JoshTheEngineer | How To: Calculate F1 Car Aerodynamic Deceleration at Top Speed @JoshTheEngineer | Uploaded January 2017 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
Let's calculate the instantaneous deceleration that an F1 driver will feel when they lift off the throttle at top speed! This deceleration that I'm calculating in the video is solely due to aerodynamic drag.

I forgot to mention that I'm assuming no rolling resistance in this analysis. I mentioned it in my Top Speed video, and then forgot to add it in here. If I did include rolling resistance, it would be another term on the right-hand-side of the power equation, because the engine would need to overcome rolling resistance as well. Another assumption I forgot to mention is that there is no wind, that is, the air we are driving through is calm.

I misspoke (and mis-wrote) the name Peter Windsor, instead of Peter Wright. My apologies, but I don't want to film everything again. Another thing to note is that in the article (linked to below), the author says that the CdA of 1.3 m^2 is for a non-DRS car, whereas for a car with DRS enabled, the Cd will decrease. The product of CdA will then also decrease. In my analysis, I'm just using the non-DRS value given, based on an assumption that right when the driver lifts, the DRS flap will close, even if it's technically activated by pressing the brakes.

If you want to learn how to calculate the top speed of a car, check out my other video here:
goo.gl/rl1Igx

Links for information used in the video:
Value for CdA: goo.gl/xa7u3a
DRS : goo.gl/icOeCL
FIA Event Timing for Bahrain: goo.gl/GbBIXM

If you liked the video, please subscribe! If you didn't, let me know how I can improve.

Photo credits for the thumbnail image:
By Morio (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons