SportF1How much does an F1 car weigh and what...

How much does an F1 car weigh and what is included in the weight limit?

It’s no secret that weight is everything in Formula 1 , but also that F1 cars have also gotten heavier over time. In 2022, the single-seaters are by far the heaviest in championship history and this increase can generally be explained by increased safety features in recent years (the Halo weighs 7kg, for example).

During a Grand Prix weekend, and even during the race, the weight of a Formula 1 car fluctuates seriously, but the FIA sets a minimum car weight that teams must always achieve.

The FIA technical regulations are 178 pages long, but here is everything that has to do with the weight of a Formula 1 car.

How much does a Formula 1 car weigh?

In 2022 the minimum weight of a Formula 1 car is 798 kg . That is the mass of the car with the driver, equipped with dry weather tires, but without fuel. The minimum weight limit is established by the FIA in its regulations.

However, each team’s car will have varying amounts above the minimum weight depending on the team. For example, this year, in 2022, there are cars that are overweight compared to that minimum value. Alfa Romeo is the only car that is not significantly overweight, which is why the team opposed raising the minimum weight limit earlier in the season (that figure was increased by 3kg, from 795kg to 798kg, in March).

The minimum weight is measured after the grand prix, when the car has run out of fuel. The total fuel capacity of a Formula 1 single-seater is 110kg, which means that at the start of a grand prix with the driver and a full load of fuel, the car should weigh at least 908kg.

Maintenance sign denoting that a car is fuelled in the Haas F1 garage

Maintenance sign indicating that a car has fuel, in the Haas F1 garage

However, teams may choose to run on less than 110kg of fuel depending on the track: circuits with larger acceleration and braking zones result in higher fuel consumption.

There is no maximum limit on the weight of a Formula 1 car, however, it is highly inadvisable to have ‘overweight’ cars. Increasing the weight makes the car slower, so the teams try to get as close as possible to that minimum limit. If the cars are below the minimum weight limit, the teams will add ballast, which is extra weight to reach that minimum. Ballast can be placed anywhere on the car to improve balance, which means it’s even nice to have a car under the minimum weight figure, and then add extra weight in the form of ballast to play with it.

How many kg does a Formula 1 driver weigh?

The shortest rider is Yuki Tsunoda, 1’58 meters, and the tallest, Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon, both 1’86 tall, so it is not surprising that the weight fluctuates between all the pilots. However, the FIA rules set a minimum weight for a Formula 1 driver, which is 80kg.

If the pilot weighs less than 80 kg (so are the vast majority of current F1 drivers) that difference is corrected with ballast. This ballast is added to the cockpit (cabin), so it cannot be placed anywhere else in the car to improve balance. That figure also includes the rider’s helmet, overalls and footwear, so riders don’t have to weigh exactly 80kg, they can go a bit under and balance it out with their uniform.

That 80kg minimum rule was implemented in 2019 to reduce the advantage that shorter, lighter riders had. Prior to this rule, driver weight was included integrally within the general F1 car weight rules, which meant slimmer drivers gave teams more room to improve car balance. Before that, it was not uncommon for drivers to be told the specific weight their equipment allowed them to be, and that was often lower than what was healthy for drivers.

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, on the scales after qualifying, 2013 Singapore GP

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, at the weigh-in after qualifying for the 2013 Singapore GP

Why do drivers weigh themselves after Formula 1 races?

There are two reasons why drivers are weighed after the race. Firstly, riders lose 2-3kg per race, even more if they are in hotter conditions, so riders are weighed to know exactly how much weight they have lost so fluids and training can be replenished subsequent weeks are based on any large weight loss. Secondly, the minimum mass (minimum weight) of the Formula 1 car includes the driver, so it is necessary to know his weight so that, when the car is weighed, the two figures can be added to check that the teams have reached that minimum amount.

Drivers are weighed in their full race kit, including helmets, as that is included in the driver’s weight, so the FIA can calculate that the correct amount of ballast has been added if required.

How much do the parts of a Formula 1 car weigh?

While the entire F1 car must weigh no less than 798kg, the heaviest part of a Formula 1 car is the engine, which must weigh a minimum of 150kg, while the lightest part is the steering wheel, which weighs 1.3kg Some parts have minimum weight requirements listed in the regulations, while others are free, for teams to make as light as possible.

F1 car part

Weight

Engine

Minimum 150kg

Gas

Maximum 110kg

front spoiler

about 10kg

Chassis/Monocoque

There is no set weight

Halo

7kg

Gearbox

about 40kg

Steering wheel

about 1.3kg

Scrutineers at the weighbridge with Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C42

El coche de Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C42, pasa el escrutinio

The weight of Formula 1 through the years

The 2022 cars are the heaviest in F1 history, and it’s largely the result of safety rules requiring the inclusion of devices like the Halo. The refueling ban also contributed to the creation of larger and therefore heavier cars.

Year

Weight

Changes

2008

585kg

 

2009

605kg

 

2010

620kg

refueling prohibited

2011

640kg

Widely Adopted Kinetic Recovery System (KERS)

2012

640kg

 

2013

642kg

Small changes in the weight of the Pirelli tire range

2014

691kg

Hybrid V6 engines introduced

2015

702kg

Anti-intrusion panels added to the cockpit

2016

702kg

 

2017

728kg

Wider wheels and tires

2018

734kg

Introduced the Halo

2019

743kg

Minimum rider weight of 80kg

2020

746kg

Second fuel flow meter added

2021

752kg

 

2022

798kg

New cars designed around ground effects aerodynamics, plus larger wheels and wheel covers.

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