F1 Glossary (P-T)

Whether they’re phrases rooted in the sport’s legendary history or words referring to the automotive technology of the future – F1 has a unique lexicon.

This simple dictionary will help you better understand the language of Formula 1, whether you're completely new to the sport or simply wanting to expand your existing knowledge.

If you’re looking for something specific, you can use your browser's search function.

PACKAGE

Car specification or updates. When a team brings an upgrade of new parts, this is often called a package.

Example: “The team will be hoping that their new aerodynamic package delivers this weekend.”

PADDLES

Levers located on the back of the steering wheel, used to operate the clutch and change gears.

Example: “I had an issue with the clutch paddle at the start.”

PADDOCK

Circuit area behind the pit lane and garages where teams have their motorhomes, transporters and equipment. An enclosed space with limited access, the paddock is where team members and people with various jobs – ranging from hospitality to the media – are based during a race weekend.

Example: “There has been a lot of talk about the driver market in the paddock this weekend."

PADDOCK CLUB

F1 premium hospitality offering an immersive experience during a race weekend. Fans can watch the action unfold from above the pit lane and team garages, enjoying benefits such as guided tours, behind-the-scenes access and luxury cuisine.

Example: “Guests have a fantastic view of the grid and pit lane in the F1 Paddock Club.”

PARC FERMÉ

Restricted area where the cars are parked and monitored by the FIA, ensuring they are safe and legal. From the French for 'closed park', no work can be done on the car when in this area. A car in parc fermé conditions (where similar rules apply but the cars themselves are elsewhere, e.g. the garage) can have some minor work carried out under the watchful eyes of a scrutineer. If parc fermé rules are broken, the car is forced to start the race from the pit lane.

Example: “It's the start of Qualifying, which means the cars are in parc fermé conditions and no changes can be made to their set-ups.”

PIT BOARD

Board physically held out by a team from the pit wall to display information to their driver. Despite the increased use of radio communications, pit boards are still used frequently, and are vital in case there's a problem with the radio. For example, they might tell a driver they need to pit, show their current position, the gap to another car, or the number of laps remaining.

Example: “I think the radio might have failed as that pit board is telling them to come into the pits.”

PIT LANE

Section of track providing access to the pit boxes and garages. Drivers enter at the pit entry, where they must have slowed down enough to obey the pit lane speed limit. After making a pit stop in their pit box outside the team’s garage, the driver rejoins the pit lane and re-enters the circuit via the pit exit, where they can accelerate to racing speed.

Example: “So many cars have come in at the same time, they risk tripping over each other in the pit lane.”

PIT STOP

Stopping in the pit box during a race to have the tyres changed or any repairs carried out. At least one pit stop is mandatory during a Grand Prix (but not in the F1 Sprint). A driver stops the car outside of their team’s garage, and the pit crew then make any changes as quickly as possible. An F1 pit crew can change all four tyres in under two seconds!

Example: “That was a lightning-fast pit stop from the team when they really needed it!”

PIT WALL

Area separating the pit lane from the track itself. Senior members of each team – such as team principals, engineers and strategists – can sit here and monitor data during a session, communicating with drivers via the radio or pit boards.

Example: “The race engineer doesn’t look too impressed about that on the pit wall!”

PIT WINDOW

Period during a race when pit stops are anticipated. Data – the expected lifespan of the tyres, for example – enables teams to predict when might be best to make a stop. This is factored into race strategies, and a driver is therefore not likely to make a pit stop until the pit window is ‘open’.

Example: “They've completed 22 laps on this tyre now, so the data suggests we're in the pit window. How quickly will they want to make a change?”

PITS

Collective term for area of the circuit with the pit lane, pit wall and team garages.

Example: “They’re coming into the pits now for another stop.”

PLANK

Skid block. Flat rectangle, usually made of fiberglass, fitted underneath the car and must maintain a certain thickness to ensure teams are not breaking the rules and running their cars too close to the ground. If the plank is found to have worn down too much after a race (by repeatedly hitting the track surface, for example), the car will be disqualified.

Example: “They were disqualified after the race for excessive plank wear.”

PODIUM

Raised platform where the top three drivers are given their trophies after a race. Podium is often used to refer to a top-three finish.

Example: “That was a well-earned podium after starting from a midfield grid slot.”

