Supervisor: Esben B. Andersen, Red Bull Racing

In the world of motorsport, Formula 1 is the crème de la crème of engineering excellence and speed. Behind extraordinary roaring engines and high-speed laps, lies a complex science.

In this Colloquium I will dwell into the science behind the sport’s phenomenal performance and innovation, and how it differentiates from everyday vehicles.
From that, we will discuss how the Formula 1 cars harness and unleash immense power while maintaining efficiency, helping us understand engine structure, cooling, and on-going dimensional analysis within the sport.
However, power alone is not sufficient to survive in the sport, since even engines have a limit, which forces engineers to look for solutions within the surroundings of the car, in order to maximize performance even further. 
Speaking of aerodynamics, an area where the science is as close to art as possible, the quest for optimal downforce and minimal drag, continues to challenge the whole sport.
I will discuss the basic theories of airflow manipulation used today and talk about the technological innovations made to master aerodynamic perfection, so far.