<F1 Movie> is not a film with a high entry barrier. It’s similar to how 8.23 million viewers were thrilled by <Top Gun: Maverick> even if they didn’t know anything about flying planes. <F1 Movie> is an ‘experiential film’ that doesn’t require you to struggle to follow the content on screen. Even if you know nothing about F1 (Formula One), the immersive feeling of watching a real race, the commentary from the casters, and the overwhelming thrill of speed are enough to keep you engaged. It contrasts with an ‘intellectual film’ (a term that doesn’t exist, but let’s use it here to mean a type of film that is the opposite of <F1 Movie>), where you must carefully understand every situation and follow the story step by step.
However, for ‘F1 novices’ like myself, or for those who become interested in F1 after watching <F1 Movie>, I have prepared a terminology guide for <F1 Movie>. There is fun in watching without knowing and in watching after understanding. There may be more F1 technical terms than those listed, but I will only introduce the words that actually appear in the movie. For clarity, the terms are arranged not in alphabetical order but by importance, so I recommend reading from the top.
Lap
It means ‘one lap of the track’. The number of laps and total distance varies for each circuit. For example, the Monaco Grand Prix has 78 laps, while Silverstone in the UK has 52 laps. The time taken to complete one lap is called ‘lap time’, and drivers and teams constantly adjust vehicle settings and strategies to reduce this lap time. Therefore, the total race time is lap time * number of laps, and in actual F1, races typically last around 1.5 to 2 hours.
Grand Prix
Each F1 race is called a ‘Grand Prix’. <F1 Movie> features Grand Prix events held in the UK, Hungary, the Netherlands, Japan, and more.
Formation Lap
Think of it as a ‘warm-up’ drive before the main race starts. Drivers adjust the temperature of their tires during the formation lap. In the movie, Sony Hayes (Brad Pitt) is shown strategically driving even during this formation lap.
Pit
This is not the pit of Brad Pitt. ‘Pit’ refers to the maintenance area located next to the track. ‘Pit in’ means the driver is entering the pit, and ‘pit stop’ refers to various tasks performed in the pit, such as tire changes, refueling, and vehicle inspections. The average pit stop time is within 2 to 3 seconds, and the Guinness record is 1.82 seconds (2023 McLaren). A one-second difference in pit stops can significantly affect rankings, making it very important.
Grip
While watching F1, you will notice the term ‘grip’ frequently appearing. The Korean subtitles of <F1 Movie> translated ‘grip’ entirely as ‘grip’ or ‘gripping power’. Grip refers to how well the tires stick to the ground, and the higher the grip, the faster you can navigate corners.
Soft Tire, Medium Tire, Hard Tire
F1 tires are broadly categorized into three types: soft, medium, and hard. Soft tires have the best grip, allowing for fast lap times, but they wear out quickly, resulting in a short replacement cycle. Hard tires are durable and can be used for a long time, but they have less grip, leading to slower lap times. Medium tires are a compromise between the two properties. In the movie, tire strategy also determines the outcome of the race.
Intermediate Tire, Slick Tire
In <F1 Movie>, there is a scene where it rains during the race. At this time, the tire that must be used on wet surfaces is the ‘intermediate tire’. ‘Slick tires’ are used on dry tracks when it is not raining, and the soft, medium, and hard tires mentioned above fall under the category of slick tires.
One-Stop Race
In F1 races, at least two types of tires must be used, so drivers must make at least one pit stop. Therefore, the ‘one-stop race’ mentioned in the movie refers to a strategy of making only one pit stop, making tire management crucial.
Undercut, Overcut
‘Undercut’ is a strategy of making a pit stop before the opponent, while ‘overcut’ is the strategy of making a pit stop later. In <F1 Movie>, there are scenes where Sony Hayes and Joshua Pierce (Damson Idris) execute undercut and overcut strategies.
Red Flag
‘Red flag’ is a signal to stop the race. If a red flag is declared due to a major accident or serious deterioration of track conditions, all vehicles must immediately return to the pit lane, and the decision to restart is made by the officials (FIA).
Yellow Flag
‘Yellow flag’ is a flag used to alert drivers when an accident or dangerous situation occurs on the track. When this flag appears, overtaking is prohibited, and drivers must reduce their speed.
Chequered Flag
A flag made of black and white squares like a chessboard that signals the end of the race.
Blue Flag
A signal to give way. Ignoring it will result in a penalty. It usually appears when a leading vehicle is about to overtake a lapped vehicle (a vehicle that is more than one lap behind).
Plan A, B, C
Of course, as mentioned in the movie, the ‘C’ in Plan C does not stand for ‘Chaos’ or ‘Combat’. In F1, various strategic scenarios are prepared to account for different variables. These are referred to as ‘Plan A, B, C’, etc. In actual F1, plans change in real-time based on tire strategy, pit stop timing, safety car situations, and more.
Safety Car
The ‘safety car’ is deployed during the race when a major accident or hazard occurs, limiting the speed of all vehicles and helping to safely manage the accident area. When the safety car enters the track, overtaking is prohibited, and all vehicles can close the gap to restart, which can significantly change the flow of the race. In <F1 Movie>, Sony Hayes strategically utilizes the safety car.
Virtual Safety Car
‘Virtual Safety Car (VSC)’ is a system that limits the speed of all vehicles through electronic signals without the actual safety car entering the track. Drivers must drive below a specified speed, and overtaking is prohibited. In <F1 Movie>, there is a scene where ‘VSC’ appears on the circuit's electronic board, and the team's strategy changes. In actual F1, VSC is often used when accidents are relatively minor.
