Formula One - It's A Team Game
Formula One can be an exciting event to watch either at home on the television or in person at the race tracks but certain aspects are perhaps not given quite as much attention as they deserve. Naturally most of your attention will be given to the cars and the drivers in them as this is obviously the most exciting aspect of the race. There is much more to Formula One racing however than the drivers and the cars; a considerable amount of work has to be carried out on the sidelines in order for the drivers and the cars to perform as well as they do.
The mechanics and support crew of any racing team plays a crucial part before, during and after the race maintaining the car and carrying out any repairs. The races would be a very different affair if the teams consisted solely of a driver with no mechanics or support team to help. If you do watch motor racing then you will know that at various points during the competition the drivers take the car in for a pit stop and it is during these times that the mechanics are key to the success. Although a car will only stop in the pit for a matter of seconds a great deal takes place in that short space of time.
One of the main tasks performed during a pit stop is the changing of the car tyres. This will involve four people each assigned to one particular wheel who will undo the locking nut and refasten it once a new tyre has been put on. Each new tyre is handled by two people who attach it to the wheel. Making use of the maximum number of people for each job allows everything to be completed much more quickly and smoothly allowing the driver to set off again in the shortest amount of time. If there are any minor repairs that need to be carried out then these will also be performed during the pit stop. Racing cars are designed to be as reliable and efficient as possible but naturally things can still go wrong especially if the car has been hit by another competitor’s car.
There are multiple companies and organisations who are involved with Formula One and motor racing in general. These companies provide things from sponsorship to protective overalls to the tyres and engine components. One such company is SKF who provide elements used in the car engines as well as suspension systems and clutch controls. Some particularly important components are SKF hub bearings which can be custom made depending on the requirements. SKF hub bearings can be designed to incorporate a number of different features including sensors or to be able to manage a higher load. All elements used in racing cars have been designed with that principal in mind and are made to be able to withstand the extreme stresses and strains that the car has to go through during race conditions.
It might appear that it is the driver of a racing car who is in control of everything and who is responsible for his success and how the car performs but if he didn’t have his team of mechanics and support crew then it would be a very different outcome.