Formula One: Explained!

Formula One is my new favorite high tech sport. Here's everything you need to know about why.

Graphics: @formulaaddict

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0:00 Intro
1:00 What is Formula One?
3:18 The Rules
5:46 The World's Best Tech Competition
9:50 Seeing it In-Person
11:28 F1 Race Week
14:42 Strategy
17:23 F1 vs the World!

[stefanrhys]

A few notes:

1. The “plank of wood” under the car isn’t actually wood, it’s a plank of resin with titanium blocks (skid blocks) in certain parts of the plank. This is where the sparks come from when they skid across the ground.

2. “KERS” is a bit dated — it’s just ERS now lol, that’s because while there is kinetic energy recovery from braking; MGU-K (motor generator unit - kinetic), there is also energy recovery from the exhaust gasses; MGU-H (motor generator unit - heat).

3. DRS was brought in for 2011 because with the newer cars in 2010 it was basically too difficult to overtake so this was an aid. When the driver behind is within 1 second, they gain access to DRS to try and make the pass, the regulations state that the current DRS gap can be maximum of 85mm, so any larger than this = disqualification.

Awesome video Marques! Thanks for bringing our awesome sport to so many more people 😁

[markbone]

Marques just did what Drive to Survive seemingly refused to do in the first 3 seasons I've watched. Actually explain the science and the competitive structure behind F1 rather than solely focus on the driver personality drama. Thank you Marques. Loved this video.

[shabirparwaz]

My man just made a 19 minute ad for Bitdefender, but somehow managed to make it another banger video. Truman Show :D

[CatsAreRubbish]

DRS was never a feature only used by one team which then spread to others. From the start (2011) it was mandated by the FIA in order to counter the negative effects of dirty air (when following another car) and as such promote more overtaking and therefore more exciting races. It could never have been developed by an individual team anyway because it would've represented a movable part which affected aerodynamics - something that has been banned in F1 since the 1960s.

[roylim]

This is why I tell my friends that f1 is not just a race, there is so much tech and engineering involved it’s insane! It’s a race, data, strategy, engineering, everything. Great video Marques!

[CYMotorsport]

Fantastic treat! My only add is while technically KERS is correct
Because you can still harness kinetic waste energy, KERS nomenclature as many refer from the 09 era was done away with. instead we opt for the MGU-K/H system to account for the additional waste energy now available to be harnessed and deployed. Deployment of said “KERS” might instead in 2024 really be deployment of energy recovery or the ERS. Energy recovery systems are both the MGU systems: H is for “heat” and K is for “Kinetic”. It uses waste energy to top up energy recovery systems through different methods so a driver can boost performance. KERS and MGUK have in common that it’s mainly fed under brake load. But now you also have the heat recovery to add on top for a total boost of ERS. So not even a correction just layering potentially useful info on top.

While the nuance added may sound at first pedantic, it’s actually a testament to the habitual advancement of the sport. No sport can innovate quite as quickly as F1 you’d be right at home falling deeper down the rabbit hole and I hope the bug bites you after seeing it first hand!

[dingus]

Welding the manhole covers down has been common practice for years now, what happened in LV was actually a bit more intense. It didn't just rip up the manhole cover, it ripped the frame it was welded to out of the road itself

[brodyhdr]

As someone who works for an F1 team, This video is only the tip of the iceberg! The science, Technology R&D behind the scenes is none stop. Our build seasons are insanely busy and people spend most of their time at work for months, we do this because of our love and passion for the sports and our team!

[Steener-A]

Started watching F1 a couple years ago and no one that I told knew about it, I love how this video encapsulates this awesome sport so simply but detailed so I can show people who don't know about the sport and try to get them into it. Another great vid from Marques Brownlee!

[techtipsuk]

Great explanation for the beginner. I’ve been watching since the 98 season, it’s incredible to see how popular it’s becoming in the US.

[abangwu]

The script, the delivery, the footage, the set design... this man is every advertiser's dream.

[pm]

I’m glad you’re introducing F1 to your audience. One side note - the halo is made of titanium, which has the greatest strength to weight properties.

[Nathan_Lundstrom]

I love seeing you get excited about something new that is tangentially related to your love of tech! It's one thing to watch you get excited about a computer, tablet, phone, camera, etc - but it's something totally different to see someone whose opinion you respect open up the door to something new for themselves, and ultimately get me excited about it too. Thanks for opening me up to something new!

[TurtleSB]

Once again, a great video MKBHD! The team did an extra good job with this one. If I was to make a vid of this quality, it'd take me maybe a year or so, but you guys make these videos multiple times a week! Y'all are very talented and I'm glad you're talking about F1 now. +1 like

[CleoAbram]

LOVE THIS. new techie F1 fans, unite.

[micromillions]

4:07. Also a quick note to new F1 fans: The halo was designed by Mercedes for the FIA and was built using titanium encased within carbon fibre, not iron.
It can withstand the weight of a double-decker bus (or the equivalent of around 12000kg).

[deanjmoon]

It’s great to see how MKBHD has expanded his content into other tech platforms over the last several years 🏎️

[brands]

I follow F1 for about 30 years now. And it is so fun to see new perspectives like marques, DTS and the evolution of the sport and fandom

[StoneMountain]

Now u gotta get a sim rig going! Got into F1 a few years ago now and been loving it. Awesome video!

[steven_holt]

If you are interested in those crazy technical loopholes and innovations then i recommend looking up Mercedes' dual axis steering from a few years ago. There was a moment when journalists and viewers started to suspect strange things were happening with the Mercedes cars when they noticed the drivers could move the steering wheel forward and backward on the straights, super interesting stuff.