Tag Archives: formula 1

World’s fastest FPV drone with a 350km/h Top Speed will radically change how we watch F1 Races

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The fact that the world’s fastest FPV drone looks somewhat like a missile is simultaneously incredibly cool and incredibly scary. It might change how we watch F1 races, but it has the potential to change much more than just that.

This just seems like the kind of crazy thing Red Bull would pull off. The company decided to challenge multiple-time F1 champion Max Verstappen to a race – the catch, Verstappen would be behind the wheel of a Red Bull F1 car, while his opponent would be the world’s fastest FPV drone. The project was in collaboration with Dutch Drone Gods, a group of FPV drone makers and pilots known for holding the existing title of the world’s fastest FPV filming drone with a 150km/h top speed. The only problem – Verstappen’s F1 car is more than twice as fast.

Designers: Red Bull Advanced Technologies & Dutch Drone Gods

Drones aren’t new in the F1 circuit, given that the racing organization uses a combination of aerial filming methods to get their shots. Sustained footage is taken on helicopters that hover above the track, but for up-close shots, the F1 team relies on drones… the only problem is that these drones don’t follow the car around. They simply hover in the air, taking cinematic panning/dolly shots before the camera angle changes. Understandably, creating a drone that can follow an F1 car around like a third-person camera in a video game is just a tad bit short of impossible. Drones have a notoriously low flight time, outputting probably a maximum of 15-20 minutes of flight before their batteries get drained. Moreover, F1 cars can hit speeds of almost 400km/h and are designed to be highly responsive, making razor-sharp turns on the tarmac. The Dutch Drone Gods’ FPV maxes out at 150km/h, and can’t perform sharp maneuvers in mid-air. This meant redesigning the drone to hit higher speeds while being responsive, and perhaps most importantly, not melting or exploding in the air because of all the heat generated by hitting upwards of 300km/h speeds.

Pilot and Founder of DDG Ralph Hogenbirk and F1 World Champion Max Verstappen with the Red Bull PFV Drone

The process saw multiple iterations from the Dutch Drone Gods’ team, who took up the challenge of pushing their drone to be as fast as a Formula 1 racecar. The challenge, aside from speed, was also to make the drone maneuverable, and durable. Initial tests yielded a few pitfalls, wires would melt under extreme heat, parts would wear and tear or even explode, but more interestingly, the drone’s stability would take a beating just because of the wind turbulence created by the F1 car as it zoomed across the track. Two rounds of prototypes also showed that simple off-the-shelf components and 3D-printed outer shells couldn’t handle the task, so the DDG team decided to visit the Red Bull Advanced Technologies headquarters to partner with the team there to design the drone. The new drone had machined metal structures, speed-capable inner components, and an FRP composite outer shell that was lightweight but highly resilient.

The final drone prototype got one single chance to race against Verstappen in the latest RB20 car on the Silverstone track. It fared incredibly well against Verstappen, filming the car as it blitzed through the track. The goal wasn’t to go faster than Verstappen’s car, that would be a foolish mistake, but rather, to capture the racecar from a unique following PoV, giving the audience the effect of moving at the same speed as Verstappen. F1 race broadcasts are already pretty exciting to begin with, but imagine being able to follow a car with a camera, capturing the intense speed, adrenaline, and reflexes of the race in real-time…

The engineering of Red Bull’s FPV drone could potentially revolutionize the landscape of F1 filming. Instead of static camera shots or quick drone shots that just pan across a track, Red Bull has potentially unlocked the ability to now follow cars as they race, creating an even more thrilling broadcast that could practically reinvent how people enjoy the sport. Heck, I could totally conceive the creation of a drone racing championship as a result too. The implications for Hollywood are just as exciting too, with cinematic drones getting a whole lot faster thanks to the Red Bull FPV Drone’s unique shape.

