Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

F1: Take a look at what's inside a Formula 1 engine

|
Obtain the best financial rate for your car loan at Automobile En Direct
Khatir Soltani
The mini-skirted piston consists of an aluminium alloy that has some exotic-sounding titanium mixed in and is made from one piece (forged).

Engine regulations limit bore to a maximum of 98 mm and you can bet that most if not all of the teams will take it to the max. As well, stroke can be no more 39.7 mm.

How much does a piston weigh? Approximately 220 grams, which is only half a pound! About as much as a Big Mac.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com

Rotating at a speed of 18,000 rpm, the piston has the equivalent mass of about 2.3 tonnes. Its maximum acceleration is of 10,000 Gs and has a maximum speed of 40m/sec. That's 3,333 times more Gs than a NASA Shuttle during take-off...

The piston can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 0.003 second. The only thing faster than a Hayabusa Turbo. The internal forces are so high that the connecting rods can stretch as much as 0.6mm during a single cycle.

Additionally, the temperatures in the combustion chamber reach 2,600ºC, more than enough to burn your dinner.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada