Editing Formula One car (section)

== History ==
{{see|Formula One regulations}}
[[File:Ferrari 625A at Silverstone Classic 2011 noBG.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Early F1 cars were simpler with no wings and front mounted engines.]]

The early F1 cars were simpler designs with no wings, front mounted engines, and required significant driver effort to control. In the early 1960s, lighter cars with [[aluminum]] chassis were introduced with the addition of wings towards the end of the same decade. In the 1970s, understanding of [[aerodynamics]] began to impact the car designs singnificantly, with the introduction of nose boxes in the front, and air boxes behind the driver to increase air flow to the engine. The advent of [[Ground effect (cars)|ground effect]] cars in the 1980s, allowed to increase downforce with a small drag penalty. With continuous improvement in engines and the introduction of [[turbochargers]], cars produced an increased amount of thrust.<ref name="Evol">{{cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/evolution-of-f1-cars|title=Evolution of F1 cars|work=[[Red Bull Racing]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> The maximum permitted width of the cars was {{cvt|2150|mm}} with a {{cvt|1500|mm}} front axle and {{cvt|1000|mm}} wide rear axle, and the maximum width was reduced to {{cvt|2000|mm}} in {{f1|1994}}.<ref name="Dimen">{{cite web|url=https://www.f1technical.net/features/23219|title=Bodywork rules|work=F1technical.net|date=11 June 2021 |access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=3 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803130019/https://www.f1technical.net/features/23219|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Following the [[1994 San Marino Grand Prix]], a number of changes were introduced, which led to the development of modern day F1 cars. A {{cvt|10|mm}} thick wooden [[skid block]] was added on the underbody to enforce minimum ground clearance. In the following seasons, several modifications were introduced, the underbody plank was lengthened and a {{cvt|50|mm}} tall, {{cvt|500|mm}} wide block was added on top of the plank to minimize the ground effect. The front wing height was increased from {{cvt|40 to 50|mm}} and the maximum height was reduced to {{cvt|200|mm}} above the reference plane. A step wise design was introduced with reduced side pods, and engine cowling, and exclusion zones were added around the wheels to prevent any bodywork in the area apart from the suspension.<ref name="Dimen"/>

[[File:Williams FW15C front-left 2017 Williams Conference Centre.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|The structure of modern F1 cars developed in the 1990s.]]

Since the 1990s, improved electronics were incorporated to increase the efficiency, handling and reliability of the cars. Since the 2000s, with [[computer aided design]], teams have been able to produce more efficient cars, with several changes aimed at sustainability and cost reduction, such as the cap on car parts, usage of mixed fuel, and usage of energy recovery systems.<ref name="Evol"/> In the 2000s, the front height was increased progressively to {{cvt|150|mm}} and the maximum width and height were defined as {{cvt|500|mm}} and {{cvt|950|mm}} respectively. FIA enacted further changes to the body structure over the subsequent years such to improve racing changes to the structure and height of the front wing, and changes to floor design. The governing body outlawed several structures introduced by the teams, including double diffusers, modified exhaust ducts, and extra aerodynamic elements such as sharklets, cooling slots, winglets and dive planes. Modifiable front wings were also trialed in {{f1|2009}} and the [[Drag reduction system]] (DRS) was introduced in {{f1|2011}}. The latest rules in the late 2010s introduced simpler front wings, which reduced the dirty air from the cars, and enabled more closer racing.<ref name="Dimen"/> The underside of the vehicle must be flat between the axles with the wear of skid block limited to a maximum of {{cvt|1|mm}} during the race.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/115F0A1E47E0A282C12573FB0042CB0D/$FILE/1-2008%20F1%20TECHNICAL%20REGULATIONS%2022-02-2008.pdf|title=2008 Formula One Technical Regulations|work=[[FIA]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511170606/http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/115F0A1E47E0A282C12573FB0042CB0D/$FILE/1-2008%20F1%20TECHNICAL%20REGULATIONS%2022-02-2008.pdf|archive-date=11 May 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> The latest regulations which came into effect in {{f1|2022}} with the intention of enabling more closer racing, simplified the aerodynamic components, which reduced vortices, and created more ground effect.<ref>{{cite web|title=Formula 1 in 2022: Explaining the new rules and car changes as teams prepare for first launches|url=https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12524402/formula-1-in-2022-explaining-the-new-rules-and-car-changes-as-teams-prepare-for-first-launches|access-date=10 February 2023|work=[[Sky Sports]]|archive-date=10 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210030411/https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12524402/formula-1-in-2022-explaining-the-new-rules-and-car-changes-as-teams-prepare-for-first-launches|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Morlidge|first=Matt|date=4 February 2022|title=Formula 1 in 2022: Explaining the new rules and car changes as teams prepare for first launches|url=https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12524402/formula-1-in-2022-explaining-the-new-rules-and-car-changes-as-teams-prepare-for-first-launches|url-status=live|access-date=10 February 2023|work=[[Sky Sports]]|archive-date=10 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210030411/https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12524402/formula-1-in-2022-explaining-the-new-rules-and-car-changes-as-teams-prepare-for-first-launches }}</ref>