The cockpit is the section on the chassis where the driver sits. It is essentially the workspace for drivers that contain all the control modules. F1 drivers are often called pilots.
In formula 1 the cockpit is left open, meaning there is no glass shied over the driver’s head. The cockpit is left open due to safety concerns in case of a crash. F1 rules say that the cockpits have to be a minimum of 850mm long and 450mm wide.
This rule makes the cockpit wide enough so that the drivers can get out in less than 5 seconds. The cockpit is part of the monocoque that makes up the framework of F1 cars. It can absorb a massive amount of energy during high-impact crashes.
Why is it called a cockpit?
Hello Lynn, Thanks for reading my blog,
The term “cockpit” has historical origins and was originally used to refer to the area of a ship or aircraft where the pilot or captain sits to control the vehicle. The term’s usage in the context of racing cars, including Formula One (F1), is an extension of this original nautical and aviation meaning.
In the case of racing cars, the term “cockpit” was adopted to describe the enclosed space within the car where the driver sits to control the vehicle. This space is reminiscent of the confined area in the cockpit of a plane or the command center of a ship, where the person in control manages the vehicle’s operations and navigational aspects.
So, the term “cockpit” is used in F1 and other racing contexts to describe the driver’s seating area because of its historical associations with places of control and command in various modes of transportation. It symbolizes the central location from which the driver manages and guides the vehicle during a race.