Everyone has their favourite form of motor sport, right? Some prefer Nascar. Others prefer their touring cars. Some prefer Indy and here in Australia, it’s the V8 Supercars. The good thing is that we don’t have choose between one or the other. We can watch it all.
If we did have to choose, though, I’m sure it’d be Formula 1 that topped the heap. If you can get away from all the corporate BS and the questionable records of some countries that pay to host races, what Formula 1 excels at is innovation.
Whether it’s engine tech, suspension, safety devices, aerodynamics, brakes, fuel economy and/or the use of materials, a lot of the innovations that make their way into modern passenger vehicles get their start in racing. And Formula 1 is consistently at the cutting edge.
This three-minute video narrated by ex-F1 driver and BBC commentator, Martin Brundle, gives you a good look at Mercedes-Benz’s new turbocharger setup. Formula 1 cars have vastly different airflows to regular cars but it’ll be interesting to see how this could be implemented in passenger cars to get more power and responsiveness while using less fuel. I’m sure they’ll find a way.
It’s compelling stuff.
