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Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 | 2 a.m.
Editor’s note: “Behind the News” is the product of Sun staff assisted by the Sun’s AI lab, which includes a variety of tools such as Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity AI, Google Gemini and ChatGPT.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is zooming back into town this week, bringing the world’s fastest race cars to the Strip for another thrilling night of high-speed competition. As Formula One’s elite drivers navigate the 3.8-mile street circuit past iconic landmarks at speeds exceeding 200 mph, Las Vegas once again takes center stage in the world of motorsports.
Formula One cars are marvels of engineering, blending cutting-edge technology, lightweight materials, and aerodynamic design to achieve incredible speed and performance.
What makes Formula One cars so fast?
Formula One cars are designed for maximum speed and agility. They use:
- Hybrid power units producing over 1,000 horsepower, combining internal combustion engines with electric motors for efficiency and power [1]
- Advanced aerodynamics that generate massive downforce, allowing cars to corner at high speeds without losing grip [1, 2]
- Lightweight carbon fiber chassis for strength and minimal weight, making the cars highly responsive [3]
- Sophisticated electronics and data systems that optimize every aspect of performance, from engine mapping to tire management [4]
Evolution of Formula One cars
Over the years, F1 cars have evolved dramatically:
Early Era (1950s-1960s):
- Cars were constructed largely of steel and sometimes aluminum, using tubular steel space frames and sheet metal bodies [18, 19]
- Early cars were front-engined, but by the 1960s, midengined designs became standard for better balance and handling [5]
- In 1962, Lotus introduced the aluminum monocoque chassis — a single shell that enormously improved strength-weight ratio, stiffness, and safety [18]
1980s Revolution:
- Carbon fiber composites replaced steel and aluminum, leading to lighter, much stronger and vastly safer cars [20]
- McLaren pioneered a carbon fiber monocoque in 1981, which became the template for all future F1 construction [20]
Modern Era:
- Aerodynamics have become increasingly complex, with innovations like ground effect downforce and active suspension systems [1]
- Hybrid technology was introduced in 2014, drastically improving efficiency and power output [3]
- Modern cars are safer, faster, and more environmentally conscious, with ongoing changes to regulations and technology [1]
Performance specifications
Speed:
- Top speeds in 2025 can exceed 264 mph (426 km/h) on long straights, with qualifying laps averaging over 164 mph (264 km/h) [6]
- Acceleration is blistering: 0-60 mph in under 2.5 seconds [6]
Weight and Dimensions:
Modern F1 cars weigh around 798 kg (1,760 lbs) including driver [9]
Cost and maintenance
Initial Costs:
- A new F1 car chassis costs $6-9 million [7]
- The hybrid power unit alone can cost $10.5-12 million [7]
- Teams operate under a budget cap of around $130 million per season (excluding driver salaries) [7]
Maintenance:
- Maintenance is intensive, with constant monitoring, repairs and upgrades throughout the season
- Teams use AI and machine learning to optimize performance and predict maintenance needs [1]
Pit Stops: speed and precision
Pit stops are choreographed marvels of speed, precision, and teamwork.
Target Time:
- The typical target time for an F1 pit stop in 2025 is between 2.3 and 2.5 seconds, with the fastest teams achieving stops under 2.1 seconds [10, 11]
- The absolute fastest stops of the season have dipped below 2 seconds, with several teams clocking pit stops as fast as 1.91–2.00 seconds [10, 11]
Pit Crew: A modern F1 pit crew consists of 18 to 20 highly trained mechanics directly involved in servicing the car [12]. Their roles include:
- 4 tire changers: Remove old wheels/tighten wheel nuts
- 4 tire fitters: Fit new wheels onto the car
- 2 front jack operators: Lift the car’s front
- 1 rear jack operator: Lift the car’s rear
- 2 stabilizers: Stabilize the car during jacking
- Several wing adjusters: Adjust the front wing if needed
- Lollipop man/light operator: Controls car release
- Fire safety crew: Rapid response in case of fire [10, 11]
The process:
- The driver approaches and brakes precisely within the pit box
- Jacks lift the car front and rear instantly
- Tire changers and fitters remove all four wheels with high-tech pneumatic guns and install new ones [12]
- Wing adjusters may change front wing angles per race strategy
- Once complete, the lollipop/light system signals the driver to go
- The car drops, and the driver launches back out in just over 2 seconds [8, 13]
Driver communication:
- Drivers are informed of an upcoming pit stop by their race engineer via radio communication
- Instructions typically come as “Box, box!” (box is the term for pit), usually with one lap of notice
- In-race software monitors tire wear, fuel, and strategy, alerting the team to trigger a pit stop for tactical reasons [10, 11]
Pit stop penalties
Teams face strict penalties for pit stop violations:
- Unsafe release: If a car is released when another is passing closely, the team faces fines, time penalties (usually 5 or 10 seconds added to race time), or drive-through penalties [14, 15]
- Speeding in pit lane: Exceeding the 80 km/h limit incurs a 5-second penalty for minor infractions, up to a drive-through penalty for excessive speed [15]
- Tire/equipment iIssues: Incorrectly fitted wheels or failure to change tires properly can result in time penalties or disqualification
- Noncompliant crew apparel: Breaches like open helmet visors without appropriate eye protection can result in warnings, fines (up to €40,000–€60,000 per incident), or grid place penalties [14]
- Major safety infractions: Releasing a car in an unsafe condition can lead to fines, grid penalties, drive-through or stop-and-go penalties, or even team suspensions for repeated infractions [16]
Car vs. driver: What matters most?
