If you've been an ardent fan of Formula One and have been following it for, say even a decade now, you would have probably been a witness to a host of changes, and I am not talking about the regulation changes.
The sport has grown, and how! New drivers, new engines and new technology, all have powered the world and made the layman see just how complicated the sport is. For most, it's a race against 22 odd drivers, and you win big bucks if you cross the finish line first. Though that may be the crux of the story, it isn't exactly all that simple. There is a lot of science that goes behind all of this and some of it has been revealed, thanks to high-definition infrared cameras.
These cameras have become a part and parcel of Formula One races now, showing the different temperature levels of F1 cars, with particular attention to tyre temperatures. Well, for those who don't know what role temperature plays in the race, here's a quick tip. The hotter the tyre, the better it grips the asphalt, and the colder it is, the less traction it has. That is why, even before the race or when on the grid, pit crew members pack the tyres with warmers for better grip.
Thanks to these HD infrared cameras, we can see where exactly the grip is and if the tyres are at the right temperature. The video below is a perfect example of what we're talking about. Here you can see Vettel doing burnouts at the Assen track, Netherlands, in the Red Bull RB8 Formula One car and all of this has been filmed with an infrared camera. So, what is the difference? Well, see it for yourself. This is what we call art-in-motion and this clip shows the heat of the tyres and the fumes from the exhaust.
If you watch closely, you can see the bright red bits of rubber being thrown across the track, which is a brilliant sight, especially in slow motion. At the end of the day, it's all science and there's no harm in accepting that it probably is a sight that makes this sport even more appealing.
