Mohit learns F1

  If you’ve ever watched an F1 race or seen slow-mo replays, you’ve probably noticed something cool — cars shooting bright sparks from below the car. But why does that happen? At first I used to think it was just for show. Turns out, there’s real engineering behind it. So, What causes the sparks? It comes down to two things: 1. Titanium skid blocks under the car 2. How close the car runs to the ground F1 cars are designed with a super low ride height. At high speeds, the downforce pushes them even closer to the track. When that happens, the titanium blocks (attached to the car’s floor) scrape the surface — and titanium sparks fly. Why titanium? Simple: it’s strong, lightweight, and creates dramatic sparks when it hits the ground. It’s also safer than older materials, which used to cause more damage if they broke off. It's not just for drama While it looks flashy and cool,  sparks actually tell a story — about how much downforce the car is generating, how s...

  Why Tire Strategies Matter in F1: It’s More Than Just Soft vs Hard If you've ever watched an F1 race and wondered why teams change tires mid-race, or if you are confused why different drivers are on different set of tires — this post is for you. As an engineering student trying to understand race strategy, tire choices seem very important in a actual  race, the more i learned about it the better i understand now about the strategies.  tires can make or break a race. The Basics: Soft, Medium, Hard basically there are 3 sets of tires which teams can use: Soft – fastest but wear out quickly Medium – balance between grip and durability Hard – slowest but last longest So the choice isn’t just about speed — i t’s about how long the tire will last and when to use it. It’s All About Timing Drivers don’t just pick a tire and go. Teams plan when to pit stop based on: Tire degradation Fuel  Track temperature Chance of a safety car An ea...

  If you’ve been following Formula 1, you’ve definitely heard the word “ downforce.” But what is it really? And why do F1 engineers treat it like gold? As a mechanical engineering student and F1 fan, I dug into it — here’s what I’ve learned. 🚗 So, What Is Downforce? Downforce is the vertical aerodynamic force that pushes the car toward the ground as it moves through air. It helps the car stay glued to the track. ✈️ The Inverted Airplane Wing F1 wings are like airplane wings — just flipped upside down. Airplane wings create lift F1 wings create downforce They both rely on Bernoulli’s Principle : faster airflow = lower pressure. F1 wings generate high pressure above and low pressure below , pushing the car downward. 🧪 Why Does Downforce Matter? Downforce improves performance in many ways: More grip = faster corners Helps during braking Prevents skidding Adds stability on high-speed tracks But more downforce = more drag . That’s why te...

 If you’ve ever watched a Formula 1 race and wondered how one driver suddenly rockets past another on a straight — chances are, you just witnessed DRS in action. As a mechanical engineering student and an F1 fan, I was fascinated by how something as simple as an **adjustable wing** could create such a massive advantage. So I decided to break it down. --- ### 🚀 What is DRS? DRS stands for **Drag Reduction System**. It's a device in the rear wing of F1 cars that **reduces aerodynamic drag** to allow for higher top speeds — especially useful during overtaking. When DRS is activated, a flap on the rear wing opens up, letting air pass through more freely. This reduces the downforce and drag, giving the car a short burst of straight-line speed. --- ### ⚙️ Why Is Drag Important in F1? In engineering terms, **drag** is the air resistance acting against the car’s movement. While downforce (which keeps the car glued to the track) is crucial in corners, too much downforce creates **drag** on...

 Formula 1 has always amazed me — the speed, the technology, the strategy. But as a mechanical engineering student, I’ve started looking at F1 with a different lens. I’m not just watching the races anymore — I’m curious about **how it all works**. How do DRS systems function? What makes aerodynamics so important? Why do tire strategies make or break races? I created “Mohit Learns F1” to document my learning journey. I’ll break down technical concepts, share what I discover, and maybe even help others understand the sport better too. This isn’t a blog of an expert — it’s a notebook of someone still learning. And I’d love to have you learn with me. Let’s begin the journey — one post, one lap at a time. 🏁