Why do F1 cars have these?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Omamder5
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Omamder5

Omamder5

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I was wondering about the purpose of what seems to be a cluster of LED's, sitting between the two wing mounts. Are they brake lights? Some other indicative device?

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- and another thing. Why does this car, the Spyker Zagato, appear to have the same device on the back?

spyker-c12-zagato-04.jpg
 
They are strobes for poor weather conditions. The Spyker borrows that from F1, but I don't know what its purpose is. Probably a fog light.
 
On the F1 car... it's a high intensity red light... they put it on in wet conditions as with the amount of spray an F1 car generates it's very difficult for the car behind to know when someone is in front of them.

I think it also flashes when the pit lane speed limited is engaged.

I would think it's a high intensity fog light on the Spyker... these are a legal requirement in Europe... supposed to help in very bad visibility, but unfortunately drivers tend so stick them on at the first sign of fog or spray and they just blind the person behind.
 
Why was this moved to motorsport? The mods should've had a closer look at the contents.

How did you find a picture so quickly? I spent ages looking for just one picture of the cluster. Is there a name for it?
 
Stotty
On the F1 car... it's a high intensity red light... they put it on in wet conditions as with the amount of spray an F1 car generates it's very difficult for the car behind to know when someone is in front of them.

I think it also flashes when the pit lane speed limited is engaged.
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Nicely said mate ;)👍 And yes the light flashes when the pit lane speed limiter us engaged. But also sometimes when a car is going slow on track, that light also flashes... Anyone know why? Or the driver engaged the speed limiter on track? :lol:
 
Omamder5
Why was this moved to motorsport? The mods should've had a closer look at the contents.
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Because you asked, "Why do F1 cars have these?" You're asking about F1 cars, therefore off to the motorsports forum, with an F1 tag, we go.
 
To add to what has already been said, they also have green lights though I'm not entirely sure what they are for. I first thought the green ones were for rookies in testing, but I'm not entirely certain thats the case.

But yeah, just rain lights to aid the drivers in poor conditions or to allow a slow car to be easily seen from a distance (when the pit lane limiter is engaged for whatever reason - then the driver behind knows it is going slow).

The lights are activated by the pit lane limiter (makes the light flash) and by the tyre selection knob on the steering wheel (makes the lights shine constantly).
No idea why Spyker decided to copy it :lol:.
 
Ardius
No idea why Spyker decided to copy it :lol:.
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Probably just a left over part from their F1 days :D

"We need a new rear light for our car"

"I found this old F1 light just lying around"

"That'll do!"
 
Those must have been some really lost Spyker mechanics if they were looking for car parts in Silverstone! :p
 
Ardius
Those must have been some really lost Spyker mechanics if they were looking for car parts in Silverstone! :p
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Remember when that Spyker concept was released and the livery was bright orange? I distinctly remember everyone saying they had done it so that they could find their cars when they inevitably got lost ...
 
It was also noted by the ITV commentators a while ago that the light cluster flashes if there is a problem with the car-both to alert drivers behind, and like the beeps when you start your computer-diagnosis lights.
 
waggles
It was also noted by the ITV commentators a while ago that the light cluster flashes if there is a problem with the car-both to alert drivers behind, and like the beeps when you start your computer-diagnosis lights.
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Thanks mate! That pretty much answers my question ;)👍

InvincibleM5
But also sometimes when a car is going slow on track, that light also flashes... Anyone know why?
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Actually the reason that light is there on the Spyker is it's made to resemble the company's 2007 F1 car, I'm pretty sure they may even used parts of it on the C12 Zagato.
 

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