POINTS

Award for those who finish in the leading positions of a race. Points are awarded to the top 10 finishers of a Grand Prix, with the winner receiving 25 points (then scaling down to one point for 10th place). In a Sprint, the top eight finishers earn points – eight for the winner, down to one point for P8. The driver and team that earn the most points over a season become World Drivers' Champion and World Constructors’ Champion, respectively.

Example: “What a result! With both drivers finishing in the points, the team have significantly added to their tally.”

POLE POSITION

First starting grid slot. When a driver starts a race from the very front of the grid – more often than not because they set the fastest time in Qualifying – they arguably have an advantage by starting ahead of everyone else. Often shortened to 'pole'.

Example: “They're on pole this afternoon, the third time they've started from pole position this season.”

POLESITTER

Driver starting the race from pole position.

Example: “As the polesitter, they'll be desperate for a good start and to get to the first turn without any trouble.”

POWER UNIT

Combination of components that power an F1 car. Together, the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), Turbocharger (TC), Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K), Energy Store (ES), Control Electronics (PU-CE) and Engine Exhaust Sets (EXH) form the hybrid Power Unit (PU). Sometimes called a powertrain.

Example: "From 2026, the power unit will supply an almost 50/50 power split between Advanced Sustainable Fuel and electrical energy."

PRACTICE

Free Practice. Sessions held at the beginning of a race weekend that teams use to set up the car, get familiar with the track, and perhaps test new parts – all to get their machines into the best possible shape. There are generally two hour-long practice sessions on the first day of a Grand Prix weekend, before a third and final practice hour on the second day ahead of Qualifying. During a Sprint weekend there is only one Free Practice session held, pressuring teams to get up to speed quickly.

Example: “They’re looking good this weekend after setting the pace in practice on Friday.”

PRE-SEASON

Period before a season starts. Various events and preparations take place ahead of a new season, including car launches, livery reveals and testing. Pre-season testing is particularly important for teams and drivers, being the first opportunity to gain meaningful track time and collect vital data about their new car before the first race.

Example: “There were plenty of talking points during the pre-season.”

PRIME TYRE

Harder slick tyre choice. F1 drivers have to use at least two different dry-weather tyre compounds during a Grand Prix, so one compound becomes the harder, more durable 'prime' tyre, while the other becomes the softer, faster 'option'. The medium tyre could therefore be either a prime or an option tyre, depending on the other compound used.

Example: “They're starting the race on the prime tyre, looking to run longer through the early stages before pitting.”

PROTEST

Post-race appeal against a particular result or penalty. A protest will be considered by the FIA-appointed stewards, and if it is upheld, new action will be taken. If it is dismissed then there will be no changes made to the original outcome. Also known as a right of review request.

Example: “The team have had a post-race protest rejected.”

PULL-ROD

Type of suspension configuration. Consists of a rod mounted on the car at a diagonal angle, connecting the top of a wheel to a torsion spring lower on the chassis. When the wheel goes over a bump, the rod is pulled up and outwards from the car.

Example: “They're running a pull-rod configuration on the front suspension.”

PUSH-ROD

Type of suspension configuration. Consists of a rod mounted on the car at a diagonal angle, connecting a torsion spring at the top of the chassis to a lower mount on the wheel. When the wheel goes over a bump, the rod is pushed upwards and towards the car.

Example: “A push-rod configuration is being used on the rear suspension.”

QUALIFYING

Session in which drivers compete to set the fastest lap time, with the order deciding the starting grid for the Grand Prix. Qualifying is a knock-out format of three parts – the slowest six drivers are eliminated at the end of the 18-minute-long 'Q1', the next slowest six exit after 'Q2' (15 minutes) and the remaining 10 drivers compete in 'Q3' (12 minutes) to be fastest of all and secure pole position.

Example: “They’ve left themselves lots to do in the race, starting further back on the grid after a difficult qualifying session.”

R&D

Research and Development. Work undertaken by a team to develop or improve various components or systems in the car.

Example: “The team have invested heavily in their R&D to make this car quicker.”

RACE CONTROL

Team responsible for monitoring all sessions during a race weekend and ensure that the rules are followed correctly. Race Control – led by the Race Director – will make important decisions during a session (such as deploying the Safety Car) while referring potential rules breaches to the stewards.

Example: “The incident has been noted by Race Control.”