However, a drone hitting speeds of 350km/h has its own pitfalls too. Reconnaissance, surveillance, or potentially even weapon-based payload delivery could somehow become even easier and more accessible to anyone with the right tools. Sure, the Red Bull FPV drone isn’t a ballistic missile, but it’s dangerously close to being unstoppable. Try stopping a drone cutting through a military zone or an airport at 350km/h. This new world is exciting, but just as scary too.

That doesn’t take away from how incredibly impressive Red Bull and Dutch Drone Gods’ demonstration was. The Red Bull FPV Drone currently holds the record for defeating its predecessor by a factor of nearly 200km/h. The new FPV drone also gets the bragging rights of being able to keep up with Verstappen, a feat that not even other F1 racers can hold claim to!

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The 1,642 piece LEGO Mercedes-AMG W14 E Performance will arrive in March 2024

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LEGO Technic has found a deep-rooted fancy for motorsports lately with the release of the McLaren F1 MP4 Ayrton Senna LEGO set and Speed Champions 2023 McLaren. Now the group has revealed the Mercedes-AMG W14 E Performance and a smaller pull-back version. The scaled replica of Lewis Hamilton’s 2023 Mercedes-AMG W14 F1 car is highly intricate and one to get for Formula-1 fans who follow the sport passionately.

The seven-time world champion sparked the interest of audiences worldwide with his domination at the pinnacle of motorsports for nearly a decade. This has earned the team millions of fans who come to witness the driving craft of Lewis and his machine. Sadly the team has tumbled from the top spot as Red Bull hit back with a flurry of wins but that doesn’t take anything away from the champion and his glory years. This LEGO set celebrates that winning spree and domination etched forever in the hearts of Mercedes fans.

Designer: LEGO Group

LEGO Technic is expanding its ever-growing collection of motorsports replicas with the Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance LEGO set. The 1/8 scale model can be built piece by piece from the individual 1,642 LEGO bricks to form the W14 measuring 13 cm tall, 63cm long and 26 cm wide. Symbolized by the black color to keep the carbon parts from being painted to reduce that minuscule amount of weight, the F1 car is crafted to the most fine details.

The see-through V6 engine has moving piston parts, a working steering wheel, suspensions, differential, slick tires (without the Pirelli branding) and a DRS rear wing to complete the build. The original livery in the form of stickers has been replicated on the bodywork, making it a very inviting final form if you love the Silver Arrows for what they are.

The LEGO set will be released on March 1, 2024, for interested buyers and I’m sure there will be many takers. Also, LEGO will release a smaller version for kids in a pull-back form to have maximum fun.

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LEGO McLaren MP4/4 with Ayrton Senna minifig arriving in March to grace F1 fans’ shelves

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Ayrton Senna is the undisputed legend of motor racing and he could have achieved timeless greatness (not that he has already not achieved the feat) hadn’t it been for that fateful corner at the Imola Circuit in Italy during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Hence, Ffor a Formula-1 fanatic, any memorabilia or piece of history that recalls the legend’s memories is a prized possession.

For such fans, LEGO Speed Champions and Technic lineup will add to the proud collection in the form of the McLaren F1 MP4 Ayrton Senna LEGO set. The set comprising of 693 pieces will go on sale from March 1, 2024 for a suggested price tag of $80. Highlight of this set is the Senna minifigure on a podium holding the winner’s trophy with a plate displaying the photo and quote,  alongside the McLaren in action mode.

Designer: LEGO Group

The main focus here is the successful F1 MP4/4 car powered by the Honda turbocharged engine that was used during the 1988 Formula 1 season. Ayrton alongside his teammate Alain Prost pushed this beast to its limits in a spectacle of racing craft dominating the competition winning 15 out of the 16 races during the season. Ayrton stole the limelight with eight wins for the team, securing his place as the world champion, while Alain just missed the bar winning seven races.

The MP4/4’s reliability and pure performance made it one of the most dominant cars in the history of F1 to date. Of course, one can attribute that feat to the skill of Ayrton who showed some of the most mind-blowing driving craft during the season. Coming back to this LEGO build, it looks like Shell is again on good terms with the LEGO Group after a lull of a decade. You can spot the Sheel and Honda logos while the controversial Marlboro branding has been given a pass.

