F1 Glossary 2025
Your complete guide to Formula 1 terminology, technical terms, and racing jargon
A
Aero
Aerodynamics—the study of airflow over the car to create downforce and reduce drag.
Airbox
The air intake opening above the driver's head that feeds air to the engine and cooling systems.
Apex
The point where the car is closest to the inside of a corner, representing the ideal racing line.
B
Backmarker
A slower car that is being lapped by the race leaders, must move aside when shown blue flags.
Ballast
Additional weight strategically placed in the car to meet minimum weight requirements and optimize balance.
Barge Board
Aerodynamic devices mounted on the sides of the car between the front wheels and sidepods to manage airflow.
Blistering
When pieces of rubber break away from the tire surface due to overheating, creating uneven wear patterns.
Box
Radio call instructing a driver to come into the pits for a tire change or repairs.
Brake Ducts
Channels that direct air to cool brake discs and calipers during heavy braking.
Brake-by-Wire
Electronic braking system that replaces traditional mechanical linkages with electronic controls.
C
Camber
The angle of the tire relative to the vertical plane, affecting grip and tire wear characteristics.
Caster
The angle of the steering axis, affecting straight-line stability and steering feel.
Chassis
The driver's survival cell and monocoque structure of the car, made from carbon fiber.
Chequered Flag
The black and white flag shown to indicate the end of a race or session.
Chicane
A sequence of tight corners in alternate directions, designed to slow cars and create overtaking opportunities.
Clean Air
Undisturbed airflow when a car isn't following another closely, providing optimal aerodynamic performance.
Cockpit
The area where the driver sits, designed as a protective survival cell within the monocoque.
Cooling System
Network of radiators, ducting, and heat exchangers that manage engine and component temperatures.
Cost Cap
FIA-imposed budget limit of $140 million per season to level the playing field between teams.
D
Delta Time
The time difference between a current lap and a reference lap, shown as positive (slower) or negative (faster).
Deployment
The strategic use of ERS energy during a lap to maximize performance advantage.
Diffuser
The rear section of the car's floor that expands airflow to create downforce through ground effect.
Dirty Air
Turbulent airflow behind another car that reduces downforce and makes overtaking difficult.
Double Waved Yellow
A more serious yellow flag signal requiring drivers to significantly reduce speed and be prepared to stop.
Downshift
Changing to a lower gear, typically done under braking to optimize engine braking and corner entry.
Drive-Through Penalty
A penalty requiring the driver to enter the pit lane, drive through at the speed limit, and exit without stopping.
DRS Zone
A track segment where DRS can be activated if a car is within one second of the car ahead.
E
Endplate
The vertical plates at the ends of the front and rear wings that help manage airflow and reduce drag.
Energy Store (ES)
The battery system that stores energy harvested by MGU-K and MGU-H systems.
ERS
Energy Recovery System that harvests energy from braking and exhaust heat to provide extra power.
F
Flat Spot
A worn flat area on a tyre caused by locking up under braking, creating vibration and reduced grip.
Floor
The underside of the car that contributes significantly to downforce via ground-effect.
Formation Lap
The lap before the race start where cars line up on the grid after completing a slow reconnaissance lap.
Fuel Load
The amount of fuel carried in the car, affecting weight distribution and lap times throughout the race.
G
Graining
When small pieces of rubber roll up on the tyre surface, reducing grip until they wear away.
Grid Penalty
A penalty that moves a driver down the starting grid, usually for power unit component changes or rule violations.
Ground Effect
Aerodynamic principle using the car's floor to create low pressure underneath, generating downforce.
Gurney Flap
A small tab at the trailing edge of a wing element to increase downforce.
H
Halo
Titanium safety device protecting the driver's head from debris, introduced in 2018.
Harvesting
The process of collecting energy through the MGU-K and MGU-H systems to store in the battery.
Heat Haze
Visual distortion caused by hot air rising from the track surface, affecting driver visibility.
Hydraulics
High-pressure fluid systems that power steering, brakes, and other car systems.
I
Installation Lap
A slow lap to check systems and tire temperatures before pushing for performance.
Intermediate Tyres
Grooved tyres for damp conditions, between slicks and full wet tyres in terms of water clearance.
J
Jump Start
Moving before the start lights go out, resulting in a time penalty or drive-through penalty.
K
KERS
Kinetic Energy Recovery System—predecessor to current ERS, harvested energy from braking.
L
Lift and Coast
Technique where drivers lift off the throttle early and coast to corners to save fuel.
Lollipop
The sign held in front of the car during pit stops, showing when to engage first gear and go.
M
Marbles
Pieces of rubber deposited off the racing line that reduce grip and make overtaking difficult.
Marshals
Volunteer officials positioned around the track to ensure safety and assist with incidents.
MGU-H
Motor Generator Unit - Heat: harvests energy from exhaust gases via the turbocharger.
MGU-K
Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic: harvests energy from the rear axle and can deploy 120kW for 33.3 seconds per lap.
Monocoque
The carbon fiber survival cell that forms the central structure of the car, housing the driver.