RACE DIRECTOR

FIA official responsible for all on-track activities. The Race Director leads Race Control and makes decisions during a session, such as the showing of a red flag. They issue event notes ahead of each race weekend, setting out various rules – including track limits, for example.

Example: The Race Director has decided to stop the race and have the barrier repaired.”

RACING LINE

Fastest route around a track. The racing line generally uses the full width of the track, extending the radius of each turn. Drivers experiment to find the optimum racing line. It's not always the shortest route, but one that enables a driver to carry as much speed as possible and minimise time spent in corners.

Example: “A driver should move out of the way and off the racing line while they’re slower on an in-lap.”

RAKE

Difference in ride height between the front and rear of the car. A high-rake car has a noticeably higher ride height at the rear, creating a steeper angle up from the front of the car (where it will be running closer to the ground). This can increase airflow around the diffuser. A low-rake car has a less dramatic angle.

Example: “The team look to be running a high-rake concept.”

REAR WING

Bodywork with curved, streamlined surfaces attached to the rear of the car. Essentially acts a bit like an upside-down aircraft wing, with the air flowing over it generating downforce (rather than lift!) to push the car down onto the track.

Example: “Is that some damage to the rear wing? That might explain why they're struggling for traction.”

RECHARGE

Power unit mode replenishing the energy store. Working with their Race Engineer, drivers can select from different modes to recharge their battery with recovered energy harvested under braking, on throttle lift at the end of straights, or even in corners where drivers are only applying part power. Introduced as part of the 2026 regulations.

Example: “For the most part, Recharge will be automated, handled by engine maps prepared in advance, but drivers have the ability to override that.”

RECONNAISSANCE LAP

Lap completed before assembling on the starting grid for the race. If a driver needs to complete more than one reconnaissance lap, they must pass through the pit lane rather than the grid itself.

Example: “They’ll all be using their reconnaissance laps to judge how wet the track is in places.”

RED FLAG

Plain red flag waved to signal that the session has been stopped. Reasons for a red flag include severe weather conditions, a hazard on track or a serious incident. Waved at the start line and at every marshal post around the circuit, drivers must reduce their speed and return slowly to the pit lane.

Example: “A red flag! The Race Director has thrown the red flag after that earlier incident.”

REPRIMAND

Sanction issued to a driver instead of a full penalty. Similar to a warning, reprimands can be handed out for on-track or off-track incidents. A driver is allowed a maximum of four reprimands in a season and will be issued a penalty if they receive a fifth.

Example: “They were issued with a reprimand over the incident last weekend.”

RESERVE DRIVER

Driver on stand-by to race should a nominated driver be unable to compete – due to injury or illness, for example. Each team has a designated reserve driver that they can call upon if needed. A reserve driver can also fulfil other team requirements, such as testing and simulator work. Sometimes called a Third Driver.

Example: “The team might have to call upon the services of their reserve driver this weekend.”

RETIREMENT

When a driver is forced to exit a race before the end. Retiring the car can be necessary because of a mechanical issue or damage sustained from an on-track incident.

Example: “They're pulling over and stopping the car! That's their third retirement of the season.”

RIDE HEIGHT

Distance between the underside of the car and the ground. A lower ride height means that the car will be running closer to the track surface.

Example: “The team is running both cars with reduced ride heights this weekend.”

RUBBERED-IN

When the track surface has had plenty of tyre rubber shed on it, thus providing as much grip as it can. Over a race weekend, as more cars hit the track, 'rubbering-in' creates a layer of very small rubber pieces (coming off the tyres) on the racing line. This increases grip levels, enabling cars to go faster. A surface that hasn't been rubbered-in is considered 'green'.

Example: “The track hasn’t yet rubbered-in, so the times will get even quicker.”

RUN-OFF

Area beyond the defined track limits that a driver may enter if they make an error or need to pull off the circuit. Run-off areas can be asphalt or tarmac (giving drivers space to brake and slow the car), or take the form of a gravel trap. Street circuits have few run-off areas.

Example: “They’ve gone into the corner carrying too much speed and had to take to the run-off area.”

SAFETY CAR

Vehicle deployed to ensure that a race continues safely despite a hazard, such as an accident or in extreme weather. Drivers need to slow down and queue behind the Safety Car, which leads cars around the track at a lower speed until it is deemed safe to return to normal racing conditions. No overtaking is allowed behind the Safety Car.

Example: “The Safety Car has been deployed while the track is cleaned up after that earlier incident.”

