FORMULA 1

Vocabulary
fast cars, fast talk
Apex | point where a driver's racing line is closest to the inner Paddock | enclosed area where transporters and motor
corner and they can reduce steering lock and hit the throttle homes are, no public admission

Aquaplaning/hydroplaning | layer of water between the tires Parc Fermé | fenced-off area where cars are parked after
and track resulting in a loss of traction/control, frequently qualifying and the race, teams cannot touch them, checked
ending in a crash over by scrutineers for legality and safety
Parc Fermé conditions | cars are in the garages or on track
Backmarker | driver at the rear end of the field, likely to be
and teams can make limited changes to them
lapped
Pits | area including the garages, pit lane (road connecting to
Blistering | inner part of the tire overheats, damages the
the track) and pit wall (strategy/data centre)
surface creating bubbles
Pole position | first place on the starting grid, fastest lap time
Box | indication that the driver should pit in qualifying
Chassis | single shell everything is attached to Power Unit | includes the engine (ICE), turbo charge, energy
recovery systems, energy store, and control electronics
Chicane | consecutive turns in alternate directions
Race Director | in charge of race procedures, track
Clean air | no car in front creating turbulent air, optimal safety/safety cars
aerodynamic conditions
Racing Line | typical route drivers will take around the track,
Compound | different rubber mixes used in the different shortest way around the track
types of tires, giving them their unique characteristics
Safety Car | used for large racing incidents to stop racing but
Deg/degradation | loss of tire performance due to wear keep drivers on the track, drivers follow behind the car at a
slower speed
Delta time | time difference, between lap times or two cars
Scrubbed | used/already broken in tires
DRS | drag reduction system, flap at the back of the car that
Shunt | accident or crash, usually involving gliding down the
opens to increase aerodynamic performance and speed
track
DRS zone | straight where DRS can be activated Silly season | time of the year (usually around the summer
Flat spot | spot where the tire looses its curvature break) where contracts are being negotiated and drivers are
switching teams, lots of rumours
Free Practice | hour long sessions where teams can drive on
Slicks | completely smooth tires, for dry weather
the track, testing and collecting data on their tires and car set
ups. Slipstreaming | driving behind another car to reduce drag,
reach a higher speed and slighshoot past
Graining | outer surface of a tire overheats, looks like pilling
on a sweater Stewards | referees, investigate racing incidents and give out
penalties
Grid | race starting position, all the drivers
Tear-offs | removable plastic strips on the driver's visor
Halo | loop around the drivers head to protect them in case of
Tire warmer | electric blanket that's wrapped around the tires
an accident
Understeer | car undershoots and doesn't reach the racing line
Lock up | sharp braking causing one or more tires to pause
their rotations Virtual Safety Car | used for large racing incidents to stop
racing but keep drivers on the track, drivers slow down and
Oversteer | car overshoots and goes past the racing line maintain their time between each other

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