Box
‘Box’ is a signal to instruct the driver to make a pit stop. When the command “Box, Box!” is heard over the radio, the driver must enter the pit lane.
Retire
‘Retire’ means that the driver gives up the race due to vehicle failure, accident, etc. Once a retirement occurs, that vehicle can no longer participate in the race. Meanwhile, the ‘double retire’ mentioned in <F1 Movie> refers to the case where both drivers do not complete the race.
Grid, Pole Position, Qualifying
‘Grid’ refers to the position where vehicles stand before the race starts. The grid position is determined by the results of qualifying. Meanwhile, the Korean subtitles of <F1 Movie> translate ‘qualifying’ entirely as ‘qualifying’. The driver with the fastest lap time in qualifying takes the 1st grid, or ‘pole position’. <F1 Movie> does not delve deeply into qualifying, but there is a line mentioning ‘qualifying mode’, which refers to the engine setting used to achieve maximum performance in qualifying.
Drag (Drag)
‘Drag’ refers to the phenomenon of air resistance experienced by a car when it runs at high speed. More drag means reduced speed, while less drag allows for faster speeds on straightaways.
Dirty Air
‘Dirty air’ refers to the turbulence created by the car in front during racing. Conversely, a state where the airflow from the car in front is not disturbed is called ‘clean air’. Entering ‘dirty air’ reduces cornering performance and accelerates tire wear.
Slipstream
‘Slipstream’ is the phenomenon where the following car increases its speed by utilizing the empty space created by the air resistance of the car in front. In the movie, there is a line during an overtaking scene that says, “I’m riding the slipstream.”
Floor, Sidepod, Front Wing, Rear Wing
‘Floor’ refers to the underside of the car, ‘sidepod’ refers to the side air intake, and ‘front wing’ and ‘rear wing’ refer to the front and rear wings, respectively. All of these affect airflow, speed, and stability. In the movie, there is a scene where parts are replaced after a collision.
Gearbox, Differential
‘Gearbox’ refers to the transmission, and ‘differential’ refers to the device that controls wheel rotation.
Chicane, Main Straight
Sections of the track that require quick direction changes are called ‘chicane’, while the longest straight section is called ‘main straight’. In the movie, Sony Hayes overtakes the car in front while passing through the chicane.
DRS
DRS stands for ‘Drag Reduction System’. During an F1 race, in designated ‘DRS zones’ on the track, drivers can open the flap on the rear wing of the vehicle to reduce aerodynamic drag and overtake the opposing vehicle. When DRS is activated, drag decreases and top speed increases.
Race Engineer
The person who communicates with the driver via radio and directs strategy is called the ‘race engineer’. He assesses the vehicle's condition, track situation, and makes decisions in real-time.
Pit Crew, Mechanic, Rear Jackman
In the pit stop scene of <F1 Movie>, you can see dozens of ‘pit crew’ moving as if they are one body. ‘Mechanic’ refers to the technician, and ‘rear jackman’ is responsible for lifting the back of the car.
Understeer, Oversteer
‘Understeer’ refers to the phenomenon where the car does not turn inward in a corner but pushes outward, while ‘oversteer’ refers to the phenomenon where the rear wheels slip, causing the vehicle to turn inward.
Marbles
‘Marbles’ refer to the rubber pieces that fall on the track due to tire wear. These rubber pieces can accumulate in certain areas of the track, creating slippery surfaces that drivers need to be cautious of. In areas where marbles accumulate, grip drops sharply, making vehicle control difficult. In <F1 Movie>, Sony Hayes even utilizes marbles as part of his strategy.
Lockup, Flat Spot
‘Lockup’ refers to the phenomenon where the wheels lock up and slide on the surface during hard braking. ‘Flat spot’ refers to the phenomenon where part of the tire becomes flat due to lockup, causing severe vibrations during driving and necessitating tire replacement.
Parc Fermé
This is an area where vehicles are stored after qualifying, and changes to settings are restricted.
Paddock Club
The Paddock Club is a premium space where VIPs, sponsors, and team officials gather at F1 events. In <F1 Movie>, there is a scene where key figures such as directors watch the race and converse in the Paddock Club.
FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile)
It stands for the International Automobile Federation. The FIA is the governing body for F1 and other international racing series, establishing rules and regulations that all teams and drivers must adhere to.
Podium
Simply put, it is the award podium. After the race, the top three drivers stand on the podium.
<F1, Drive to Survive>
It is a Netflix original documentary series. In <F1 Movie>, there is a scene where a director mentions watching <F1, Drive to Survive>.
Daytona 24 Hours
The opening of <F1 Movie> features scenes from the ‘Daytona 24 Hours’ race. The ‘Daytona 24 Hours’ is a racing event where teams take turns driving for 24 hours without rest, showcasing Sony Hayes's passion for racing.
Baja
It is an off-road race held in Mexico, particularly famous for the ‘Baja 1000’. The Baja 1000 is a race that traverses various terrains such as deserts, mountains, and coastlines.
Hail Mary
Although it is not an F1 term, it is mentioned in <F1 Movie> as something that Sony Hayes equates to a Hail Mary. ‘Hail Mary’ is a term used in American football, meaning a ‘last-ditch effort’.