SANDBAGGING

Term describing a team deliberately putting in slower-than-expected laps to hide the true pace of their car – usually by using a lower power unit setting or adding extra weight. Cars may be carrying more fuel or extra ballast to slow them down. Sandbagging may happen in pre-season testing or practice if a team wants to knowingly downplay their potential – for example, because they don't want to give rivals time to copy their design or set-up.

Example: “The car appeared to be slow in pre-season testing, but could the team have been sandbagging?”

SCRUBBED TYRE

Tyre that has already been lightly used, and is therefore likely to reach optimum temperature faster than a brand new one. Also known as a heat cycle. Such tyres may have been used for a small number of laps during practice, for example.

Example: “Looks like they're on a set of scrubbed tyres, rather than a fresh set.”

SCRUTINEERING

Process of checking cars during a race weekend to ensure they comply with the regulations. The checks are carried out by FIA technical delegates.

Example: “There was an issue flagged during the scrutineering process after the session.”

SCUDERIA

Nickname for the Ferrari team in F1. From the Italian for 'stable', it's a reference to their team name – Scuderia Ferrari.

Example: “It’s been a strong weekend for the Scuderia.”

SECTOR

Sections that make a full lap. A lap in F1 is split into three sectors – Sector 1, Sector 2 and Sector 3 – which show where each driver is quickest. A driver’s sector time will show in a different colour, depending on how quick it is. A 'purple sector' shows if the time set is the fastest time of all. A 'green sector' shows if the time set is the driver’s personal best time. All other, slower, sector times will appear in yellow.

Example: “They're green in the first sector, have just gone purple in the second sector... This could be good for pole position!”

SET-UP

Combination of equipment and settings on a car. Teams are always looking for an optimised set-up, trying to make the car as fast as possible while ensuring they can finish the race. A set-up will likely be worked on by analysing data and driver feedback from a simulator before further adjustments are then made at the track.

Example: “I’m really happy. We found a great set-up and the car was incredible to drive.”

SESSION

Period of on-track running during a race weekend. Commonly used to refer to periods of Free Practice – with three practice sessions in a typical Grand Prix weekend – but Qualifying can also be called a session.

Example: “Drivers were able to really explore the limits of the track in that session.”

SHAKEDOWN

A preliminary track session (or event) a team can use to run their new car for the first time. The primary aim is to carry out reliability checks and make sure everything is working as it should.

Example: “The team will run the car for the first time at a private shakedown next week.”

SIDEPOD

Aerodynamically-shaped sections of the car on either side of the cockpit. Designed to direct airflow, radiators cooling the power unit are found in the sidepod – as are crucial safety structures protecting drivers from side impacts.

Example: “With the new car concept, the team have radically changed the shape of the sidepods.”

SIMULATOR

Technology allowing drivers and teams to virtually simulate sessions on track. Teams have sophisticated simulators at their factories, where drivers sit in a cockpit and experience racing on track in the most realistic way possible without physically being there. Many drivers also choose to have a simulator of some sort in their own homes.

Example: “It's a new circuit, so I put in a lot of hours on the simulator to get a feel for it before coming here.”

SLICKS

Completely smooth tyre for use in dry conditions. Various compounds of slick tyre are available for use during a race weekend.

Example: “With the track drying out, a few drivers are gambling and changing to slicks. Is it too soon?”

SLIPPERY SURFACE FLAG

Yellow and red striped flag shown to drivers to signal a slippery track surface ahead (perhaps because of oil or water). Warns a driver to expect lower grip levels, enabling them to adapt their driving accordingly.

Example: “The slippery surface flag is being shown at Turn 7.”

SLIPSTREAM

Aerodynamic benefit gained by a chasing car when following the car in front. The car behind suffers less resistance from the air, meaning it can go quicker and gain more speed. A slipstream is generally most noticeable on a long straight, where a chasing car can catch and overtake. Also known as a tow.

Example: “They’re closing in fast with the slipstream, could this be the overtake!?”

SOFT TYRE

Least durable compound of slick tyre, identifiable by the red on the sidewalls. Soft tyres offer more grip than harder tyres, making them faster. However, they degrade much more quickly. They're usually the tyre of choice for setting the fastest possible lap.

Example: “They’ve just set the fastest time of the session using the soft tyre.”

