Formula 1 Speed Compared to Other Race Cars

Formula cars, GT cars, Prototypes, Stock cars and Super Bikes. Different racing disciplines produce very different machines, all with different strengths and weaknesses.

But how do they stack up? Which would win in a Quarter Mile drag race? Or a Top Speed run? But the biggest question I have is which would win in a race around a circuit?

Well, we’ve done some calculations to find out.

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Well firstly, we should run through the cars.

Starting with Formula 1, our benchmark for this test. These cars have just over 1000 horsepower and weigh around 800kg in race trim. But as we know, they are tuned for maximum corner speed, with lots of downforce - and so this may hinder it in a straight line but pay dividends around a lap.

Next is Formula 2, very similar in weight, less aero and less power with around 820 horsepower.

Then we have it’s baby brother, F3. This has less power, but much less weight.

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#Formula1 #Motorsport #Engineering

[marcusvolpicella]

3:21
"Now powerful bikes to tend to be hard to launch..."
*Guy does a fucking backflip*

[PoRRasturvaT]

Not retiring at the first contact is why I watch LMP and GT racing.

[KohenWizard]

Stock cars can actually reach an estimated 235 mph on tracks like Daytona and talladega but are restricted by restrictive plates that knock them down to 190-200 and were introduced in 1988 (or close to that) after a crash was inches away from killing multiple spectators

[tinyredgiant]

With that "rubbing is racing" attitude of them NASCAR folks, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near them on a bike!

[thehun]

The data on the F3 graphic is the same as on the F2 :)

[Dinaraup]

Awesome video. MotoGP bikes today produce way over 280HP, with the Ducati's easily into the 300HP range at the wheel! They also have aero elements all over the bike now.

[gabequinn]

Technically, the top speed in Nascar is 212 mph by Bill Elliott back in 1987, the year before restrictor plates were introduced. This 212 mark was 3 mph off of the pole sitter for the Indy 500 that year. But we're talking a weight difference of 2000 lbs.

[MrHaha]

The random Jimmy's 'reeee' got me

[HeavyMetalMonkey]

Jimmers the Scientist, answering questions we thought no one would ever ask... until now.

[jeanforgeron]

Back in 2017, I was looking for tutorials on how to improve my driving skills to get better lap times on Project Cars 2 and thumbled on your channel. I was mindblowed by the quality of your content and knew you would become big some day! Congratulations, you deserve this success!

[deadlybladesmith]

I would love to see how fast an F1 car or NASCAR could be if the rules were no longer in play. (FiA for F1 and NASCAR for NASCAR).
It would be really neat to see what peak engineering would actually look like.

[flakey]

3:21 narrator talking calmly while someone in the background shatters his spine

[yogiewisesa]

Jimmer's Nordschleife series finally put into some good scientific use LMAO

[Mrside]

Also remember for top speeds they reach, the motogp bike would have the lowest corner speed before any straight where you measure the speed, meaning its actually accelerating from a much lower speed, it has more work to do down the straight, if you could somehow exit the corner at the same speeds as the cars the top speed could be even higher!

[Ravlog_LP]

I would really like to know how that topspeed data has been taken. For example, the GT3 cars where shown with a topspeed of 250 kph. That may be right on some shorter tracks but at bathurst they can easily reach 280 and on the Nordschleife up to 290 kph.

[adriWRC_]

And then is the Unlimited class, the cornering speed of a F1, the acceleration of a Hypercar and the top speed of a MotoGP

[dannyvaux]

Jimmer makes a surprise cameo in the video

"Everbody liked that"

[RC-Hotdog]

I find it hard to believe that NASCAR and MOTOGP have similar lap times. NASCAR raced at Road America in Wisconsin and there lap times were slower than the super bikes that race there ( These bikes are even slower than motogp) PLUS the motorcycles have an extra section to go through that I’d guess would easily add 5-15 seconds on their times.

[lesterbeedell]

MotoGP wins hands down for excitement, with the lead changing several times a lap, Bagnaia winning for Ducati recently, had me on the edge of the sofa

[Driver]

*Correction* - It's been pointed out that the NASCAR time is wrong. The corrected time would be around 2:20 at Spa, meaning the GT3 and GTE cars are faster. Apologies, cheers for pointing that out 👍 Callum