The 1:8 LEGO model is 553 mm long, 257 mm wide, and 125mm high. It comes with functional suspensions, a steering wheel, a V6 engine, a turbo compressor (with intercooler radiators), snorkels and exhaust blowing under the rear diffuser. What more could you ask for?

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F1 Racing Simulator build from authentic Red Bull RB18 puts you right in the action

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The formula-1 2023 season kicked off in Bahrain and Red Bull yet again seems to have the championship-winning dominant package on track. With a goal to keep up the winning streak of last year’s RB18 F1 car, this season’s Red Bull racer is a hard competitor for other teams in the paddock to reckon with.

To bring home an exclusive experience of F1 sim racing for Formula-1 fans who are rooting for the current favorite Oracle Red Bull Racing team, a life-sized F1 simulator rig has been designed by 2022 Constructors’ World Championship-winning team in collaboration with memorabilia pros, Memento Exclusives (F1 Authentics).

Designer: Memento Exclusives and Oracle Red Bull Racing

This Show Car Simulator is built on repurposed ex-show cars from the 2022 season (designed by Adrian Newey – CTO, Red Bull Racing) which saw Red Bull winning 17 out of the 23 GP races. On this development Christian stated, “Driving a Formula 1 car is something most of us can only dream of, but this simulator is as close as it gets to the real thing. Memento Exclusives have recreated the car to bring the track into your home.”

To keep things as close to reality as possible, all these manufactured racing simulators will be made using the same process and CAD data used in the F1 racing cars. The 160 kgs of bodywork are crafted using composite tools to carve the carbon fiber molds. According to F1 Authentics, the simulators are like the ones used by drivers to prepare for races.

Of course hardware on the simulator will be top-notch with curved AOC gaming screens, surround sound speakers by Z906 Ultimate THX, industry leading adjustable racing pedals, brakes and force feedback paddle steering wheel featuring go-race quick-release mechanism.

The simulator will come in two variants – one will be ’The Champions Edition’ having a front wing assembly and the other one is ‘The Racing Edition’ which misses out on the wing.

They are priced at £99,999 (approximately $1,21,500) and £74,999 (approximately $91,125)  Both of these racing simulators come in either Verstappen or Perez-themed liveries, so you can make your preferred choices. The Red Bull Racing RB18 Show Car Simulator rigs will be manufactured in Northamptonshire, England, and shipped to customers in April 2023.

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McLaren Racing’s life-sized LEGO Formula-1 car drops for the Australian GP 2022

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If you thought the F1 cars showcasing their superiority on the race circuits are cool, just go and watch this full-scale LEGO version that has got the McLaren Racing teammates flummoxed already!

The Australian Formula-1 Grand Prix is breathing down our necks, and the early part of the season is already hotting up with the midfield closely bunched up in performance. McLaren Racing with its cool papaya livery is also getting into the groove of things so far. Apparently, this going to be the leading driver, Daniel Riccardo’s home race. So, we can expect McLaren to come full guns blowing. LEGO Australia and the Formula-1 racing team have collaborated to make the race special for the two race drivers, and the whole paddock as well with a surreal life-sized LEGO McLaren F1 car.

Designer: McLaren Racing and LEGO Australia

This jaw-dropping replica of the 2021 season Formula-1 car is nine times the size of the collectible LEGO version which was an instant hit. Yes, the LEGO Technic McLaren Formula 1 Race Car I’m talking about. The 1:1 LEGO version is on another level altogether owing to the amount of effort and time it took to create. After painstaking 1,893 man-hours of putting together 288,315 LEGO bricks of this 5.7-meter-long, 2.4-meter-wide brick-built, the end result is undeniably awe-inspiring.