SPEED TRAP

Speed measuring device placed at a certain point on the track. Usually located at the fastest part of the circuit – such as the end of a long straight – speed trap data can provide valuable information to teams.

Example: “They’ve looked impressive and are fastest through the speed trap today.”

SPORTING REGULATIONS

FIA rules governing various aspects of Formula 1, covering a range of topics including safety, scheduling and standards – both on-track and off-track.

Example: “Changes to the Sporting Regulations have been approved for the new season.”

SPRINT QUALIFYING

Session in which drivers compete to set the fastest lap time, with the order deciding the starting grid for the F1 Sprint. Sprint Qualifying is a knock-out format of three parts – the slowest six drivers are eliminated at the end of a 12-minute-long 'SQ1', the next slowest six exit after 'SQ2' (10 minutes) before the remaining 10 drivers compete in 'SQ3' (8 minutes) to be fastest of all and secure pole position in the following day's Sprint.

Example: “Claiming pole in Sprint Qualifying has put them in prime position for a Sprint victory tomorrow.”

STALL

When a car won’t launch because the engine cuts out. This can occur if a driver has an issue with the clutch paddle, or if there is a technical problem causing the revs to drop too low. F1 cars are equipped with 'anti-stall' systems to protect power units from damage and keep the car from cutting out completely to give a driver the chance to reengage the clutch.

Example: “They’ve stalled it! What a horrible start!”

STEWARD

Official appointed by the FIA to ensure that the regulations are followed over a race weekend. A team of race stewards investigate incidents and issue any punishments (if necessary). Incidents may be investigated during a session or immediately afterwards. The drivers and teams involved may be summoned to the stewards room to give their view on what happened and why.

Example: “The incident will be investigated by the stewards after the race.”

STOP-GO PENALTY

Penalty given to a driver who must then visit the pit lane and stop in their pit box for a designated amount of time – often 10 seconds – before rejoining the race. No work is allowed to be done on the car during this stop.

Example: “The stewards have issued them a stop-go penalty, so they’ll have to come into the pits and serve that.”

SUPER LICENCE

FIA Racing Super Licence. Qualification needed by a driver in order to compete in Formula 1. As well as meeting some fundamental requirements, including being at least 18 years of age at the start of their first F1 competition, drivers need to accumulate at least 40 points (based on championship finishing positions) from an FIA competition list to achieve a super licence. Winning the Formula 2 title would secure 40 points, for example, while winning Formula 3 (or Formula E) would earn a driver 30 points.

Example: “There's lots of talk about this young driver, and they’ve earned enough super licence points to race in F1 should the team want to give them a seat.”

SUSPENSION

System absorbing the impact of bumps or uneven surfaces on the car – kerbs being a good example. The suspension system on an F1 car can be complex and feature differences in the front and rear, including pull-rod and push-rod configurations to cope with the forces.

Example: “We've been experiencing issues with the rear suspension all weekend.”

TANKSLAPPER

Rear of the car violently stepping out sideways from the front to send a car into a spin. A driver needs lightning-fast reactions to correct it and bring the car back under control.

Example: “That was an almost superhuman reaction to catch that tankslapper!”

TEAM PRINCIPAL

Person in charge of an F1 team. Team Principals are responsible for managing various aspects of the operation, ranging from project and people management to representing the team at briefings and in the media.

Example: “As the Team Principal they are the leader of the team and they make crucial decisions.”

TEAR-OFF STRIP

Thin strip of see-through film fitted to a driver’s helmet visor. A driver will peel off a strip when it becomes dirty during a session, helping them to see more clearly through the clean strip below.

Example: “You can see how dusty it is out there, as they use yet another tear-off strip.”

TECHNICAL DIRECTIVE

Guidance issued by the FIA regarding a particular technical issue, often to clarify the regulations and ensure that the rules are being followed properly by all teams.

Example: “A Technical Directive has been issued ahead of this weekend’s race, given all the recent talk in the paddock.”

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Person overseeing the technical department of an F1 team. The Technical Director will perform a range of duties, including managing a team's technical organisation and overseeing the direction of a car’s build. Technical Directors will often have many years of engineering experience.

Example: “The team appointed a new Technical Director ahead of the season.”

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

FIA rules the teams must follow when building their cars. The regulations cover various technical features of the car, including the weight, safety equipment, power unit, fuel system, aerodynamics and more.

