What do you think?
Rate this book
The Science of Speed: Today's High-Tech World of Formula 1
This fully-updated second edition of Tremayne's authoritative book explains the technical changes imposed since Alain Prost won the 1993 World Championship, following developments right through to the 2000 season. Contents cover: grooved tires, special materials that enabled some 1999 engines to rev at over 17000rpm, aerodynamic problems behind rear wing failures, design processes, wind tunnels, structural integrity, driver and circuit safety, current regulations, mandatory crash tests, and the often contradictory perspectives of the various contenders.
- GenresNonfictionRacing
220 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
52 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 18, 2014
To be honest I wasn't expecting too much from this book, having paid only £1.99 for it in a bargain book shop, but I was aware of the main author through various car magazines, so took a chance!
The book begins at the beginning of the Grand Prix championship in 1950, a time when drivers were seen as expendable, with WWII having ended only 5 years earlier, it is perhaps understandable, even if it's not acceptable, that this attitude was common place, but even after the "summer of love" nothing had changed, in fact if anything it was worse! After an frightening accident had befallen Jackie Stewart at Spa, he felt things had to change, in 1970 Jochen Rindt became the first and so far the only posthumous F1 World Champion, despite this Jackie Stewart's safety campaign was met with much opposition and name calling, his courage was even questioned! The book details the difficulties that Jackie Stewart faced from fellow drivers - they couldn't see he was looking after their welfare - callous circuit owners, who didn't see the value in safety improvements, and officials that were out of touch.
People may have seen the BBC documentary Grand Prix The Killer Years, which covered the same ground, in fact much of it seemed to have been lifted straight from this book, but where in TV land everything seemed to be rosy in the garden from 1976 onwards, nobody died at a GP that year, conveniently ignoring that although Niki Lauda had survived his fiery crash at the Nurburgring - he had being given "the last rites" in his hospital bed - it was nothing short of a miracle! The TV documentary ends here, job done, whereas the book carries on, and although much if what is covered in the book is well known, much of isn't, such as the dreadful negligence that left Philippe Strieff paralysed, data recorders showing that an accident that left Jos Verstappen just bruised, would have killed him a few years earlier, if you're an avid F1 fan, you may realise that it's not just luck we have to thank for GP racing having no driver fatalities since 1994, if only the same could be said for marshalls, safety is indeed a science!
The book begins at the beginning of the Grand Prix championship in 1950, a time when drivers were seen as expendable, with WWII having ended only 5 years earlier, it is perhaps understandable, even if it's not acceptable, that this attitude was common place, but even after the "summer of love" nothing had changed, in fact if anything it was worse! After an frightening accident had befallen Jackie Stewart at Spa, he felt things had to change, in 1970 Jochen Rindt became the first and so far the only posthumous F1 World Champion, despite this Jackie Stewart's safety campaign was met with much opposition and name calling, his courage was even questioned! The book details the difficulties that Jackie Stewart faced from fellow drivers - they couldn't see he was looking after their welfare - callous circuit owners, who didn't see the value in safety improvements, and officials that were out of touch.
People may have seen the BBC documentary Grand Prix The Killer Years, which covered the same ground, in fact much of it seemed to have been lifted straight from this book, but where in TV land everything seemed to be rosy in the garden from 1976 onwards, nobody died at a GP that year, conveniently ignoring that although Niki Lauda had survived his fiery crash at the Nurburgring - he had being given "the last rites" in his hospital bed - it was nothing short of a miracle! The TV documentary ends here, job done, whereas the book carries on, and although much if what is covered in the book is well known, much of isn't, such as the dreadful negligence that left Philippe Strieff paralysed, data recorders showing that an accident that left Jos Verstappen just bruised, would have killed him a few years earlier, if you're an avid F1 fan, you may realise that it's not just luck we have to thank for GP racing having no driver fatalities since 1994, if only the same could be said for marshalls, safety is indeed a science!
February 23, 2024
This book was quite insightful but the chapter on Jean-Marie Balestre was barely about safety and more about the author complaining about his arrogance.
Also there's 2 chapters with fire in the title and Niki Lauda was only mentioned in passing in one. I'd have expected more on his accident as it is quite a memorable one and is one of the main times people think of fire being unacceptable in the sport.
Also there's 2 chapters with fire in the title and Niki Lauda was only mentioned in passing in one. I'd have expected more on his accident as it is quite a memorable one and is one of the main times people think of fire being unacceptable in the sport.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews