100 Words Every Formula 1 Fan Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	Aero	Airflow design for speed and grip.
2.	Aero balance	Front-to-rear aerodynamic load distribution.
3.	Apex	Tightest point of a corner.
4.	Attack mode	Temporary power boost; not in F1.
5.	Backmarker	Car running at the back.
6.	Ballast	Weight added to meet minimum mass.
7.	Blue flags	Let faster cars lap you.
8.	Brake bias	Front-versus-rear braking distribution.
9.	Brake ducts	Channels cooling air to brakes.
10.	Bump draft	Pushing another car; rare in F1.
11.	Camber	Wheel tilt angle relative to road.
12.	Chassis	Car’s structural frame and survival cell.
13.	Clean air	Undisturbed airflow ahead of traffic.
14.	Clerk of the Course	Manages event operations and safety.
15.	Cockpit	Driver’s seating and control area.
16.	Compound	Tyre rubber type: soft to hard.
17.	Cooling louvres	Body openings to release heat.
18.	Curbs	Raised edge of track limits.
19.	Delta time	Gap to target lap reference.
20.	Deployment	Using stored electrical energy for power.
21.	Dirty air	Turbulent wake reducing downforce.
22.	DNF	Did not finish the race.
23.	Drive-through penalty	Pit-lane pass as a penalty.
24.	DRS	Adjustable rear wing to reduce drag.
25.	Engine braking	Deceleration from drivetrain resistance.
26.	ERS	Energy Recovery System for hybrid power.
27.	F1 Academy	Women’s feeder series supported by F1.
28.	Fastest lap point	Bonus point for fastest lap, top 10.
29.	FIA	Motorsport’s governing body.
30.	Formation lap	Warm-up lap before race start.
31.	Free practice	Non-points sessions for setup tuning.
32.	Front wing	Primary front aero device for downforce.
33.	G-force	Acceleration load felt by driver.
34.	Gearbox	Transmission unit with set ratios.
35.	Graining	Tyre surface tearing, reducing grip.
36.	Grand Prix	An individual F1 race event.
37.	Grid penalty	Drop in starting positions for infractions.
38.	Ground effect	Downforce from underfloor airflow.
39.	Hairpin	Very tight, slow-speed corner.
40.	Halo	Titanium cockpit protection structure.
41.	Hard tyre	Most durable tyre compound.
42.	Heat cycle	Tyre performance changes after heating.
43.	High fuel	Heavy early-race fuel load condition.
44.	HPP	Hybrid power unit package.
45.	Hug the apex	Take tight line at corner’s inside.
46.	In-lap	Lap entering pits for a stop.
47.	Installation lap	Out-and-back systems check lap.
48.	Intermediate tyre	Green tyre for light wet track.
49.	Jump start	Moving before lights out.
50.	Kerb	UK spelling of curb.
51.	KERS	Older kinetic energy recovery system.
52.	Lapped traffic	Cars a lap down affecting leaders.
53.	Launch	Start procedure acceleration off the line.
54.	Lift and coast	Save fuel by lifting before braking.
55.	Lights out	Start signal when red lights extinguish.
56.	Lock-up	Brakes seize wheel; tyre slides.
57.	Marbles	Rubber debris off the racing line.
58.	Marshal	Trackside safety and flag official.
59.	Medium tyre	Balanced tyre compound between soft and hard.
60.	MFD	Steering-wheel multifunction display.
61.	Minimum weight	Lowest legal car-plus-driver mass.
62.	Monocoque	Single-piece survival cell structure.
63.	Out-lap	Lap leaving pits after a stop.
64.	Overcut	Gain position by pitting later.
65.	Oversteer	Rear slides more than front.
66.	Parc fermé	Restricted setup conditions after qualifying.
67.	Penalty points	Licence points for driving offences.
68.	Pit lane	Area for servicing and penalties.
69.	Pit stop	Tyre change and adjustments in pits.
70.	Pole position	First place on starting grid.
71.	Power unit	Hybrid engine system: ICE, turbo, ERS.
72.	Practice start	Start rehearsal, usually at pit exit.
73.	Puncture	Tyre loses pressure from damage.
74.	Push lap	Flat-out lap attempt.
75.	Qualifying	Session setting grid order.
76.	Race control	Officials managing race decisions and messages.
77.	Radio check	Test communication between driver and pit wall.
78.	Red flag	Session stopped; cars return to pits.
79.	Retirement	Car stops running; recorded as DNF.
80.	Ride height	Chassis distance above the ground.
81.	Rookie	First-year F1 driver.
82.	Safety car	Neutralizes race; controls speed for safety.
83.	Scrutineering	Technical inspection for legality.
84.	Sector	One of three timed track segments.
85.	Set-up	Car configuration for conditions.
86.	Slipstream	Reduced drag in another car’s wake.
87.	Soft tyre	Fastest compound; wears quickest.
88.	Sprint	Short race awarding points, sets grid.
89.	Stewards	Officials who investigate and penalize.
90.	Stint	Run between pit stops.
91.	Strategy	Planned tyre, pace, and stop choices.
92.	Telemetry	Live car data sent to team.
93.	Throttle map	Engine response calibration setting.
94.	Track limits	Rules defining valid racing surface.
95.	Traction	Grip available for acceleration.
96.	Turbulence	Chaotic airflow disrupting aero performance.
97.	Tyre degradation	Grip loss from wear and overheating.
98.	Tyre warm-up	Bringing tyres into optimal temperature window.
99.	Undercut	Gain position by pitting earlier.
100.	Understeer	Front pushes wide in a corner.