The creation comes with five separate components to take realism a notch higher. There are four wheels, car body, suspension and the crucial halo introduced a few years ago. McLaren revealed the LEGO F1 car today with Daniel Riccardo and Lando Norris looking more than just eager to test the removable halo and steering wheel. According to Niels Henrik Horsted, head of product at LEGO Technic, “We never stop trying to excite and inspire our fans by pushing the limits of possibility through the technology and designs produced, both on the racetrack and with LEGO building.”

Fans who’re set to visit the circuit this weekend to witness the race in Melbourne will be in for this surprise too. The LEGO McLaren Formula 1 Race Car will be on the trackside, and fans can actually sit inside the cockpit to make their time special in every respect. For those who are not lucky enough to experience it in reality, the next best thing is to get the scaled-down Technic McLaren Formula 1 Race Car model which is once again up for backorder on the official website, and also available via global retailers.

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LEGO Technic unveils a pretty impressive 1432-brick McLaren Formula 1 set

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Designed in partnership with McLaren, LEGO Group has just revealed the LEGO Technic McLaren Formula 1 Race Car #42141 set, a 25.5-inch long, 10.5-inch wide F1 replica made from a staggering 1432 bricks. The set celebrates McLaren’s iconic papaya livery carried on the MCL35M race cars throughout the 2021 F1 season and comes with some pretty nifty details, including an actual V6-engine made from LEGO bricks, complete with moving pistons!

Designers: LEGO & McLaren Racing

The LEGO Technic McLaren Formula 1 Race Car is a collaborative design effort between LEGO and McLaren Racing’s design team. Built to vividly realistic detail, the car comes with its own LEGO V6 engine with moving pistons, steering activated from the cockpit, suspension, and a differential lock. For added realism, the automobile even sports the logos of the partner and sponsor brands across the car’s bodywork, and even the half-open cockpit that’s now a standard in the Formula 1!

“We are excited to unveil the unique LEGO Technic model of our McLaren F1 car, a fun and engaging product that celebrates our 2021 season livery while giving fans a hands-on interpretation of the new 2022 F1 car design,” said James Key, Technical Director of McLaren Racing. “The final product looks fantastic, and we cannot wait to make this available to our fans.”

The LEGO Technic McLaren Formula 1 Race Car #42141 set will be made available starting March 1st, 2022, at a price of $179.99.

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The Future of the Formula 1 is edgy, enclosed, and electric, according to this concept

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Take a quick glance at Meelis Lillemets’ concept car and you’ll instantly recognize it to be a racecar. It’s nailed all those proportions perfectly, but look a little closer and you see that while it broadly resembles your preconceived notion of what an F1 racecar is supposed to look like, Lillemets’ conceptual racecar is, in fact, quite different-looking.

Titled the Formula-E Concept, the automobile is a combination of contemporary and past styles, with a boxy exterior that’s reminiscent of F1 cars from the 70s and 80s, along with an electric drivetrain that’s a nod to Formula 1’s future. The car sports a dual-tone carbon-fiber outer body that boasts of an edgy, boxy aesthetic. While the aesthetic itself is a retro-inspired one, it gets a modern treatment thanks to the exposed carbon-fiber pattern paired beautifully with the car’s incredibly sleek paneling.

Perhaps one of the most noticeable details on the Formula-E concept is the closed cockpit, a pretty recent design mandate from the F1 regulating body. The cockpit’s transparent panel sits absolutely flush against the car body, with no visible seam or parting line. The entire panel opens upwards and forwards, accessible via latches on the back. The cockpit is positioned right at the front of the vehicle’s main mass, leaving the back area for the electric drivetrain and the battery-unit. Air intakes on the sides supply the motor and the brakes with cool incoming air, while a pretty large battery-pack means the car could potentially complete the entire race without needing a recharge!

Designer: Meelis Lillemets

F1 engine makers are testing sustainable fuel

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Motorsport governing body FIA has developed 100 percent sustainable fuel for Formula 1 cars. The organization and F1 aim to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and sustainable fuels will play a key role in that. With its fuel, which is made from b...