Tank The fuel tank is a fibre-reinforced hull that must yield flexibly when deformed. It must fulfil the FIA's rigid criteria. To avoid damage, the tank is also located within the monocoque and is thus encased in the survival cell, the car’s best protected area. T-Car An alternative name for a spare car. However, spare cars are are no longer allowed and the term can be used for the additional chassis that teams may bring and which can be built up in the event of a race chassis being damaged beyond repair. Team Manager A team member with day-to-day responsibility for organising logistics, specifically during trips to races. In the past the team manager would have controlled race strategy from the pit wall, but this is no longer the case, and it is largely an administrative role. Team Principal The man who acts as a 'figurehead' for the team and looks after its interests in its dealings with the FIA and FOM. In the past team principals were very often also the owners of the team, but now most are hired employees. Technical Committee These FIA experts lay down the Formula 1 regulations. Every team’s technical director is a member of the Technical Committee. The Committee makes recommendations to the FIA Formula 1 Commission. The decisions made by the Commission are in turn forwarded to the FIA’s World Motorsport Council and must then be approved by the FIA’s general assembly. Technical Delegate The FIA technical delegate, currently Jo Bauer, leads the team of technical inspectors (so-called scrutineers). They check whether the cars meet the regulations. If the technical delegate does not think a car conforms to the rules, he makes a report to the racing commissioners, who are authorised to impose penalties. Technical Regulations The branch of the FIA rules that focuses on specifications that the cars are designed and built to. Tear-Off Strips See-through plastic strips that drivers fit to their helmet's visor before the start of the race and then remove as they become dirty. Telemetry A system allowing a large quantity of data, e.g. concerning chassis and engine, to be recorded in the car and transmitted to the pits. There, the data is analysed so as to determine any faults (a loss of brake fluid or a slow puncture, for example) at an early stage and to be able to improve the car's set up. Test Team A group of mechanics and engineers employed by a team to concentrate on preparing cars for testing, and who do not attend Grands Prix as part of the actual race teams. Often test team mechanics graduate to the race team, which is seen as a more prestigious role. Third Driver The third driver is officially nominated as the reserve driver who undertakes testing duties and can step in if one of his colleagues is injured or taken ill. Teams may also employ additional test drivers. Timed Practice A term used to differentiate practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning of a Grand Prix from the qualifying session held on Saturday afternoon. Times are recorded but do not count towards grid positions. Time Penalty Additional time added to a driver's total race time as punishment, potentially dropping him down the finishing order. A Drive Through Penalty will be replaced by a 20 seconds penalty and a Stop-Go Penalty by 30 seconds if such punishments are deemed appropriate in the last 5 laps of the race, or indeed after it.  ToeIs the angle of the tyres, as viewed from the top of the car. Negative toe, or toeing-in the rear wheels will stop oversteer but reduces acceleration on the exits and straights because there isn't as much tyre contact to the ground. Torque Generated in the engine by the combustion pressure acting on the crankshaft via the pistons and the connecting rods. The maximum torque is a benchmark for the power and useability of the engine and the acceleration capacity of a racing car. Traction This term describes the ability of a race car to apply its engine’s power to the track. Traction Control An electronic system, also called antislip control. It uses sensors to detect whether the wheels are spinning and then automatically reduces the engine power. This guarantees ideal acceleration, especially at the start, when leaving a corner and on wet tracks. Traction control is currently banned. Transmission The majority of modern Formula One cars use seven-speed semi-automatic gearboxes. However regulations only stipulate at least four forward gears, up to a maximum of seven as well as a reverse gear. Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT) systems are not allowed. Currently gear boxes have to last for four events (defined as Saturday practice, qualifying and the race but not including the other practice sessions). Every unscheduled gearbox change will require the driver to drop five places on the grid at that event. If a driver fails to finish a race, he may start the next meeting with a new gearbox without incurring a penalty. Transponder An electronic device that sends data from the car to the pits. Turbo Engines The first turbo engine was used in Formula 1 in 1977. In qualifying, these engines boasted up to 1,400 bhp. They were banned in Formula 1 in 1988. Turbulence The result of the disruption of airflow caused by an interruption to its passage, such as when it hits a rear wing and its horizontal flow is spoiled. Turning-In Point The point at which the driver initiates the turn in to a corner, aiming towards the apex. Turning Vane See Bargeboard. Tyre Blanket See Tyre Warmer. Tyre Compound The type of rubber mix used in the construction of a tyre, a typical Formula One race compound will have more than ten ingredients such as rubbers, polymers, sulphur, carbon black, oil and other curatives. Currently tyre compounds range from super-soft through soft and medium to hard, with each offering a different performance and wear characteristic. A hard compound is more durable, and a soft compound gives more grip and is faster. The ideal racing tyre combines both characteristics. Two compounds, as decided by the tyre supplier, must be used during a race unless wet tyres are used. Tyre Pressure The pressure of a Formula 1 car's front tyres is between 1.14 and 1.2 atmospheres. The back tyres are inflated at a pressure of 1.02 to 1.08 atmospheres. A difference of as little as 0.1 atmospheres either way – or a difference between the pressure of the individual tyres – diminishes the chance of victory. Tyre Stack Part of a racetrack's mandatory equipment since 1981. The tyre barriers consist of two to six rows of conventional car tyres bolted together and wrapped with rubber belting. This provides the best absorption of impact energy. Tyres Formula 1 tyres are currently supplied by Bridgestone with two different 'compounds' provided for each race weekend. In 2009 Slick dry tyres with no tread markings returned, replacing the previous tyres which had grooves around the circumference. From 2010 only air and nitrogen will be allowed to inflate the tyres. Tyre Warmer The tyres require an operational temperature of around 100 degrees celsius to achieve optimal effectiveness. To arrive at this temperature quickly, special blankets pre-heat the wheels to between 60 and 80 degrees celsius. Cold tyres do not develop enough grip. If they are too hot, they wear out quickly. From 2010, rim-heaters which heat the rim of the wheel are not allowed and tyre warmers must only act upon the outer tyre surface.  |