The sky-high cost of an F1 car, from the £15million engine to a £2million hybrid system and £500,000 gearbox

8 months ago 59

TO own a F1 team, you have to be minted.

So, it’s no surprise teams like Mercedes-AMG Petronas, Ferrari, Red Bull and more are owned by billionaires.

An engine can cost as much as £15m[/caption]

The power unit is the most important part of the jigsaw of the building of an F1 car[/caption]

To make a successful team, you need a great racing car. And that means having to spend millions assembling it.

Figures for how much a Formula One car vary, with some saying a ballpark figure could be around the £16million mark.

But with the budget cap set at around £106million-per-team each season, there’s plenty of wiggle room to spend even more money perfecting your car.

With the help of experts at ALA Insurance, we look at the most expensive components of a F1 car, starting off with the most expensive.

It’s worth noting, though, these costs are estimates.

Power unit (Engine) – £5m-£15m

Obviously, the engine is the most important piece of the jigsaw.

Therefore, it’s no surprise they cost a pretty penny – and can set manufacturers back as much as £15million.

The power unit consists of a combustion engine and the associated hybrid systems.

They are tasked with recovering and deploying energy.

It is a highly advanced and meticulously engineered piece of machinery.

The extensive research, development, and manufacturing processes, along with the utilisation of cutting-edge materials and technologies, contribute to its high cost.

Carbon fiber monocoque – £200k- £500k

A car’s frame is vitally important to its success.

The monocoque serves as the structural chassis of an F1 car, and it is usually constructed using carbon fibre composites.

Carbon fibre is used because of its strength and is very light, meaning it won’t take away any speed.

Again, complex manufacturing techniques, meticulous quality control, and high-grade carbon fibre materials mean it’s not a cheap process.

Up to half a million pounds could be spent on the monocoque.

The monocoque serves as the structural chassis of an F1 car[/caption]

Aerodynamic components – £50k – £200k

When it comes to optimising performance and handling, aerodynamics play a vital role.

This covers the design and development of intricate aerodynamic components, such as wings, diffusers, and bargeboards.

It also involves extensive wind tunnel testing, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and continuous refinement.

The complexity of these components, along with the costs associated with research and development, contribute to their higher price tags.

The aerodynamic components of a race car are crucial[/caption]

Wings, diffusers, and bargeboards cost serious money[/caption]

Gearbox – £200k- £500k

The gearbox in an F1 car it’s an extremely complex component.

Its job is to withstand immense force and transmit power efficiently for the best drive.

F1 gearboxes are typically built to withstand rapid gear changes and extreme torque, requiring high-performance materials, precision machining, and stringent quality control.

With a minimum figure of £200,000 spent, it’s a little pricier than fixing up your souped up Supra.

Hybrid systems – £500k – £2m

F1 cars employ advanced hybrid systems to capture and deploy energy for improved performance.

Such systems include the Energy Recovery System (ERS) and associated electronics, incorporate cutting-edge technology and components.

The development and integration of these complex hybrid systems, along with the necessary research and testing, contribute to them costing as much as £2m.

If you had the money, would you launch an F1 team and pay this much for a car?