Both the car and the driver are essential. A skilled driver can maximize a car’s potential, but even the best driver cannot win with a poorly performing car. Success depends on the synergy between driver skill, car performance, and team strategy [9].
Car manufacturers and locations
Engine suppliers: Major manufacturers include Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Honda RBPT, supplying engines to the 10 F1 teams [9].
Chassis construction: Chassis are built by each team, with factories located in:
- UK: Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull, Williams
- Italy: Ferrari
- France: Alpine
- Switzerland: Sauber [9]
- Safety and fan experience
Noise protection: F1 cars are extremely loud, reaching up to 140 decibels. Fans should wear ear protection such as earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to avoid hearing damage [9].
Las Vegas Grand Prix
The Las Vegas Grand Prix street circuit incorporates parts of the Strip into the course and features long straights and tight corners. Cars with strong straight-line speed and excellent braking and cornering capabilities will excel. Teams will optimize setups for high-speed stability and agility [6].
The circuit is 6.2 kilometers (about 3.85 miles) long with 17 turns, a long 1.92 km straight, and average speeds rivaling those of Monza, considered F1’s “Temple of Speed.” The race stands out for its Saturday night start, under the city lights, providing dramatic visuals and cooler racing conditions.[22]
The inaugural race was won by Max Verstappen in 2023. Prior to the modern incarnation, Las Vegas hosted F1 races in 1981 and 1982, with winners Alain Jones and Michele Alboreto, respectively.[23]
Sources
[1] https://www.rdworldonline.com/6-technologies-pushing-formula-1s-engineering-frontier/
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYLUtCGavwg
[3] https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/the-10-greatest-innovations-f1-has-given-the-world.1fY8HvHkICzpj6s353iw82
[4] https://www.racecar-engineering.com/category/tech-explained/f1-tech-explained/
[5] https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/sep/05/engine-revolution-future-formula-one
[6] https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/how-fast-is-the-current-generation-of-f1-cars/
[7] https://www.icartea.com/en/wiki/how-much-does-an-f1-car-cost-in-2025-breaking-down-the-price-tag
[8] https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/news/box-box-pitstop-explained
[9] https://www.jrzy.com/post/whats-more-important-in-formula-one-the-driver-or-the-car
[10] https://f1pace.com/p/2025-f1-season-pit-stop-power-rankings-rounds-1-12/
[11] https://f1pace.com/p/2025-f1-season-pit-stop-power-rankings-rounds-1-16/
[12] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/sports/f1-pit-stop-racing.html
[13] https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/2025-dhl-fastest-pit-stop-award.1AHIOqk0lFjycCpPgBEKHa
[14] https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/26/all-teams-avoid-penalties-despite-numerous-pit-crew-eye-protection-breaches/
[15] https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/the-fias-f1-guidelines-for-penalties-and-points-in-full/10736177/
[16] https://www.fanamp.com/f1-news/what-is-a-formula-1-pit-stop
[17] https://www.blackcircles.com/news/formula-1-vs-nascar
[18] https://www.formulaonehistory.com/f1-monocoque-explained/
[19] https://f1mavericks.com/the-evolution-of-f1-car-design-over-the-decades/
[20] https://www.rwcarbon.com/blog/2014/08/12/carbon-fiber-its-history-in-formula-1-racing/
[21] https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8194
[22] https://www.visitlasvegas.com/f1-las-vegas-grand-prix/
[23] https://www.lasvegas.gp/en/history-of-the-circuit-11
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