Formula One (F1)
Formula One (F1) racing is widely
accepted as one of the most expensive, competitive, dangerous, and technology
advanced motorsports in the world (Morganelli 2007 & Castle 2003). The
present global F1 competition involves races taking place on specially designed
circuits or tracks in many different countries, with drivers and race teams of
different nationalities, racing cars with engines designed and manufactured
worldwide, for the glory and money in winning a World Championship (Morganelli
2007).
The term “Formula” refers to the sets of
strict specifications in race car engineering designs in which the competitors
have to comply; and “One” means that the cars and their racers are the most
powerful and the best in formula racing. The organizing body of the F1 is the
Federation Internationale De L’automobile or FIA which was formed in 1947, 3 years before the official birth of the
modern F1 racing (Morganell 2007). The FIA makes the rule book which consists
of the technical regulations and the sporting regulations. The technical
regulations consist of the specifications of the car’s design which includes
the engine, transmission, and suspension. The sporting regulations, on the other
hand, cover all aspects of the race including the “point system” which is the
basis of determining the winners of the race. The first F1 World Championship
was held on May 13, 1950 in the Silverstone circuit in Britain. The first F1
championship was awarded to the Italian race driver Giuseppe Farina (Morganell
2007).
The Formula One is a showcase of the
best, fastest, and most reliable race car. F1 racing cars are limited to light
weight, single seat and open-wheeled cars, that is, the wheels are outside the
car’s body. Since the 1950s, the companies and independent individuals accepted
the challenge to design and build the fastest and most powerful racing car
(Castle 2003). There are two battles happening during an F1 competition, the
first is the battle among the fastest and most skilled race car drivers. The
second battle involves the battle between the sets of rules and regulations –
the formula, and the car designers and engineers who strive to outsmart the
established formula (Castle 2003). The early years of the Formula One cars were
dominated by front engined cars from Italian teams such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari,
and Maserati (Morganelli 2007). John
Cooper then introduced a more reliable new car design wherein the engine was
placed at the back of the driver providing the race car with greater stability
(Castle 2003). Since then all the F1 racing cars are mid-engined. Over the
course of the F1 Worldwide championship there had been tremendous amount of
changes in the design and technology used in making F1 cars. These changes
include the discovery of the ground-effect, the introduction of wings and
skirts, the use of the light but strong carbon fiber material, turbo-charged
engines, etc. (Castle 2003). In some way, the race governing body FIA, was threatened
by some of the changes which led to the frequent revisions of the rules in
order to limit and control the capabilities of the racing cars.
Because of the need to outsmart the
governing rules in order to win races, technical innovation became and had
always been a part of Formula One. Millions of dollars are spent in research
and development in order to improve the performance of the racing cars by
fraction of a second. Engineers need to continuously experiment with new
materials, designs, and set ups of the car in order to adapt to new circuits
and changing race formulas (Castle 2003).
The high costs of researches, running an F1 team, and maintaining the
racing cars are funded by sponsors. Successful drivers are financially
supported by corporations who make money by placing their company logos in the
F1 cars – an effective advertising which promotes the sponsor’s products and
services to the F1 spectators.
Safety has not always been among the
primary concern of F1 racing; since F1 began there had already been records of
tragedies - accidents and deaths of both drivers and spectators. Over the
years, much has been done to improve the safety of everyone (Castle 2003). The
guidelines were updated in order to improve the safety of the drivers, crew,
and spectators. However there were also some instances where the rules were
changed because of “technological” issues (Castle 2003). The most recent
changes ware implemented this year. The revisions in the technical regulations
include the following: the introduction of a more powerful unit consisting of
1.6L V6 turbo machine and 2 Energy Recovery Systems (ERS); reduction of the
fuel limit to 100 kg which is about 1/3 less of the previous limit; addition of
an eight speed gear to the initially 7-speed gearbox; front wings were narrowed
from 1800mm to 1650mm; the beam wing was abolished and the wing flap was made
shallower; the chassis height was reduced from 625mm to 525mm and the nose
height was reduced from 550mm to 185mm; and the minimum weight was increased
from 642 kg in 2013 to 690 kg (“2014 Season Changes,” 2014).
Formula One seasons are composed of a
series of races, or grand prix (“prix” is the French word for prize) located on
circuits all over the world. FIA announced recently that there will be a total
of 21 races for the 2015 Formula One (“21-race season proposed for 2015,”
2014). The 21-grand prix is the 66th season of Formula One and will
kick off on March 15 in Australia, and will end on November 29 in Abu
Dhabi. Among the expected constructors
that will participate in the 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are Ferrari, Mercedes,
Red Bull-Renault, Lotus-Mercedes, Caterham-Renault, Force India-Mercedes,
McLaren-Honda, Sauber-Ferrari, Toro Rosso-Renault, and Williams-Mercedes (“2015
FIA F1 World Championship - Entry List,” 2014).
The recent 2014 World Championship also
finished in Abu Dhabi last November 21-23, 2014. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is
relatively new to the F1 racing schedule. It was only in 2009 when F1 was
formally inaugurated in the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates. The Yes Marina race circuit was designed by the renowned circuit architect
Hermann Tilke (“2014 Formula 1 Etihad…” 2014). The circuit is positioned on the edge of the
Marina, so the other side of the circuit can be watched by spectators on boats
in the harbor and over 50,000 spectators can watch the cars race against each
other. The circuit is 5.55 kilometers
long, with a total of 21 turns. It is one of the few circuits to run in
anti-clock wise direction. The racers had to complete 55 laps. The circuit also
features the longest straight on the F1 calendar and is the only track with an
underground pit lane. (Carter 2009) It was also the first circuit to host the
first F1 day-night racing which started at 17:00 during its inauguration in
2009. The circuit was illuminated with floodlights throughout the race. At
present, there had already been 6 F1 grand prix races held in UAE, in which
Sebastian Vettel won three times, Lewis Hamilton bagged the top spot twice, and
Kimi
Räikkönen claimed one race. Although Formula One involves
racing of the fastest cars, the sports is more comparable to game of chess than
just an old-fashion horse race. It not
only requires driver skills but tremendous amounts of strategies from the whole
racing team (Castle 2003).
In conclusion, the effect that F1 has
had on the UAE culture is one that allowed for diversity and also allowed for
more people to see and understand what the UAE is all about. Increased tourism
and seeing how many locals and expatriates alike join to watch the races comes
to show how F1 is a well respected sport by people from all over the world. As
the UAE becomes more global, and F1 becomes a recurring event in the UAE we
will have more exposure and the UAE will always have visitors that will learn
from us as we learn from them. The F1 races are considered to be a part of sports
and leisure with a global culture and an international following and I am proud
to say that the UAE is now a part of the F1 family of followers.
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References:
2014 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabu
Grand Prix. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/ abu_dhabi_932/
circuit_history.html
2014 season changes. (2014.). Retrieved
December 6, 2014, from http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/sporting_regulations/12877/
2015 FIA F1 World Championship - Entry
List* | Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. (2014, November 5).
Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://www.fia.com/2015-fia-f1-world-championship-entry-list
21-race F1 season proposed for 2015.
(2014, December 3). Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30319421
Morganelli, A. (2007). Formula One.
New York: Crabtree Pub.
Carter, J. (2009, November 1). Yas
Marina Circuit. Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://en.espnf1.com/unitedarabemirates/motorsport/circuit/1325.html
Castle, J. (Producer & Director).
(2003). Discovery Channel: The Secret
Life of Formula One [Documentary]. Europe: Lace Studio.
