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From Traction control to 6-wheeled car- Formula 1's 'Innovative Marvels' Banned by the FIA.

Many new technologies emerge from Formula 1 sport that car brands adopt and use in their road cars. However, some outstanding innovations were banned by the FIA.

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Venkatakrishnan
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Banned Innovations

(Source: X)

The cars we see today on our roads are way more advanced than those 10 years ago. Other than the fancy features, most mechanical innovations like adaptive steering, Active suspension technology, and steering mount controls originated from Formula 1. The pinnacle of car sports is the place where we see new kinds of innovations being adopted by teams to have an edge during the race.

But the FIA doesn't like some of those innovations by the Formula 1 team, taking advantage of others during races. Many technologically advanced and groundbreaking Marvels were banned by the FIA for no reason. Let us take a look at some of those Banned marvels which we love to see today.

Innovations Banned by FIA

Adrian Newey’s onboard camera

RB Camera

In Modern Formula 1 cars we see onboard cameras by which fans can see the live action very closely from the driver's point of view. In 2014 many teams were using a separate onboard camera, placement of which caused drag during the race. 

But Adrian Newey, the Red Bull car designer, was very clever when designing the onboard camera and he mounted it on the nose of the car without causing any unwanted drag. The FIA didn't approve this clever idea and banned it immediately after just five races of action. 

Also Read: FIA to introduce one of the most essential features for F1 drivers in history

Fan car

In the Late 1970s, a new type of engineering marvel was invented by the Brabham engineer Gordon Murray to increase the downforce of the car and also help the engine cool down. It was called the ‘Fan car’ which had a large fan on the rear of the car. They claimed the fan was there for engine cooling. 

But its real purpose was to suck the air beneath the car and create a low-pressure zone which helped them generate maximum downforce. It was used for only one race by Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda and he got a pole victory. But it was later dismantled as the team found it could get banned very soon due to legal issues.

Also Read: Top 3 Unluckiest Formula 1 Drivers

Active suspension technology

In 1992, Williams's team introduced the first Active suspension technology in F1. It was one of the best technological innovations that is still used in today's Modern cars. The car had Active suspension, Traction control, semi-automatic gearbox, and Enhanced Aerodynamics. Again Adrian Newey was the main culprit of innovations.

The car was the most technologically advanced at that time and it won 10 out of the 16 races it participated. AST (Active suspension technology) allowed the car height to be adjusted according to the track conditions. Engineers added buttons to the steering wheels so that the driver could adjust the level by himself. But FIA banned the innovation as it felt if the technology failed then the driver could lose his life.

Traction Control

In the same car, Traction control was introduced increasing the car's stability in Wet conditions. It controlled the brake pressure and prevented it from slipping during wet conditions. It allowed the driver to pass a corner very safely compared with cars without TC. The FIA banned both these technologies due to legality issues. But the Williams car laid the foundation for the Active suspension and traction control which we see in Modern cars and bikes.

Mercedes DAS Steering wheel

In 2020 during pre-season testing, many teams wondered about the Mercedes F1 team's new revolutionary innovation. It's called DAS (Dual Axis Steering) which is used to adjust the steering during straight lines by pushing and pulling the steering wheel.

It is used to increase the stability, handling and maintain tyre temperature. When it was pulled it increased the straight-line stability of the car as the front wheels were pulled to the inside. When approaching a corner the drivers push the steering wheel which makes the front tyres move back to their original position which then helps in cornering.

The FIA banned this spectacular innovation after the 2020 Season as they felt many teams could adapt the same in the future which could lead to complications. Mercedes won 13 out of the 17 races in the 2020 season with the help of the DAS system.

6 wheeled car in F1

In the year 1976 Tyrell launched a new type of car which had 6 wheels instead of the traditional 4 wheels in their car. The P34 had a traditional big rear wheel but in front, there were 4 smaller wheels. It was innovated to increase the tyre contact area and help in better grip. The car even claimed victory at the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix. But in 1977 the design compromised the car's performance and it was eventually removed after that year. 

Formula 1 Adrian Newey Mercedes F1 FIA
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