how fast do f1 cars go f1 cars top speed explained

The Formula 1 Speed Edge: How Fast Do F1 Cars Go?

 'If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough.' 

Rephrasing Mario Andretti’s famous quote, a Formula 1 car has to be as fast as its driver to be on the edge of losing control. But where is that boundary? However, Andretti didn’t clarify. Therefore, let’s delving the figures to explore how fast F1 cars have gone in recent times and where is that speed limit where going fast is enough. 

Let’s start subtly. 

Among the world racing championships, Formula 1 sets its top as the fastest sport. We figured it out when comparing the speed of different cars racing in various disciplines under the FIA’s regulation. 

One of our insights is that all these cars race with nearly 200km/h on average. However, F1 cars run faster at 100km/h than others, and only IndyCar is faster than Formula 1, although it is another story yet.

Formula 1 Cars’ Speed On Average

The average speed of the Formula 1 car is 200km/h, which is a constant middling standard, but it significantly varies from one to another racing tack. 

Think, the slowest Monaco circuit sees the 164km/h average speed of F1 cars, which Lewis Hamilton showcased at the wheel of Mercedes in 2021. It is almost 100km/h slower than the fastest-paced track in the calendar, the Silverstone.

At the Silverstone circuit (British Grand Prix), drivers race at an average of 243km/h, while they meet for about 252km/h at the median speed at the Jeddah Corniche Circuits (Saudi Arabian Grand Prix).

The truth is that no one purposely quantified the average and top speeds of F1 cars outside the manufactory because it is a trade secret and challenging to arrange. Although, the attempt was already made.

The Fastest-ever Speed of A Formula 1 Car

The so-called ‘Bonneville 400‘ was one of the strangest projects outside Formula 1’s activities. The Bar Honda team aimed to break records, going over the 400km/h limits in 2005. How do you think did they succeed?

Yes and no. 

According to the Bar team’s data, in the Mojave Desert, their modified BAR 007 (RA106), but fully compliant with FIA’s regulations F1 car, hit 413km/h. In comparison, the sanctioned speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in the US was just 397km/h. As they say in the classics, go figure.

However, it is what it is. So, 397km/h is the official fastest top speed record of the Formula 1 car ever made, although it was stagged outside the racing circuit. 

So from 200 to 400km/h is the field where the actual Formula 1’s top speed records are to be made. 

f1 car top speed explained
Nico Rosberg overtaking Heidfeld 2007 Brazil” by Morio/ licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Top Speed Records

Backing to the pace within racing, it is Juan Pablo Montoya holds the official top speed record. In 2005, Montoya hit 372.6km/h at the wheel of the McLaren Mercedes car at Monza circuit. 

But it was made during the practice for the Italian Grand Prix, while Valtteri Bottas holds the top speed record in the race. Bottas strove for 372.5km/h at the wheel of the Williams on the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix. 

So, 372.6km/h has been an unreachable mark to this day, although efforts were made. In the same 2016 year, Bottas accelerated for 378km/h, as Williams announced on Twitter, but the FIA refused, stating the actual speed was only 366.1 km/h.

And something tells us the record will remain because the recent F1 cars have become slower.

How Fast Do F1 Cars Go Recently?

In the 2020s, F1 car goes 200-350km/h, rarely hitting over 350km/h. Although it depends on the track’s layout, the car accelerates 330km/h at straights and corners at 250km/h on average.

So, at the start/finish straight at Monza circuit, drivers accelerated for 359km/h. But it is Monza, and that says it all. 

In 2023, Kevin Magnussen hit 355km/h at the wheel of Haas at the Baku Grand Prix race. 

Another fantastic speed – 356km/h, met Logan Sargeant recorded on the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix. Again, it was made at the wheel of a mid-grid Williams car. 

So, among the top speed marks, often you can find Williams or Haas cars’ mentions. Does it mean that Red Bull, Ferrari, or Mercedes F1 cars are slower than those from mid-grid? Not at all. 

Thus, the top speed of Red Bull is about 345km/h. It is the same as Mercedes and Williams cars can, while Ferrari F1 cars can reach about 350km/h

how fast do f1 cars go explained
Sergio Perez et Max Verstappen 2022” by Wastrick/ licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

What Ia the Fastest Car in Formula 1?

So, despite all F1 cars’ performance depending on the settings, all those run at one-speed field – 345km/h. But, how then did slow Williams hit 356km/h in Belgium?

The case is the fastest car on the grid which performed better at each point of the circuit, including turns, and chicanes. 

The teams from the second half of the grid, like Alpine, Sauber, Williams, and Haas, make the bet on their strongest side – the maximal speed. So, improving this point, the slow Williams reduces the gap from others, running fast the straights but struggling at the other points at Spa-Francorchamps.

Front-runners Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull don’t need 356km/h, as their cars are fast overall when accelerating, braking, and cornering. So when you look at Red Bull’s speed in the Belgian Grand Prix, you will find Max Verstappen hasn’t been equal.  

Therefore, in Formula 1, speed is vital, but success circles around the overall performance.

What Does Add the Speed To the Formula 1 Car?

The primary factors that directly impact are acceleration, aerodynamics, and DRS. The weight and grip also make a difference, but secondarily.

Weight in Formula 1 is strictly regulated, while the grip changes at different tracks and weather conditions.

Acceleration of the F1 cars

Acceleration helps to reach top speed rapidly and maintain the F1 car’s pace around the corners. 

Thus, with 23 turns, like Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, the advantage goes to the best-accelerated cars. That is why Red Bull has the most wins here.

Current F1 cars accelerate from 0 – 100km/h in 2.4 seconds, 0 – 160km/h in 3.4 seconds, 0-200km/h in 4.8 seconds, and from 0-300km/h in 8.6 seconds.

Remarkable, but alongside the great acceleration, the brake system of the F1 car also works pretty well. So, it takes 4 seconds for an F1 car to stop from 300km/h.

Another matter is that the driver gets bearings as fast as his car.

Aerodynamics

The aerodynamics doesn’t directly increase the speeds of the F1 car. It improves the downforce. How fast F1 car be if not its aerodynamic suits? Someone guessed it wouldn’t go over 260km/h, as the specific elements add about 10% to the downforce.

Weight

Weight in Formula 1 is limited, and all the teams use the gold standard, meeting the minimal threshold of 798kg. However, an extra 10kg may cost an additional 0.5s in lap time. 

Therefore, the new 2024 F1 cars have primary black patterns. In pursuit of making the car lighter, the constructors limit the painting.

DRS

Last but not least is the Drag Reduction System in Formula 1. Despite DRS being enabled in the special zones, opening the rear wing gives the driver for extra speed of 15km/h. 

formula 1 acceleration explained
Lewis Hamilton-Mercedes W11 (5)” by Alberto-g-rovi/ licensed under CC BY 3.0

Takeaways

The speed of the cars in Formula 1 is not the result, but the mix of lightweight, designed aerodynamics, performed DRS, powerful unit, and fast acceleration.

So, though all the F1 cars at the grid can go as fast as to reach 350km/h, each one has unique indicators, resulting in someone finishing first while the other one lags for the lap. 

Although the answer about speeds in Formula 1 lies in the field between 200 and 350km/h, the 400km/h mark wasn’t ever reached, despite the efforts and experiments. 

So, when Mario Andretti said his famous words, I think he meant exactly the speed of 350-400km/h as this is a fast enough limit where control can be lost so soon.