From the Racetrack to the Road: How Technical Evolution in Formula 1 has Shaped Today's Production Cars
Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent by a handful of teams who are competing to build the fastest car in a race series called Formula 1. Since the formal organization of Formula 1 in 1950, it has been the proving ground for countless technologies found in today’s road cars, such as the monocoque chassis, fuel injection, and the development of advanced aerodynamics. More complex systems such as traction control, active suspension, and anti-lock brake systems were also developed in Formula 1. All of these developments have led to increased efficiency and safety in today’s production cars.
Biography
My name is Michael Sparks, and I am very passionate about cars. I have spent the past year and a half restoring a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, and I worked as a mechanic for the past two summers. Through this thesis, I wanted to tell the story of Formula 1 while showing how Formula 1 technology transfers to production cars. In the future, I plan to pursue a career in the automotive industry, so this work is also relevant to my own future.
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