Why do F1 cars have sparks and where do they come from?
Jack NicoleNovember 20, 2021
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
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What is the spark produced by an F1 car? Why do cars make them and why do they show up more in night races?
Qualifying for the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix took place at the Losail circuit, where the cars sparked.
In the first quarter, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull finished second in the first quarter with the most spark of any car.
But why do F1 cars spark? How did they do it, and what conditions did the car need to fire?
Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images
The spark under the F1 car
Sparks in F1 are created by titanium blocks under the car.
When it hits the ground, it’s called the car “bottoming out.”
Known as the “plank”, it was introduced to keep the ride height (the distance between the bottom of the car and the ground) within a safe range following the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna in 1994.
The sparks are created when a metal block attached to the plank hits the ground.
Photo by Russ Barron/Getty Images
Sparks are most prevalent when the car is pushed into the ground by the downforce it produces.
Through the high-speed complex of corners, sparks are created as the car is aerodynamically propelled into the ground.
In 2015, titanium became mandatory – which powered the spark of F1 racing.
Why do you watch more at night?
Whether it’s day or night, F1 cars are always bursting with sparks.
During the day, places such as Eau Rogue/Raidillion at Spa can compress the car to spark sparks while climbing a hill.
The first lap of the Suzuka circuit is also a great place for sparks as the cars react to the aerodynamic loads placed on them.
Simply put, sparks can be seen more clearly at night.
It’s like why fireworks shows happen at night and night instead of day.
F1 will hold four night races in 2021, three of which will end the season.
Bahrain opens the campaign, while Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi will all be on the night, with Hamilton and Verstappen vying for the title.
Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
Is there anything to tell us about this article?
Jack usually writes or reads anything related to motorsport – from Formula 1 to NASCAR to British truck racing. His work as a motorsport reporter has been published in prestigious outlets such as Autosport, Motorsport.com and Motorsport News. In addition to racing, he is an avid amateur astronomer, podcast listener, and enjoys walks in the park with his three dogs.
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