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For 100 years, Formula One Aerodynamics was that technological devel-
has stood as the highest class opment, although it was around for a long
of motor racing. As is the case time, the introduction of Airfoil had placed
with any other sport, it too had it among the top priorities for vehicles trying
started as a form of entertain- to achieve high speeds. The results achieved
ment, but its long and intricate by the application of Aerodynamic downforce
history had turned it into the were astonishing. This aerodynamic revolution
multi-billion dollar sport that it is to- overwhelmed the engineers of F1 cars as the
day. Formula One was first sanctioned bar for precision had been increased drastical-
by Federation Internationale de l’ Au- ly. Every little aspect was to be carefully stud-
tomobile (FIA) in 1950 and ever since ied to produce the fastest car on track. This
it has been branded as the most sought also provided a chance to the engine providers
after racing sport. As is the case with an Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Honda to ad-
event occurring in that dreadful period, vertise their engineering expertise to the pub-
Formula 1 was also affected by World War lic by innovating the fastest car at that time.
II. The conflict between the nations in 1946 There were major improvements in F1 cars, the
had resulted in the suspension of initial races, materials, the tires, the design, everything had
in what was already a non-championship year. to be changed. In simple terms, Formula One
Next year saw the formalisation of the cham- was reborn from the ashes of its ancestors.
pionship races in Formula One and the races
had been renamed as Grand Prix, meaning grand The inclusion of aerodynamics in Formu-
prizes. la One led to extensive experimenting. The
results weren’t always promising, there were
From the very beginning, F1 racing inspired excite- a lot of misfires and accidents in the second
ment, prevailing from its unpredictability, in every era. The safety measures were improved, but
‘Speed-Freak’ of their time. In the first three decades, accidents were caused more by mechanical
the Grand Prix held in a year were limited as nobody fault than by the Driver’s fault. There was no
attempted to predict the future it would have. The races, as room for error on the Driver’s part in this era
said by some critics of Formula One, were literally playing as all the Engines produced nearly the same
with the lives of Drivers. The reason for such criticisms was speed. Strategic Driving became vital for win-
the lack of proper safety for drivers around the race track; un- ning races. Drivers started to be more daring
like today, there were no mobile medical units placed around on the track but practised caution where it was
the track, and this meant certain death for any Driver colliding necessary. They raced not for money but for
into something at the speed of 290kmph. Due to an alleged lack the glory that will follow the world champions.
of technological and financial aid, or utter neglect, the problem of There were no heroes who braved a fatal curve
safety was not solved in the first era of Formula One. in this era, but rather heroes who slowed down
when it was required. The greatest Driver this
Against all these odds, in 1950 the first man to be declared the era produced was Ayrton Senna, who believed
world champion of F1 racing was Giuseppe Farina, almost losing he had a god given right to win. Senna won
the championship to Juan Manuel Fangio, who later went on to win three world championships before his untime-
a record-setting 5 Championships, earning him the name of the ly demise in ’94. Apart from psychological
Grand Master of F1. Apart from the inclusion of new rules, tech- stress, there were also concerns about the new
nological twitches, and quite a number of tragedies, the first era of modifications made by the Engineers to his
Formula One did not see much change from its infant years. By the then car, Williams FW16. He was the causality
end of the first era, a new technological development was gradually of a mechanical fault. For quite some time the
taking over the Automobile industry, little did people know that this Beast seemed to rule over men.
would change Formula One and inherently the way cars are made.

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