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Bodywork and dimensions. The size and dimensions of Formula One cars are tightly controlled by the regulations. They must be no more than 180cm wide. The length and height of the car are effectively governed by other specific parameters.
For example, bodywork ahead of the rear wheel centre line must be a maximum of 140cm wide. Bodywork behind it must be no more than 100cm wide. Front and rear overhangs are limited to 120cm and 60cm respectively from the wheel centre lines.
The strict regulations mean that the teams inevitably end up with very similarly sized cars. As a reference, the 2009 season Toyota TF109 is 4636mm long, 1800mm wide and 950mm high.
Brake system
Formula One cars must have one brake system operated through a single brake pedal. However, the system must comprise two hydraulic circuits - one for the front wheels and one for the rear. Should one circuit fail the other must remain operational. Power brakes and anti-lock braking systems (ABS) are not allowed.
Each wheel must have no more than one brake disc of 278mm maximum diameter and 28mm maximum thickness. Each disc must have only one aluminium caliper, with a maximum of six circular pistons, and no more than two brake pads.
The size of the air ducts used to cool the brakes is strictly controlled and they must not protrude beyond the wheels. The use of liquid to cool the brakes is forbidden.
Car construction
The construction of Formula One cars and the materials used are strictly controlled by the regulations to maximise their safety. The main structure of the car comprises a safety cell which contains the cockpit plus the fuel tank, which is housed immediately behind (but separated from) the driver.
This safety cell must meet minimum size requirements and must have an impact-absorbing structure immediately in front of it. The design of the car must also include an additional impact-absorbing structure at the rear, behind the gearbox.
The car must have two roll structures to protect the driver in the event of the car overturning. One must be immediately behind the driver's head, the other at the front of the cockpit, immediately ahead of the steering wheel.
The car and its survival cell must pass several strict impact, roll and static load tests.
Cockpit
The size of a Formula One car's cockpit opening must comply with strict specifications. Compliance with these specifications is tested by lowering a specially made template into the cockpit. In addition to this, the cockpit must meet numerous other requirements. A driver must be able to get in and out of the car without removing anything other than its steering wheel. Once strapped into the car with all his safety gear on, he must be able to remove the steering wheel and get out within five seconds, and then replace the steering within a further five seconds.
The car's survival cell structure, designed to protect the driver in the event of an accident, must extend at least 300mm beyond the drivers feet, which must not be forward of the front-wheel centre line.
Electrical systems
The electrical and software systems of all cars are inspected by the FIA at the start of the season and the teams must notify them in advance of any subsequent changes to the systems. All teams must use the same FIA-specification Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for controlling their engine and gearbox.
All software must be registered with the FIA, who check all the programmable systems on the cars prior to each event to ensure that the correct software versions are being used. Electronic systems which can automatically detect the race start signal are forbidden.
All cars must have an accident data recorder. This is linked to a medical warning light positioned ahead of the cockpit opening, which gives rescue crews an immediate indication of the severity of an accident. In the cockpit, every car must have a track signal information display, which informs the driver of circuit conditions via red, blue and yellow lights.
Engines and kinetic energy recovery systems
Formula One engines may be no more than 2.4 litres in capacity. They must have eight cylinders in a 90-degree formation, with two inlet and two exhaust valves per cylinder. They must be normally aspirated, weigh at least 95 kilogrammes and be rev-limited to 18,000rpm.
The only other permitted power source is a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), which takes waste energy generated under braking and turns it into additional power. This is then made available to the driver in fixed quantities per lap via a steering wheel-mounted boost button.
Turbochargers, superchargers and devices designed to pre-cool air before it enters the engine's cylinders are not allowed. Nor is the injection of any substance into the cylinders other than air and fuel. Variable-geometry inlet and exhaust systems are also forbidden, as is variable valve timing. Each cylinder may have just one fuel injector and ignition must be by a single spark plug.
The materials used in the manufacture of the engine and its components are strictly controlled by the regulations. The crankcase and cylinder block must be made of cast or wrought aluminium alloys - the use of composite materials is not allowed. The crankshaft and camshafts must be made from an iron-based alloy, pistons from an aluminium alloy and valves from alloys based on iron, nickel, cobalt or titanium.
Formula One cars do not have their own, onboard starting systems. Separate starting devices may be used to start engines in the pits and on the grid. If the engine is fitted with an anti-stall device, this must be set to cut the engine within ten seconds in the event of an accident.
Fuel system and refuelling
The petrol fuel tanks on Formula One cars comprise a single rubber bladder. These must be made of materials approved by the FIA and must be manufactured by certain approved companies. The tank must be situated directly behind the driver and directly ahead of the engine. All fuel lines must be self-sealing in the event of an accident and no lines must pass through the cockpit. The fuel tank must be encased within a crushable structure that forms part of the car's safety cell. This structure must be able to withstand very high impact loads as specified in the regulations.
For refuelling during a race, teams use identical rigs supplied by one FIA-approved manufacturer. For safety reasons the refueling rate is limited to 12.1 litres per second.
The FIA may take a one-litre fuel sample from any car at any time during a Grand Prix meeting to check that the fuel being used is legal.
Television cameras and timing transponders
Throughout the Grand Prix weekend all cars must be fitted with two cameras or camera housings. The cameras are used to provide on-board TV footage.
The cars have a total of five camera mounting points. One camera housing is always mounted on top of the air box immediately behind the driver's head. The position of the second housing is chosen by the FIA in consultation with the relevant team and driver.
Weight
Cars must weigh at least 605kg (including the driver) at all times. Teams may use ballast to bring cars up to weight. This must be firmly secured to the cars. Ballast may not be removed or added during a race.
Wheels and tyres
Formula One cars must have four, uncovered wheels, all made of the same metallic material. Front wheels must be between 305 and 355mm wide, the rears between 365 and 380mm.
With tyres fitted the wheels must be no more than 660mm in diameter (670mm with wet-weather tyres). Measurements are taken with tyres inflated to 1.4 bar. Tyres may only be inflated with air, nitrogen or CO2.
