Why F1 drivers don't do Donuts nowadays? Restrictions behind Donuts - Explained

Motorsports like NASCAR, Formula 1, MotoGP, LeMans, and Indy 500 are very popular around the world. Many fans watch these sports to see intense racing and thrilling experiences. To enhance the audience's joy, drivers in these sports do Burnouts and Donuts to make the audience happy.

NASCAR is very famous for Donuts as each driver, after winning the race, performs Donuts on the track. But in Formula 1, teams do not allow their drivers to do Donuts during races. Do you know the reason why? 

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Donuts stress the car 

Donuts may look very good from the outside but it stresses the main components of the car which could turn into a disaster for the team. That's why F1 drivers don't do Donuts after each race. After the Strict cost-cutting implications by the ruling body, drivers were pushed into an unfavourable situation. They avoid doing Donuts after a race win. So most of the time drivers do Donuts only after the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

What are the implications?

Each part of a car can be changed only for certain numbers. So teams need to ensure that each part in the Formula 1 car lasts long enough so they do not need to change parts very often due to strict regulations. 

Most expensive Motorsport

Formula 1 is the world’s most expensive motorsport as there are millions of dollars spent on car development. So if there is any damage in the car, it requires huge money to again repair and fix. Back in the 1990s, if there were any problems in the car, teams could easily swap the component with another one. But now, even swapping components needs to be permitted and the components need to last longer. 

Also Read: How much does a Formula 1 car cost? Can you buy one? - Explained

Engine lifespan is very important

For Donuts, cars need to be revved hard and Formula 1 cars are not designed for Revvs. So doing Donuts will wear out the engine very fast as the car will not move and there will be no fresh air to cool down the engine. The engine overheating will cause the components inside the engine to expand and change shape and finally break down. So teams need to replace the components sooner than expected and it will make the car uncompetitive.

Reliability of the car 

Each driver will be allowed to use only 3 engines and if they use more than that they will need to serve engine penalties. Donuts will overheat the engine and components inside the engine will grind against each other. This will cause reliability issues for the car and during races, it could turn into a disaster.

Damage to Gearbox

A gearbox is the key component in a Formula 1 car which is the biggest reason behind a car's pace. It is also the most used component in races as drivers often upshift and downshift during corners and straights. During Donuts the gearbox will take the maximum strain and will get affected which can lead to a penalty.

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