F1 101: How F1 Cars Have Become Heavier Over the Years?

Over the years, Formula One cars have gained significant weight. They have become faster, but they have also gone bulkier 

Over the decades, Formula One cars have evolved at a rapid pace. To increase the competitiveness of motorsport, cars have become faster. However, to attain new speed records, the cars have also become longer and bulkier. In the upcoming season of 2022, the F1 cars are supposed to weigh around 790 kilograms. In fact, in the past few years, F1 cars have gained more weight than ever.

Why is this article important?

F1 has pledged to make the sport more sustainable which means, it aims to make the motorsport greener than ever. However, over the decades, the cars have become longer and have gained weight, which means, the cars now use more energy than ever. In the following paragraphs, we have compiled the increasing weight of the F1 cars with each passing year.

1995 to 2008, different engines but same weight

From 1995 to 2004, the F1 cars were armed with 3.0-litre engines with V12/V10 setting. In 2005, the engine capacity remained 3.0-litre, but only 10 cylinders were allowed with only five valves per cylinder. The following year, the engine capacity was reduced to 2,400cc with eight cylinders. In 2007 and 2008, the same engine spec was used. However, irrespective of the changes, the weight was limited to 595 kilograms.

In 2010, F1 cars crossed the 600 kilograms threshold

In 2010, F1 cars gained a weight of around 620 kilograms. It was the same year when the refuelling of cars was banned. Thus, F1 cars began to carry more fuel to complete the entire race. In 2013, the weight further got increased to 642 kilograms. It was the last year when F1 cars only featured internal combustion engines.

The hybrid era made the cars heavier

In 2014, F1 entered the hybrid universe. For the first time in F1’s history, F1 cars featured an electric motor along with a 1.6-litre, six-cylinder, single turbo engine. The cars became faster, but they also became heavier and crossed the 700 kilograms barrier. In 2021, the cars weighed around 752 kilograms, and in the upcoming season of 2022, they will weigh close to 790 kilograms.

Lewis Hamilton’s views on the cars getting heavier

Last year in an interview, Hamilton said, “By going heavier and heavier and heavier, you’re using more and more energy. The lighter cars were more nimble, were nowhere near as big, naturally, and so racing, manoeuvring the car, was better.”