Race Commission This committee, which the FIA commissions for each race weekend, monitors the activities on the circuit and makes sure the safety rules and regulations are upheld. The national race director is appointed by the racing authority of the country that runs a Grand Prix event. He must have an FIA super licence and is responsible for coordinating all the officials during the race. He co-operates with his superior, the FIA race director. Race Director The FIA race director supervises the safety measures on the race weekend and makes improvements when necessary. Additionally, he decides whether the safety car should be used or whether the race should be stopped. If a driver does not behave in a sportsmanlike manner or if he endangers a competitor, the race director can recommend a penalty. The current FIA race director is Charlie Whiting. Race Stop If weather conditions are poor enough to endanger safe driving (e.g. heavy rain, snow, fog) or if a vehicle is blocking the track, a Red Flag signals that the race has been stopped.  Racing LineAlso known as the ideal line, the racing line is the imaginary line on which the circuit can be driven in the fastest possible time. Due to the rubber build-up, this is also usually where the grip is best. More... Rear Light Decreases the risk of pile-ups. When using wet weather tyres, the rear light must always be switched on. It consists of 30 individual LEDs, must be at least six times six centimetres in size and is required to be attached 35 centimetres above the car’s underside.  Rear WingAlso known as rear wing assembly. Creates downward pressure mainly upon the rear axle. The rear wing is adapted to the conditions of the tracks (the steeper it is, the more downforce is created). The settings and angles of the surfaces can be additionally modified. These modifications are part of the set up. Reconnaissance Lap A lap completed when drivers leave the pits to assemble on the grid for the start. If a driver decides to do several, they must divert through the pit lane as the grid will be crowded with team personnel. Red and Yellow Striped Flag or Oil Flag  Warns drivers of a slippery track surface, usually due to oil or water.Red Flag  The race or session has been stopped, usually due to an accident or poor track conditions.Regulations The FIA draws up the sporting and technical regulations for Formula 1. The technical regulations primarily aim at two important things: speed should be controlled in the interest of safety, while simultaneously retaining the ongoing technical development so critical to the nature of Formula 1. In addition, safety is to be guaranteed in the case of an accident. To achieve these aims, the following factors have been limited: engine capacity, fuel composition, tyre size, tyre contact surface, minimum weight and width of the cars. The sporting regulations primarily control the procedure of a Grand Prix weekend. Re-Start The new start of a previously stopped race. Retirement When a car has to drop out of the race because of an accident or mechanical failure. Ride Height The height between the track's surface and the floor of the car. Roll Rotation of the chassis about its longitudinal axis, typically during cornering. Roll-Out The first test drive of a new racing car, usually at a private test. Roll-Over Bar If a car rolls over in an accident, the rollover bar, a curved structure above the driver’s head made of metal or composite materials, is intended to provide the driver with better injury protection. Following Giancarlo Fisichella’s accident at the Nürburgring in 1999, the roll over bar has been subjected to even stricter crash tests.  Rosso CorsaA red colour which used to be the official racing colour for Italian cars. Rubber Build-Up Due to the slow erosion of tyre surfaces. When tyres are driven on asphalt, the surface rubs off and leaves behind a layer of rubber on the road, which accumulates over the course of the racing weekend and progressively enhances grip. This erosion is influenced both by the vehicle set up and the abrasive properties of the asphalt. Run-Off Zone Run-off zones are mainly created in fast corners. If a car goes off the circuit, it should slow down as quickly as possible without rolling over. This is the reason why the gravel traps have to be as wide as possible. Gravel reduces speed and thus reduces the force with which the car hits the tyre barriers. The alternative: asphalt run-off zones on which the driver retains more control over the car.  |