WEBVTT

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- [Narrator] Welcome to Racing Tech.

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(upbeat, electronic music)

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The FIA Formula One World Championship

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is racing's most prestigious competition.

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F1's teams produce cars
capable of reaching speeds

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over 200 miles per hour,

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while taking corners at 5Gs.

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And constructors go to
extraordinary lengths

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to manipulate a car's aerodynamics
to further reduce drag

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and increase down force
for an ever faster car.

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Racing teams use computational
fluid dynamic simulations

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as a cornerstone of modern F1 development,

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but wind tunnels still
remain the foundation.

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The FIA, the sports governing body,

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tightly restricts aerodynamic
testing to limit team spending

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and ensure a level playing
field between constructors.

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Teams are now required

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to declare a single wind tunnel for use,

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and that facility must be
independently benchmarked

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by the FIA.

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The FIA also began limiting
wind tunnel hours in 2021

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based on championship performance.

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Each team can only spend 2,400 hours

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in the wind tunnel each year,

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though only the staff and the place team

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sees 100% of that total.

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The higher a constructor
is in the standings,

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the fewer hours it's allowed.

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The world champions receive
70% of the baseline amount,

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while the last place team in 10th

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and any new team receives 115%.

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The FIA introduced this
sliding scale concept

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alongside a budget cap
to encourage parity.

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The teams at the back

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are allowed more development resources

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to catch up gradually,

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and hopefully, it will
create closer racing

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on track over time.

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For more deep dives on racing technology,

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visit jalopnik.com.