why is there a minimum weight requirement in Formula 1? Wouldn’t teams be incentivized to lessen the weight of their cars for faster speeds?
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Yes, and that’s exactly the problem
The drivers would try to lose weight to go faster, the teams may be tempted to reduce weight in ways which reduce strength or safety
The weight limit avoids those things while maintaining a more level playing field
Also, the cars can actually get too fast to the point *that* becomes unsafe. Most regulation changes in F1 relate to reducing the speed. Then the teams find ways to get faster and the FIA introduces new regulations again to slow them down a bit more
Yes, and that’s exactly the problem
The drivers would try to lose weight to go faster, the teams may be tempted to reduce weight in ways which reduce strength or safety
The weight limit avoids those things while maintaining a more level playing field
Also, the cars can actually get too fast to the point *that* becomes unsafe. Most regulation changes in F1 relate to reducing the speed. Then the teams find ways to get faster and the FIA introduces new regulations again to slow them down a bit more
Yes, and that’s exactly the problem
The drivers would try to lose weight to go faster, the teams may be tempted to reduce weight in ways which reduce strength or safety
The weight limit avoids those things while maintaining a more level playing field
Also, the cars can actually get too fast to the point *that* becomes unsafe. Most regulation changes in F1 relate to reducing the speed. Then the teams find ways to get faster and the FIA introduces new regulations again to slow them down a bit more
There was a point 5 or 6 years ago where drivers were literally starving themselves to be at the minimum weight to allow the cars to be even lighter. (It used to be car+driver had to be xxx kg) at the time Felipe Massa who is like 5’4 and 50kg would be at a huge advantage over someone like Esteban Ocon who’s 6’1 and 70kg or something.
That extra 20kg could be used as ballast instead for the best weight distribution which helps for the balance of the car through corners.
Being the best within the parameters given is part of the sport. The engineering and design of the car is just as crucial as the race itself.
There was a point 5 or 6 years ago where drivers were literally starving themselves to be at the minimum weight to allow the cars to be even lighter. (It used to be car+driver had to be xxx kg) at the time Felipe Massa who is like 5’4 and 50kg would be at a huge advantage over someone like Esteban Ocon who’s 6’1 and 70kg or something.
That extra 20kg could be used as ballast instead for the best weight distribution which helps for the balance of the car through corners.
Being the best within the parameters given is part of the sport. The engineering and design of the car is just as crucial as the race itself.
– Safety, too light cars don’t slow down fast enough and can miss major components for driver safety
– Innovation, it pushes teams to innovate on other aspects
– Balance, if everybody has a car that weighs the same it means the diffrence must come in other areas.
There was a point 5 or 6 years ago where drivers were literally starving themselves to be at the minimum weight to allow the cars to be even lighter. (It used to be car+driver had to be xxx kg) at the time Felipe Massa who is like 5’4 and 50kg would be at a huge advantage over someone like Esteban Ocon who’s 6’1 and 70kg or something.
That extra 20kg could be used as ballast instead for the best weight distribution which helps for the balance of the car through corners.
Being the best within the parameters given is part of the sport. The engineering and design of the car is just as crucial as the race itself.
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