<F1 The Movie> is by no means a film with a high entry barrier. It is similar to how 8.23 million viewers enthusiastically watched <Top Gun: Maverick> even without knowing about flying planes. <F1 The Movie> is an ‘experiential film’ that does not 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 non-existent term, but let’s use it here to mean a type of film opposite to <F1 The Movie>) that requires you to carefully understand every situation and follow the story step by step.
However, for those like the author who are ‘F1 Ignorants’, or for those who become interested in F1 after watching <F1 The Movie>, a terminology guide for <F1 The Movie> has been prepared. Whether you watch it without knowing or after learning, there is fun in both. There may be more F1 technical terms than those listed here, but only the words that actually appear in the movie are introduced. For understanding, the terms are arranged not in alphabetical order but by importance, so it is recommended to read 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 the British Silverstone 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 race in F1 is called a ‘Grand Prix’. <F1 The 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 complete the formation lap to warm up their tires. In the film, 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 beside the track. ‘Pit in’ means the driver is entering the pit, and ‘pit stop’ refers to entering the pit to perform various tasks such as tire changes, refueling, and vehicle inspections. The usual 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 that the term ‘grip’ appears frequently. The Korean subtitles of <F1 The 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 classified 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, resulting in slower lap times. Medium tires are a compromise between the two types. Tire strategy plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of the race in the film as well.
Intermediate Tire, Slick Tire
In <F1 The Movie>, there is a scene where it rains during the race. At this time, the tire that must be used on the wet surface 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 film refers to a strategy where only one pit stop is made, making tire management crucial.
Undercut, Overcut
‘Undercut’ is a strategy of making a pit stop earlier than the opponent, while ‘overcut’ is the opposite strategy of making a pit stop later. In <F1 The Movie>, there are scenes where Sony Hayes and Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) execute undercut and overcut strategies.
Red Flag
The ‘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
The ‘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
The chequered flag, made up of black and white squares like a chessboard, signals the end of the race.
Blue Flag
This is 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 strategies, 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 must close the gap to restart, which can significantly change the flow of the race. In <F1 The Movie>, Sony Hayes strategically utilizes the safety car.
Virtual Safety Car
The ‘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 The 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
The ‘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 a driver abandons 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 The Movie> refers to the situation where both drivers fail to complete the race.
Grid, Pole Position, Qualifying
The ‘grid’ refers to the positions where vehicles stand before the race starts. The grid positions are determined by the results of qualifying. Meanwhile, the Korean subtitles of <F1 The Movie> translate ‘qualifying’ entirely as ‘qualifying’. The driver who records the fastest lap time in qualifying takes the 1st grid, known as ‘pole position’. Although <F1 The Movie> does not delve deeply into qualifying, 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. The more drag there is, the slower the speed, and the less drag, the faster it can run in a straight line.
Dirty Air
‘Dirty air’ refers to the turbulent air 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 vacuum created by the air resistance of the car in front. In the film, there is a line during an overtaking scene that says, “I’m in the slipstream.”
Floor, Sidepod, Front Wing, Rear Wing
The ‘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 film, there is a scene where parts are replaced after a collision.
Gearbox, Differential
The ‘gearbox’ refers to the transmission, and ‘differential’ refers to the device that controls wheel rotation.
Chicane, Main Straight
A section of the track that requires quick direction changes is called a ‘chicane’, while the longest straight section is called the ‘main straight’. In the film, Sony Hayes overtakes the car in front while passing through the chicane.
DRS
DRS stands for ‘Drag Reduction System’. During an F1 race, in the designated ‘DRS zone’ 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 is reduced, and top speed is improved.
Race Engineer
The person who communicates with the driver via radio and instructs strategies is 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 The Movie>, you can see dozens of ‘pit crew’ moving as if they are one body. A ‘mechanic’ is a technician, and a ‘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 opposite phenomenon where the rear wheels slip, causing the vehicle to turn inward.
Marbles
‘Marbles’ refer to rubber pieces that have worn off tires and fallen onto the track. 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 The Movie>, Sony Hayes even utilizes marbles as part of his strategy.
Lockup, Flat Spot
‘Lockup’ is 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, etc. This causes severe vibrations during driving, 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 the F1 venue. In <F1 The Movie>, there are scenes where key figures such as directors watch the race and converse in the Paddock Club.
FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile)
This 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 awards podium. After the race, the top three drivers ascend the podium.
<F1, Drive to Survive>
This is a Netflix original documentary series. In <F1 The Movie>, there is a scene where a director mentions having watched <F1, Drive to Survive>.
Daytona 24 Hours
The opening of <F1 The 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
This is an off-road race held in Mexico, particularly famous for the ‘Baja 1000’. The Baja 1000 is a race that runs through various terrains such as deserts, mountains, and coastlines.
Hail Mary
This is not an F1 term, but it is mentioned in <F1 The Movie> as something Sony Hayes refers to as a ‘Hail Mary’. ‘Hail Mary’ is a term used in American football, meaning a ‘last-ditch effort’.
