This is the link where you will find the technical information about it! For the just concluded race at Australia, Red Bull drivers including the winner Sabastian Vettel, did not use the KERS technology!
The second one called DRS was used by everyone. It was even visible on the speedometer of a racing car which is shown during the race on the TV screen. To get into the details, DRS is implemented by using an adjustable rear wing. How it works is as the car approaches the corners, the rear wing is brought down slightly, which helps in increasing traction and for straights it is brought up, which helps in better acceleration, as simple as that! This is a fantastic link explaining DRS with a 9 minute video from Red Bull racing team, demonstrating the same!
I am a F1 fanatic and I would like to state that, although these changes seem basic and miniscule, it involves lots and lots of research and millions of dollars worth of investment. Also getting a F1 license is not that simple, neither is F1 racing. F1 pilots(yes, they are called pilots and not drivers!) are subjected to forces of upto 3Gs and loose upto 5 kgs of weight after every race. F1 racing is very very demanding and requires a lot of talent and hard work!
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