Example: “A new set of Technical Regulations have come into effect for the 2026 season.”

TECPRO

Crash barrier used to minimise the force of impact in a crash, and prevent the car from bouncing back onto the track. The barriers are connected blocks made of flexible polyethylene.

Example: “They’ve gone off and hit the Tecpro with some force there, but it did its job.”

TELEMETRY

Real-time data that can be used by a team to analyse a car’s performance while it is out on track.

Example: “We need to really analyse the telemetry to see what we can learn.”

TEMPLE OF SPEED

Nickname for the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, better known to many simply as Monza. The venue has hosted the Italian Grand Prix every year bar one since 1950, and its nickname was earned because of the incredible speeds seen at the circuit.

Example: “Here we are then, the Temple of Speed, and the drivers simply love it here.”

TESTING

On-track testing event to collect valuable data in real world conditions (as opposed to the simulator). F1 testing is much more restricted than in the past. Pre-season testing – where all teams take part in an official event before a new season – is the biggest opportunity teams get to properly understand their machines. There is also a short post-season test, where teams might put a different driver behind the wheel and evaluate their performance. Other forms of testing during the season may include official tyre tests, run by the tyre manufacturer.

Example: The teams return to action for pre-season testing, eager to see what their cars can do.”

TIFOSI

The name given to passionate fans of Ferrari, often seen in huge numbers at events in Italy.

Example: “The Tifosi will be thrilled with that result for Ferrari!”

TOE

Angle that the wheels point in relation to the car’s centreline. ‘Toe in’ refers to the front of the wheel pointing inwards, towards the car, while ‘toe out’ is used when they are angled outwards. A car will usually be run toe out at the front and toe in at the rear, to cope with the forces experienced while driving at speed. Also known as tracking.

Example: “We’re running the car toe in at the rear.”

TORQUE

Force produced by an engine. While horsepower measures speed, the torque is the twisting force which creates that drive. Torque helps the car to accelerate.

Example: “That engine seems to have a good amount of torque.”

TRACK

Motor racing circuit. A street track is a race course made up of public roads, in a city or park, that have been temporarily closed to host a race – think Las Vegas, Monaco or Singapore. Other tracks are purpose-built venues designed specifically for motorsport, like Circuit of The Americas, Shanghai International Circuit or Suzuka Circuit.

Example: “This track is a particular favourite with many of the drivers.”

TRACK LIMITS

Boundaries around the edge of a track, usually a single solid white line. If all four wheels cross this line, a driver will have their lap time deleted. Should they exceed track limits several times, they will be issued with a penalty.

Example: “Okay. You’ve been given a warning for track limits at Turn 9.”

TRACK TEMPERATURE

Temperature of the track surface. Often much higher than the air temperature due to the surface soaking up heat. Track temperature impacts tyres, with warmer conditions likely to cause wear at a faster rate. Colder conditions can result in tyres taking longer to reach optimum temperature.

Example: “The track temperature has risen considerably since this morning's session.”

TRACTION

Power a car transfers onto the track through its wheels to move. Linked to grip, traction can be affected by various factors, such as power unit settings, tyre compounds, weather and track conditions.

Example: “They just get any traction in these conditions, and you can see the rear wheels are just spinning while they go nowhere.”

TURBULENCE

Disrupted airflow. F1 cars operate at their best when air flows smoothly over the surfaces to generate aerodynamic downforce. Turbulent air (often called 'dirty' air) can make a car harder to drive and prevent close racing, so the current generation of car has been designed to be less sensitive to turbulence.

Example: “There's less turbulence coming off these new cars, so I could get much closer and race harder for longer.”

TURBOCHARGER

Power unit component. Uses exhaust gases to rotate a turbine, compressing air into cylinders and improving power unit output. Drivers are allocated a specific number of turbochargers per season and will receive a penalty if this is exceeded.

Example: “We had to fit a new turbocharger ahead of the session.”

TYRE BARRIER

Crash barrier used to minimise the force of impact in a crash. The barriers are made from stacks of used tyres bolted together, and often painted.

Example: “You can see, the car went straight off the track and into the tyre barrier.”

TYRE BLANKET

Electric blankets wrapped around an entire tyre to heat it to optimum temperature before a car starts running on track. Sometimes called a tyre warmer.

Example: “The mechanics are removing the car’s tyre blankets in the garage, so they'll be on track very shortly.”