While doing so, they are striving to complete laps in time while getting podium finishes. In many cases, the cars are getting stretched to their utmost capacity, suffering from damages and wear and tear as a result. That is what a spare car is for, right? So how many cars do F1 teams actually have? You will be surprised by the answer!
Formula 1 racing is one of the most acclaimed international sports. The history of Formula 1 racing is quite interesting. This sport initially started in the 1920s to 1930s. Unfortunately, the World War II put a stop to it in Europe. But after the war, some motor enthusiasts could not be stopped from starting it again. From that moment, the journey started, and it is one of the leading sporting attractions globally today. One of the best features of F1 is the safety cars deployed in case of accidents and other mishaps. However, when you think of the extreme wear and tear that most F1 cars go through, you will wonder- how many cars do they actually have?
There are several rumours of F1 teams possessing many cars when it comes to racing. But the fact is that they have only two cars for two drivers each. After starting with the same car for each driver, the scenario changes with the progress of the season. The team makes changes and develops new parts in breaks; they even swap some parts between the cars. Changing parts often becomes necessary in case of any accidents or other damages.
All these changes make the car look different by the end of the season. The cars require changes so many times because they must remain competitive.
This fact is true. Earlier racing teams used to have spare cars. The competitors would take it to the race weekend or for practising. These cars were kept in the garage, and drivers would take them when they had issues with their cars. But with a ban, the teams were only allowed to change the parts of the cars. There are also restrictions regarding which parts should be changed and which should not.
Not all parts can be changed throughout the racing season. Other than the tires, there are a few things that can be changed. The nose cone, the front wing and the part of the nose of the cars are a few of the changeable parts in a racing car. The mechanics are so fast that they change the old front wing in 10 seconds. However, the car gets repaired only under the red flag condition. Before starting the season, the car parts are replaced with a spare part of the same configuration.
Specific parts of the Formula 1 cars can be changed only for a limited time during the season. These parts are to be changed only on the condition of damage. So the changes done during that period are considered. Generally, mechanical parts do not last long. Due to overuse, they are subject to damage. Therefore frequent changes are needed to maintain the car's performance
These are some of the regulations that F1 teams have to abide by, when it comes to competing in races. They do not have spare cars, as mentioned, while having to adhere to the specific regulations for changing parts.
