At this top level of motor racing, each team must use its equipment to the absolute maximum. If the car has just one weak area, all the rival teams will do their best to exploit this weakness for their own advantage and the team is likely to suffer. The cars are made ready for race performances in three ways:
- Off-season testing: The intense competition that exists in Formula One racing is the reason that Formula One teams conduct months of testing each winter to hone and perfect their cars. In these tests, teams and drivers will evaluate new tyres, new car parts and maybe even new design philosophies in a controlled environment where there is no pressure to go for outright lap times. Race meetings have rigidly structured programmes that the teams run through to ensure that their car is absolutely perfect for the race.
- Pre-race testing: Teams get to shake down their cars in the week before a race and they can use this time to evaluate new parts or new electronic systems. Some teams also get an extra two hours of testing on Friday morning to try out new components.
- Adjustments during the race: When the race is underway, teams can’t just decide to sit in the grandstand and see what their driver can do. Strategy decisions must be made, radio advice must be given to the driver, and vital refuelling pit stops must be attended to.
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