I am always fascinated by the sheer amount of science, engineering, and technology Formula 1 uses.
One of the facts that I have always been fascinated is the downforce an F1 car generates.
6 tons of downforce! 6000kg!(at peak though)
In street circuits like Monaco or Singapore or Baku, they literally weld the manholes (drain covers)!
It is a great danger that when an F1 car goes past the manhole, it may pull the drain cover causing fatal damage.
This happened in yesterday’s Practice Session, where George Russell drove over an unwelded manhole, it damaged the whole car. The whole Practice Session had to stop. Even Charles Leclerc had the drain cover pulled driving past it. They have welded all the drain covers for all the upcoming sessions now.
This video is a must watch –
If you think the numbers are crazy (they are), ask MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow, who claims F1 cars’ brutal downforce causes bumps and ripples in the asphalt. And looks like he is right. Other MotoGP drivers are concerned about sharing tracks with F1.
By the way, Aren’t street circuits the most amazing places to race! Circuit de Monaco, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Canada, Baku Street Circuit… … …!