The Formula by Joshua Robinson & Jonathan Clegg (summary)

The Formula (book cover)

A well-written, engaging introduction to the history of F1 — its essence, key moments, iconic teams, drivers and personalities, and the process through which it transformed into the highly glamorised, popular sport it is today.

My collection of nuggets:

• 4 key elements to be unbeatable: aerodynamic efficiency, mechanical efficiency, engine, driver
• Constantly innovate to be ahead: (1) Find loopholes in the F1 rulebook in areas where regulations are just vague enough, or where officials hadn’t written specs on the car’s geometry. (2) or copy another team that has done this.
• The paradox of making the car as light as possible while also sticking to the circuit
• Adding power makes you faster on the straights; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere
• Ferrari’s the only team to have participated in every season of F1 since its inception in 1950. Enzo Ferrari’s original obsession was on engine/horsepower and craftsmanship.
• Bernie Ecclestone: commercialised F1
• McLaren: Ron Dennis, professionalisation & sponsorships, Senna-Prost rivalry
• 1992: first computer in car, Williams → electronic driver aids were then banned in 1993