Why don’t F1 cars have handbrakes?

All you need to know about why Formula One cars don't have handbrakes.

Why don’t F1 cars have handbrakes?

Formula 1

Formula 1 is all about the teams making their cars as fast as they can. It is not just a battle between drivers but it is a rivalry between the cars too. The teams naturally do not want their car to be heavy as it affects their performance. They reduce the weight of the car as much as possible.

Earlier teams like Ferrari had shifted from glossy paint to matte finish on their car to reduce weight and gain speed. It was a matter of a few grams and that is a significant amount in terms of the car weight in Formula 1. The priority is always speed. They have several other setups for safety concerns.

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Every minute detail plays a part in the performance of the car, this is a major reason why the teams do not have a handbrake. Handbrakes are not really necessary and would just add to the weight of the car. The drivers hardly stop on an incline except in rare scenarios. 

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The Formula 1 cars have a complex braking system

They have other braking systems as it is one of the most essential parts while racing. Those systems are complex and the drivers provide force for braking. Their braking system relies on the engine and electrical braking and friction. Every part of the Formula 1 car is carefully set up to make the car as light as possible while including the significant parts. 

In Austria 2022, Carlos Sainz’s car caught on fire and moved back due to the inclination. Although if not for the fire, the driver would have had control of the car and it would not have moved backwards. This is another reason why cars don’t need handbrakes. They have other settings to lock the rear differential and a handbrake would just slow the drivers down.

The brakes on a Formula 1 car works on four wheels similar to a road car. The front is pretty straightforward but the rear braking systems are complex as they use brake-by-wire systems. In Formula 1 the brakes control the direction the car is pointed at. It holds the same importance as the steering wheel. It all comes down to the safety and performance of the car. Simply put, there is no need for a handbrake and it just adds to the weight. 

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