5 INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES THAT FOREVER CHANGED FORMULA ONE

Here at Rubber Box, we’ve been providing reliable power distribution boxes to a variety of events, industries, and working environments for years, including Formula 1! We’ve got everything from 16a power distribution boxes all the way up to 400a supplies, all of which have assisted various F1 teams in their pursuit of optimum racing performance.

Formula 1 is an industry that relies heavily on innovative, reliable technology to help bring its viewers the very best in automotive performance. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look back at some of the most revolutionary bits of technology that have defined the F1 era.

Mid-engine placement

For a long period of time, Formula 1 cars had their engines placed at the front of the vehicle. This however caused issues for drivers who quickly found out that the placement of the engine caused significant amounts of understeer when travelling at high speeds. So, in 1957 the Cooper team decided to move the engine of its car to a position behind the driver, in an attempt to better even out the weight distribution. At the time, this was very much seen as a radical change in the eyes of the other teams, but they all started following suit after Jack Brabham (Cooper) won back-to-back championships in 1959 and 1960.

Monocoque design

In the 1960s, all F1 cars were constructed using a traditional space-frame design. However, Lotus changed the game with an evolutionary aluminium sheet monocoque design, which effectively turned the car into one large body panel. This design dramatically reduced the weight of the car, and led to improved acceleration, as well as a higher top speed. The concept of this design peaked in 1981 with McLaren’s MP4, which featured Formula 1’s first carbon fibre-reinforced polymer chassis. Fast, efficient, and light, the monocoque design ticked all the right boxes for creating a truly high performance race-car.

Active suspension

This was one of the very first electronic driving aids introduced to Formula 1. Once again it was Lotus leading the way, introducing the very first example of active suspension to F1 in 1982. The technology gave drivers much better control over the car’s massive downforces by essentially predicting the condition of the road ahead, and adjusting the suspension accordingly. This technology was banned from F1 in 1994 as part of a variety of changes designed to eliminate what were colloquially called driver aid ‘gizmos’. Its impact was undeniable though, and the technology is widely available in a lot of commercial vehicles today.

The halo

Some innovations are geared towards making cars faster (and in some cases, arguably more dangerous) but others are focused on increasing the safety of the vehicles. The halo fits squarely into this latter category. It was introduced in the 2018 season to protect drivers from large pieces of flying debris, and is by far the strongest part of the car. It was met with initial criticism from drivers due to the restrictions it placed on their vision, however it’s more than proved its worth in the years since. In fact, many drivers have cited the halo as the reason they’ve survived incidents which would otherwise have ended in disaster.

All of these changes have improved the performance, speed, and level of safety of F1 cars, and our rubber boxes have also played a part in the ever evolving nature of the sport.

Our power distro boxes have been used by engineering professionals who operate right at the pinnacle of technological advancement. So, whether you’re looking for portable power, or a fixed installation, we have the expertise and experience right here at Rubber Box to produce the highest quality electrical power distros, at the right price, in a short space of time. If you’d like to find out more, you can take a look through our listings and get a quote via our website. Or, if you’d prefer, you can give us a call on 01282 506922, or email us at info@rubberbox.co.uk and we’ll be happy to see how we can help.