its not for brakes.
2006-10-02 01:37:13 · 16 answers · asked by Ad 1 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing
The red light has been on the back of the cars for years now, although it never used to flash, they just used to turn it on in rain, and it would be a solid red light, like on the back of a normal car.
However, when they introduced the speed limit in the pitlane they made the light flash when the car had the rev limiter on in the pits (which it still does), the FIA did some tests and found that other Driver's were more likely to see the car in front in poor visibility if the light flashed. So, now it flashes.
They also tried to see if it made a difference if the light came on with the brakes, but they found the light couldn't come on quick enough to make a difference to any following cars.
Short answer, so driver's behind are more likely to see the car in rain, and so that any driver's behind another car coming into the pits can see when the rev limiter is turned on.
2006-10-02 09:58:42 · answer #1 · answered by Red Five 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The safety light is used to warn the drivers behind of a car in front in treacherous conditions, or in poor visibility. It was significantly enlarged after the Schumacher-Coulthard and Fisichella-Nakano incidents in Belgium, in 1998, a rainy race where these pairs collided due to poor visibility.
And Formula 1 cars are NOT turbo-charged. The turbocharger has been banned at the end of 1988.
2006-10-02 02:10:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
For cars behind to see the car in front. The red light is turned on in wet conditions when surface spray makes it harder to see the road ahead and particularly when at speeds of >150 mph.
You will also see the flashing red light appear at the Monaco Gp when the cars go through the tunnel under the Loews hotel. Basically the red flashing light is there to help vision in poor lighting.
2006-10-02 01:51:59 · answer #3 · answered by BloodyxXxRomance 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes the red flashing light at the back of F1 cars is for visibility in poor conditions as in china.
Also there are no turbo chargers on the F1 cars since 1988
2006-10-02 02:17:30 · answer #4 · answered by spens dad! 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It prevents accidents when there is less visibility (for example when it rains). You might remember the race on Spa some years ago: there Michael Schumacher ran onto the car of David Coultard because that red light of David's car didn't work. It was raining that day and when there is rain that red light is very important to prevent accidents like that.
2006-10-02 10:07:37 · answer #5 · answered by Elize 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's there for when it's raining the car behind the flashing car could be seen. Before that, they had a couple of incidents in the rain (famous coulthard-schumacher accident)
2006-10-02 05:22:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is to make car a little more visable in the rain, to stop crashes happening like at spa 1998.
2006-10-02 11:24:10 · answer #7 · answered by DAVID C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For visibility in bad weather, fog, heavy rain(spray) and other cases of bad visibility.
It also comes on when the speed limiter is applied, when entering pits.
2006-10-02 01:46:28 · answer #8 · answered by psychoticgenius 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its not a light. Its the fire from the outlet in the turbo engine. That is why these cars are so easily flamible - you may remember the pit lane fire to a benetton car a few years ago when fuel spilled on to the car and was lit by the exhaust and turbo charge outlet
2006-10-02 01:51:06 · answer #9 · answered by Paul B 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
My pappy says it's to get the womens attention at the race so that the driver can later ask them for their boyfriends number.
2006-10-02 07:33:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