O
Out Lap
The lap when a driver leaves the pit lane and returns to racing speed on track.
Overcut
Strategy of staying out longer on worn tyres while rivals pit, hoping to gain position through clear air.
Oversteer
When the rear tyres lose grip before the front tyres; the car's tail steps out in corners.
P
Paddock
The area behind the pits where team motorhomes, hospitality units, and media centers are located.
Paddock Club
Premium hospitality area offering exclusive access and amenities for VIP guests.
Parc Fermé
Regulations that restrict car modifications between qualifying and the race.
Penalty Points
Points added to a driver's license for rule violations, with 12 points resulting in a race ban.
Pit Board
Information display shown to drivers during practice and qualifying to communicate lap times and positions.
Pit Lane
The area where cars stop for tyre changes, repairs, and adjustments during practice, qualifying, and races.
Pit Stop
A stop in the pit lane for tire changes, repairs, or adjustments during practice, qualifying, or races.
Pit Window
The optimal laps for pit stops, balancing track position with tyre degradation and fuel strategy.
Plank
A wooden skid block underneath the car that must remain above minimum thickness to ensure ride height compliance.
Pole Position
The first position on the starting grid, earned by the fastest qualifier in Q3.
Porpoising
Bouncing motion when ground effect aerodynamics stall and recover repeatedly at high speed.
Power Unit (PU)
The complete propulsion system including the V6 turbo engine, MGU-K, MGU-H, and energy store.
Purging
The process of clearing air from hydraulic systems to ensure proper operation.
Q
Q1, Q2, Q3
The three qualifying sessions that determine the starting grid, with eliminations after Q1 and Q2.
R
Racing Line
The fastest path around a circuit, typically following the geometric racing line through corners.
Reconnaissance Lap
A slow lap before the race start to assess track conditions and warm tires and brakes.
Red Flag
Signal to stop the session immediately, usually due to dangerous conditions or serious incidents.
Refueling
Adding fuel to the car, which was banned in F1 from 2010 onward to reduce costs and improve safety.
Ride Height
The clearance between the car's underside and the track surface, crucial for aerodynamics.
S
Safety Car
Official car that leads the field at reduced speed during dangerous track conditions.
Scrutineering
Technical inspection of cars to ensure compliance with regulations before and after sessions.
Sector
One of three timed sections of each lap, used to compare driver and car performance.
Sector Time
Time recorded in one of three sections of each lap, used to analyze driver and car performance.
Setup
The configuration of the car's mechanical and aerodynamic settings for optimal performance.
Shakedown
Initial running of a new car to check basic systems and identify any immediate issues.
Sidepods
The main body sections beside the driver that house radiators and direct airflow to the rear wing.
Slicks
Smooth, grooveless tires used in dry conditions to maximize the contact patch with the track.
Slip Angle
The angle between the direction a tyre is pointing and the direction it is actually traveling.
Slipstream
The reduced air pressure behind a car that allows following cars to achieve higher straight-line speeds.
Sprint Race
Shorter format race (about 30 minutes) held at select weekends, with points awarded to top 8 finishers.
Stewards
Officials who investigate incidents and rule violations, issuing penalties when necessary.
Stint
A period of running on track between pit stops, typically referring to a set of tyres.
Stop-and-Go Penalty
A penalty requiring the driver to enter the pits, stop for 10 seconds, then continue racing.
Suspension
The system of springs, dampers, and linkages that connect the wheels to the chassis.
T
Telemetry
Real-time data transmission from the car to the pits, covering hundreds of parameters.
Throttle
The accelerator pedal and system that controls engine power output.
Toe
The alignment of the wheels relative to the car's centerline, affecting handling and tire wear.
Traction Control
Electronic system that prevents wheel spin, banned in F1 since 2008 to increase driver skill requirements.
Turbo Lag
The delay between throttle input and power delivery in turbocharged engines.
Tyre Deg
Tyre degradation—the rate at which a tyre loses performance and grip over a stint.
Tyre Warming
Process of heating tyres to optimal operating temperature using electric blankets or driving technique.
U
Undercut
Strategy of pitting earlier than rivals to gain track position on fresh tyres.
Understeer
When the front tyres lose grip before the rear tyres; the car doesn't turn as much as intended.
Upshift
Changing to a higher gear, typically done under acceleration to maintain optimal engine revs.
V
Virtual Safety Car (VSC)
A system that reduces all cars' speed by a set percentage without deploying the physical safety car.
W
Warm-Up Lap
A lap at moderate speed to bring tires and brakes up to operating temperature.
Weaving
Moving the car from side to side to warm tires or defend position, with restrictions on frequency.
Weight Distribution
How the car's weight is distributed between front and rear axles, affecting handling balance.
Wheelbase
The distance between the front and rear axles, affecting handling balance and aerodynamics.
Wind Tunnel
Facility used to test aerodynamic properties of scale car models under controlled airflow conditions.
Y
Yellow Flag
Caution flag indicating danger ahead, prohibiting overtaking and requiring reduced speed.
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